Taking the plunge into saltwater...

[Jeel]

Just checking on this older post - but are still using your boat in salt water occasionally, and then dipping the boat and trailer into a fresh water lake afterwards to clean it out?
I dunked my painted shorelander trailer in salt water for the first time in June, (and only time), the and within 18 hours had dunked it repeatedely into a fresh water lake to clean the trailer (and the boat out).
Was curious to see if you saw any rust deposits on the trailer with your boat?
I am more concerned about this issue now, because my local marina in Dana Point shut down the public boat hoist (which was awesome as I didn't need to put the trailer into the ocean). Now that its closed, I'm stuck with a painted trailer and I do occasionally want to take the boat into the ocean. I have a fresh water lake nearby to clean it out, and after a few years, wanted to see how this has gone for you?
thanks
DZ

I had a painted trailer from 2007 to 2018 and it was used in salt water several times a year ..i rinsed it real good with salt away and it finally started to rust real bad in 2017, and i finally replaced it 2018. @dzeppos

 

[OCMD]

Off topic, but would it be smart to spray some of that fluidfilm to the underside of my brand new truck before dunking into salt water with the trailer? Assuming I take my boat out this season lol which is almost over. I just do not want another underside problem as I had with my old Silverado for all the dunkings it took over the last ten or so years.

 

[Julian]

Just checking on this older post - but are still using your boat in salt water occasionally, and then dipping the boat and trailer into a fresh water lake afterwards to clean it out?
I dunked my painted shorelander trailer in salt water for the first time in June, (and only time), the and within 18 hours had dunked it repeatedely into a fresh water lake to clean the trailer (and the boat out).
Was curious to see if you saw any rust deposits on the trailer with your boat?
I am more concerned about this issue now, because my local marina in Dana Point shut down the public boat hoist (which was awesome as I didn't need to put the trailer into the ocean). Now that its closed, I'm stuck with a painted trailer and I do occasionally want to take the boat into the ocean. I have a fresh water lake nearby to clean it out, and after a few years, wanted to see how this has gone for you?
thanks
DZ

My trailer is galvanized...so less of an issue.

 

[I_squared_r]

I think that you should rinse really good with a pressure washer and then coat with WD40. Luckily at my boat ramp we have really good water pressure and it takes the salt off. It should have enough pressure to push your hand back with some force, otherwise the salt stays on everything!

 

[Cambo]

My neighbor found a great deal on a used boat in 2007 used on a lake with a steel MFI trailer it was so good he could have purchased two new trailers so he didn’t mind using it solely in salt water. The trailer lasted lasted 10 seasons he did nothing to prep it for salt water or maintain it. The brake rotors go first maybe 2 - 3 seasons . Then cross members about 5-7 seasons after that He would only trust it for short trips the frame eventually had a large hole . It rots out from the inside out fluid film should help and check if there is a drain in the cross member maybe a flush port installed in them would help. My galvanized trailer was the biggest expense of boat ownership in salt water the frame lasted but every other part had to be replaced brakes 3 times axles leaf springs jack and winch and with all that was not bad over the 13 seasons . To make a steel trailer last before it is dunked use some type of item like fluid film on the interior frame members . Then for winterization spray Ospho it chemically changes rust I tested it on my sons sailboat trailer leaf springs, one side was sprayed the other not the side not sprayed continued to rust over the 8 months that it sat stored. Its not 100% rust free but about 60% better the fluid film on top of it would have probably netted even better results.

 

[Jeel]

Off topic, but would it be smart to spray some of that fluidfilm to the underside of my brand new truck before dunking into salt water with the trailer? Assuming I take my boat out this season lol which is almost over. I just do not want another underside problem as I had with my old Silverado for all the dunkings it took over the last ten or so years.

I would rinse the truck with salt away...

 

[Britboater]

I think with a painted trailer your always going to be against rust.