Taking the plunge into saltwater...

[utahrd]

Okay Guys (and Gals),

I will be putting my boat into a relatively isolated part of the Pacific Ocean this summer, and want you all to double-check my thinking on the preparation. This is really about the trailer...as it is the biggest identifiable issue. I have a beautiful painted trailer. I know dipping it in salt water is not the best idea...but after EXTENSIVE research on the topic I have decided it is probably my best option with appropriate preparation.

Of course, if anybody would like to swap out their galvanized trailer for my painted one + some cash, let me know. I live in Salt Lake City. Barring that option, here is what I have considered:

Abandoned Idea: Buying a new Aluminum or galvanized trailer: don't want to spend $3500 right now

Abandoned Idea: Boat lift-- my destination has no boat lift within 40 miles of where I am boating. Plus, weather, and conditions and unfamiliarity with the coastline make the 40 mile journey seem unsafe. also not cheap $400 for lifts plus gas cost

Abandoned Idea: rental trailers. I have identified rental trailer companies, but cost of renting will end up $1500 for my long duration trip. No option to rent for only the days I need to launch and retrieve at my destination because no rental companies within $300 each way gas cost.

Abandoned Idea: galvanizing my painted trailer. I gave this one a lot of thought. I could dissassemble my trailer, get it sandblasted, and take it to a galvanizer. The galvanizing would cost ~$400, the sandblasting between $150-$300 depending on if I do it myself or not. This would be an interesting solution, but I have no timely or inexpensive way to remove the boat from the trailer and transport and load a trailer frame to a galvanzier, and the time to dissassemble and reassemble a trailer makes this option more of a "too much of a pain" than cost issue. If you live in or near salt lake and are willing to do this work at a fairly reasonable price, let me know.

PREFACE to the planned idea: I know that nothing I do will keep corrosion from setting in on the painted trailer. If I can get 4-5 years out of my trailer, I will be happy.

PLANNED IDEA:

1. Professional bearing re-pack
2. ensure all exterior paint is in good condition, and use rustoleum to touch up existing nicks.
3. spray "fluid Film" (http://www.fluid-film.com/) with my pressure sprayer inside all tubular steel of the frame. (i have identified a spray wand attachment that will let me extend about 30 inches into the steel cavities. Also spray entirety of exterior.
4. Fabricate some type of intenal plug at the open ends of all open tubular steel.
5. Use Black 3m 4200 to seal all internal plugs, as well as holes where wires and lights exit the trailer frame, as well as around all welds. Goal is to seal the tubular steel so no water reaches within
6. Spray a ton of fluid film on all axles, hubs, etc.
7. Only launch boat when bearings are not hot, so as not to draw saltwater into hubs/bearings
8. after launching, wash trailer off completely with tons of freshwater, or go to carwash with trailer and rinse. Salt-Away or similar product also a consideration at the wash step (will salt-a-way interfere with fluid-film coating?)

So there you have it. What do you all think of this idea. My trailer is in excellent shape now. With this system, can I expect 4-5 years with this trailer?

 

[Bruce]

How many times per year do you plan to launch in salt water during this 4 to 5 year period?

Will you clean the trailer immeadietly after launching?

Sealing the trailer may be a bad idea as it would prevent any salt water that gets inside escaping.

 

[Wayloncle]

The main part of my trailer that I worry about is the cross members, they get water in them when you dunk but there is no way to clean them out, unless you go park it in some fresh water.

One of my cross members has a drain hole in the bottom, the others don't. Water also seeps by the 3 lights in the rear crossmember.

I stick a water hose in the front of the main frame tube and let it run through the inside of both sides but that doesn't rinse the crossmembers out.

But after a year my trailer stills looks good and is still solid...I go around it and bang on it with a ball peen hammer every few months to check for weak spots.

There is an SX230 in my storage lot on a painted trailer. I don't underwear and how the boat isn't sitting on the ground, it is BAD! That may be the reason I have never seen the boat not there.

 

[utahrd]

How many times per year do you plan to launch in salt water during this 4 to 5 year period?

Will you clean the trailer immeadietly after launching?

Sealing the trailer may be a bad idea as it would prevent any salt water that gets inside escaping.

I plan on only 2 -3 launch/retrieves per year. and rinsing right away after launch. I agree that sealing may be a bad idea. Nevertheless, I have drilled many large holes in the boat and sealed with 3m and not leaked. curious if anyone has done this?

 

[Justin G.]

@utahrd, I have the same predicament. We live in central Illinois and are attending the Bimini trip this July for the first time. Our painted trailer is also in excellent condition as it is only 6 months old, and would like to keep it that way. We are having a problem finding a boat yard that would lift the boat off the trailer because it is 4th of July weekend. I have thought about "adding", aka drilling, holes to the bottom of the cross members to allow any water to drain out. Adding sounds much better than the alternative drilling. Do you know if the cross members are open to the sides? My boat is in storage right now and do not remember. It would depend on the construction of the trailer if you could "add holes to the top of the cross members for flush out points.
Just an idea as I am not sure what the best solution is.

 

[Williamsone46]

Williamson Ocean Trailers has the facility to remove and store your boat as well as disabled and coat your trailer.

 

[utahrd]

Williamson Ocean Trailers has the facility to remove and store your boat as well as disabled and coat your trailer.

@Williamsone46 Any chance you can provide a rough estimate or range for what this cost? This is a common, and recurring type of question for people with painted trailers.

As far as I can tell, the facility would have to lift the boat off of the trailer, sandblast all tghe painted surfaces, dissaseemble the trailer, possibly drill some drain holes in the tubular steel to allow for zinc to flow through the immersion, and then reassemble and put the boat back on. A price estimate or range would be really, really helpful. Since your handle @Williamsone46 is similar to the trailer company, I was hoping you might know?

jon

 

[utahrd]

Do you know if the cross members are open to the sides? My boat is in storage right now and do not remember. It would depend on the construction of the trailer if you could "add holes to the top of the cross members for flush out points.
Just an idea as I am not sure what the best solution is.

I presume the cross members are open, which is why I was thinking about coating the welds circumferentially with 3m4200. I also considered sealing the tubes, but adding some freshwater flush valves...best of both worlds?

 

[Williamsone46]

@utahrd my Dad and uncle started it 30 years ago but since then my Dad sold his portion. I don't have anything to do with it so I'm not sure what a cost would be.

 

[utahrd]

@utahrd my Dad and uncle started it 30 years ago but since then my Dad sold his portion. I don't have anything to do with it so I'm not sure what a cost would be.

Okay, thanks for the quick reply. I will contact them on Monday. I am guessing it wont be inexpensive though.

Anyone else like my original idea?

 

[Backwash]

I have a galvanized trailer with galvanized wheels for my 07 210 I would consider making a deal on with a painted one. Would be extremely rare if I ever use in saltwater.

 

[utahrd]

I have a galvanized trailer with galvanized wheels for my 07 210 I would consider making a deal on with a painted one. Would be extremely rare if I ever use in saltwater.

@Backwash ... I will pm you...

 

[robert843]

I still think this is one of the most over worried issues. I live on the coast in South Carolina. We launch our deck boat in salt water every year on a white painted shore lander trailer. I do only launch once in the beginning of the season and retrieve once at the end as the boat stays in a marina for the summer. We have no issues with the trailer caused by the salt water the worst I have had happen is my winch strap snapped but that was from age and years of sitting in the sun as we do store that trailer outside. If you are only doing one to two launchs a year you should be ok but if you are launching a lot more than that I would be concerned. The items I would concentrate on are any bolts that are exposed they seem to have rust issues from the salt water easily but they actual trailer parts seem to hold up well.

 

[utahrd]

Williamson Ocean Trailers has the facility to remove and store your boat as well as disabled and coat your trailer.

Williamson said it was a big job. They gave me an over-the-phone estimate of $1800. I declined.

I think I am going with the spray everything down with fluid film idea. @robert843 makes a good point. I am probably overthinking it given the sporadic annual use.

 

[Britboater]

I'd definitely not seal any tubes or bars on your trailer, if any salt water, and it will, gets in it needs to be able to get out and for you to flush any residue.
I'd also drill drain holes to any cross members at their lowest point then seal the freshly exposed metal with paint.
I haven't looked in the US but in the UK we have a rust proofing product called "Waxoyl" it's derived from the old "slushing oil" as used years ago by ship builders and military. Basically it's a mix of wax, oil and grease and covers the metal to stop any rusting.
The main reason I'm mentioning this product is they sell an extension probe that gets the Waxoyl coated in a 360 degree pattern inside inaccessible areas, it's a flexable tube of about 4ft with a stopper in the end, when the Waxoyl is sprayed at pressure it then hits the stopper and is deflected in a round spray pattern, thus coating all the interior of a bar etc, I found a pic for your reference.

 

[utahrd]

Thanks @Britboater. The "fluid Film" product i mentioned in the OP also comes with a similar extension wand, and many have good reports with it.

 

[Julian]

Mine has been dipped once a year in salt water....but shortly thereafter she goes back home to a fresh water lake. What I do there is launch the boat, then back the trailer in really deep, drive out and let drain, and dip again. I do this up to 3 times (if no one is waiting on the ramp). That way the interior of all the tubes gets completely submerged. I'll bet my trailer has less trace of salt than those of you driving your trailers on salty roads up north!

 

[Wayloncle]

Thanks @Britboater. The "fluid Film" product i mentioned in the OP also comes with a similar extension wand, and many have good reports with it.

I used Fluid Film as well, I really like it, I saw an article comparing several different brands of protectant sprays, fluid film was up top with CRC or whatever it is.

 

[4x15mph]

I don't think rinsing the trailer down with fresh water will remove the salt. You want to use something like salt-a-way, other products, or dunk it in a fresh water ramp and let it sit for a few

I think other than that, plan to spend the money to replace your non-galvanized since that is what you will want to do a few years from now. You may be okay if it really is only 2 or 3 times per season

 

[dzeppos]

Mine has been dipped once a year in salt water....but shortly thereafter she goes back home to a fresh water lake. What I do there is launch the boat, then back the trailer in really deep, drive out and let drain, and dip again. I do this up to 3 times (if no one is waiting on the ramp). That way the interior of all the tubes gets completely submerged. I'll bet my trailer has less trace of salt than those of you driving your trailers on salty roads up north!

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