BigBendFishing.Net

Is there anyway to protect a steel painted trailor from saltwater damage, or just postpone the destruction?

sell it and buy an Alum. one. smart azz answer I know, but don't think I would trust a painted trailer more than 2 years or so before it started looking pretty bad and falling apart.

My experience with paint and saltwater aint been good...Galvanized trailers I've had have stood up well to the saltwater..One I just traded in was four years old and no sign of rust..Trailer wasn't that good though..Sposed to be gitting another galvanized one in the next couple weeks. Only issue with it is whether its coming with swing back tongue or not..

The problem you have is the water that gets inside and rusts from the inside out.

I HAVE A PAINTED STEEL TRAILER THAT IS OVER 30 YRS. OLD. I ALWAYS BACK ANY TRAILER DOWN IN FRESH WATER AFTER IT HAS BEEN IN SALT. THIS IS AN OLD GATOR TRAILER MADE BY PETERSON OUT OF JAX. IT HAS RUST ON IN NOW BUT NOT BAD, THE TRAILER IS STILL STRONG, THE SPRINGS GAVE OUT DUE TO RUST AFTER 10-12 YRS REPLACED THEM AND ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ON THERE NOW. ABOUT EVERY 5 YEARS I WOULD SAND BLAST IT AND REPAINT. THIS TRAILER IS A 1/4" CHANEL IRON, NOT LIKE THOSE FLEEMSY 1/16" TUBEULAR ONES THEY MAKE TODAY.
PA THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA

This is the trailer

I've got an old painted Gator tilt trailer also...made in 1975. Never been repainted, but needs to be done now. Mechanically, it's in very good shape, but cosmetically it could use some work. It was ALWAYS washed with fresh water after every use but still it's going to rust as shown in the pics.....great trailer though

When you say washed, was it with a water hose? Did you dip iut in fresh water? For no more than I have in the one I have, I may be tempted to work with it.

Both....mainly just washed with a brush/soap/water the same time the boat was washed after use.

I used a painted gator in salt for many years too, but it required sanding and repainting over the years and a good wash down after use. Evenutally, it wasnt worth saving.

A box frame trailer will fall apart quicker since they require dunking to remove the slat instead of just hosing off an open frame trailer.

DOLPHINATIC, BILL PETERSON WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, HE GAVE ME THE ONE I HAVE BECAUSE THERE WAS A SLIGHT BEND IN ONE OF THE CROSS MEMBERS. I HAVE ALWAYS BACKED MY TRAILERS DOWN IN FRESH WATER EVERY TIME I WENT IN SALT WITH THEM. LIKE YOU SAY THESE TRAILERS WERE MADE OUT OF CHANEL IRON 1/4 " THICK. I HAVE ANOTHER PAINTED IRON TRAILER THAT WAS MADE OUT OF TUBEULAR 1/8 " STEEL , IT WAS WEILDED SHUT ON ALL OF THE TUBES , I DRILLED 1/8 " HOLES DOWN ALL OF THE TUBES ABOUT 12 " APART SO THEY COULD DRAIN. I SPRAYED THE INSIDES WITH RED LEAD UNDER 80 # AIR PRESSURE WHICH COATED MOST OF IT. NOW I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE IS SOME RUST STARTING AROUND ALL OF THE HOLES THAT I DRILLED. THIS IS NOT TOO BAD SINCE THIS TRAILER IS A 1990 MODEL. I ALSO SAND BLAST AND PAINT THIS ONE ABOUT EVERY 5 YEARS. I ALSO HAVE A 1985 EVINRUDE THAT STILL IS PULLING 120 COMPRESSION ON ALL CYLINDERS, THIS ENGINE GOD KNOW HOW MANY HOURS ON IT, IS ALSO RUN IN FRESH WATER AFTER USE IN SALT. A LITTLE MAINTENANCE AND STORED OUT OF THE WEATHER MAKES A GREAT DIFFERENCE IN HOW LONG MARINE EQUIPMENT WILL LAST.
MY .02 CENTS
PA THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA