Admitting my mistake, need advice...

Rossja

Rossja

Active member
I just bought a new boat I've been dreaming about for years, right off showroom floor, great days! But... I overlooked one crucial detail, the trailer is painted box steel and I operate in brackish and salt water. Boat has been home for 1 day and I realize my mistake. Do I use it for 2 years and then buy a galvanized trailer?

I'm very upset with myself for overlooking the trailer construction; never even crossed my mind because every used boat I've boat had galvanized and never had to consider it.
 
Ross~


Although a fan of hot-dipped galvanized trailers, I am wondering if you have any DIY car washes near you. I just came home from gunning - with mud splattered all over my Honda Element. I stopped at my DIY car wash on the way home so I could get the mud off before the next 3 nights of 20 degrees.


Hope this helps!


SJS

 
Just called the dealership back, owner said if I wash it after every use I'll get 5-10 years out of it. Then I looked online at prices for replacement galvanized trailers to hold 17 foot boats... I can live with it. I'll replace with new trailer in 5 or so years for about $1200.
 
Ross, I'd bite the bullet and get a hot dipped galvanized trailer. Try to sell this one to someone on fresh water. Try to stay away from anything galvanized PLATED. I bought cabela guide on for two of my boats and got the hot dipped, have been on for a long time and look new. Friend got the cabela plated one and has replaced it a few times.
 
I suspect you will not get more that 1/2 to 2/3 of your money back selling it now.

If you can (weather would not allow me to do so now in Maine) spray some inside frame paint inside the frame, once completely dry, hit it with one of the rust preventive sprays (I prefer pfc, aka performance first class) repeat this yearly. When you see any rust on the exterior paint the exterior with a paint like POR15. Wash with fresh water as soon as reasonable. Maintained like this it should last years.

After I am in salt, I try to flush with fresh on the way home by stopping at a freshwater launch backing in (still strapped down) drop the motor run it for a bit. Easy-peasy.

Note: always immediately drop motor and allow to drain when freezing is possible before leaving the launch prep area.
 
David Allen said:
I suspect you will not get more that 1/2 to 2/3 of your money back selling it now.

If you can (weather would not allow me to do so now in Maine) spray some inside frame paint inside the frame, once completely dry, hit it with one of the rust preventive sprays (I prefer pfc, aka performance first class) repeat this yearly. When you see any rust on the exterior paint the exterior with a paint like POR15. Wash with fresh water as soon as reasonable. Maintained like this it should last years.

After I am in salt, I try to flush with fresh on the way home by stopping at a freshwater launch backing in (still strapped down) drop the motor run it for a bit. Easy-peasy.

Note: always immediately drop motor and allow to drain when freezing is possible before leaving the launch prep area.
Click to expand...

I have a fresh water ramp near the house I rarely use that may be the ticket, thanks.

And you are the right, because the trailer is custom welded for the boat nowhere I called today was keen on taking a trade in.
 
After a few years and you start seeing problems, immediately hit it with a wire brush and touch it up. The main problem I see on all saltwater trailers is if they have pipe or box tubing style axles and they rust from the inside out, doesn't matter if the whole trailer is galvanized or not.
 
It'll be fine, just wash it down if you want, spray the inside tubes with oil if you can and stop worrying... it will last years before it gets to the point of replacement. Here, its practically ocean water, everything is in the salt, even galv trailers don't last forever., besides, you don't buy galvanized cars....and cars cost a little more than a wee 17' boat trailer...

Take care of it best you can without making yourself crazy and your good....[;)]
 
Does it have breaks as well? I'd would get an estimate of what it . would cost to get the main tubing frame interior sprayed, either via a commercial truck bed liner vendor of use a do-it-yourself kit with a compressor and spray gun. Dipping the trailer at your freshwater ramp site will buy you time as well.
 

Hot dipped for sure.

I worked in the Gal shop for a tube mill, but not for long before I went to another department. All the old timers in the Gal shop had no teeth, due to the acid bath before the galvanization. Most drank milk everyday to try to stop the acid they were exposed to. Of course that did not work. Also Zinc is highly flammable, and there were some very impressive fires.

Every time I hear, or read the word "galvanized", the hot process goes through my mind. Some things ya never forget...


Had a galvanized trailer for my sneakbox & marshboat. As already stated the axles, etc. and everything that was not galvanized rusted after many years in fresh water.

Many good suggestions already given, so you should be fine. Nothing lasts forever.

Enjoy yer new boat.


VP
 
After each use find a fresh water ramp and back trailer in and out a few times to wash off salt. Last dip let her set deep enough to fire up motor to flush salt water out of it also. Will greatly extend the life of that motor and trailer.
 
Rossja,

This galvanizer is across the river from you in New Castle, Del. You could get your trailer dipped.

https://hotdipgalvanizing.com/locations

Rick Lathrop
 
This link is to an inside the frame rust paint.
https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-internal-frame-coating-14oz-aerosol.html?SRCCODE=PLA00020&gclid=CjwKCAiAwrf-BRA9EiwAUWwKXu8-2M-PUn3OL6z6aOXlkrev_KXt51wgJ4ThGKmyR-zsWMD-wZccFhoCRroQAvD_BwE
 
All~


Living in the road-salted Northeast - and having just had a frame repair on my 2003 Honda Element - which I plan to drive forever - it has always annoyed me that car manufacturers do not galvanize the frames on their vehicles. I expect the added cost at an industrial scale would be insignificant.



I recall old timers smirking at my Element - the first-year model series with the plastic quarter panels. It still looks fine - especially parked next to much younger Fords, Chevies, Dodges and even Toyotas showing body cancer. As Neil Young wisely observed many years ago....Rust Never Sleeps.



All the best,


SJS









 
One thing to consider is fluid film. I put it on my truck last year (and this year) and I'm amazed how well it works. I'm considering doing my boat trailer, I wish I has done it before its first saltwater bath, but I didn't want it there making fine tuning adjustments more difficult (it is messy to have on trailer and I wouldn't want to do much work on one that was treated).

If I had a leaf spring trailer for saltwater, no doubt I'd do the springs at least.
 
Preventative maintenance will be more important but really, galvanized or not, everyone who has a trailer should be doing this. I just get into the habit of washing off my trailer after EVERY dunk in salt. Takes literally 5 minutes. In winter, I run one of those collapsible garden hoses up from my basement slop sink up out my garage. That avoids having any outdoor freeze issues. When done, I throw the hose in a 5 gallon spackle bucket and leave in my boiler/laundry room. Up until November or so, one of my ramps has a courtesy wash down hose and I'll flush the motor/wash the trailer as soon as the boat comes out. Then it gets a nice air-dry on the highway.

Also, consider getting a little Salt-Away wash kit. They are rather inexpensive and you might get more effective washing and salt removal.
 
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