Although I wash my boat and trailer with fresh water after I sail, my trailer has accumulated a fair amount of rust from ocean water. Any suggestions for getting rid of it? Appreciate your ideas in advance!
Remove as much rust as you can. Encapsulate rust with a primer and paint. Every six months touch up the trailer as new rust appears.
See - https://m17-375.com/2009/05/23/trailer-renovation-rust-to-shine/
Dave described the correct way to maintain a very rusty trailer.
If you just have some spot rust, I've had good results with Rustoleum Rust Reformer.
https://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/stops-rust/rust-reformer
It is a metal primer that chemically converts the rust into an inert layer. You would then need to top coat with paint. There are silver/gray metal paints that wouldn't look too dissimilar from your galvanized trailer.
Available at all the big box DIY stores.
Dan
Thank you both! I'll give both those tips a try!!!
Quote from: Shesaidno on Jun 12, 2023, 12:53 AMAlthough I wash my boat and trailer with fresh water after I sail, my trailer has accumulated a fair amount of rust from ocean water. Any suggestions for getting rid of it? Appreciate your ideas in advance!
I have this problem too— particularly on the springs. How big a pain is it to take them apart, paint, then reassemble them?
Quote from: Quantico Frank on Jun 13, 2023, 06:11 AM...the springs. How big a pain is it to take them apart, paint, then reassemble them?
Buy new springs if they look compromised, otherwise just leave them be.
After 15 years of launch/ retrieve in salt water, my trailer is starting to show some rusty bolts, and brackets The frame is fine. The wooden bunks look okay from what I can see. What I find odd is some bolts and brackets look just fine, which leads me to believe that the quality control for the steel brackets and bolts was not that great. I always give the trailer a good long washdown. My plan is to float the boat off early one morning and replace the bolts and brackets. Hopefully they will not be too much of a pain to remove and replace. The springs look in good shape.
Leaf springs i have always slathered them with grease