LD wrote:
I guess the lesson I've learned is to clean, protect, rinse, and remove any
salt deposits or any suspected deposits from any steel. Deposits are not so
bad (where easily seen) on glass, aluminum and fiberglass. Although I have
an "aluminum" trailer which is relatively unaffected by the salt, I now do a
through rinse job on the steel wheels, axles, springs, wheeled jack, exposed
steel fasteners on the engine and do a freshwater flush when I get back to
the house. It dawned on me that in spite of the care I now take, the
trailer sets out all day after launching the boat, potentially rusting away
while I'm out fishing. Time permitting, I try to inspect the axles and all
steel hardware on the trailer at the launch when the boat is off and even
take a wet (fresh water) sponge, wipe off the salt at a nick and touch up
with a can of Rust-Oleum. Hopefully this will make the equipment last much
longer.
LD


I've wondered if it would be worthwhile taking along one of the hand
pump, pressurized garden sprayers full of fresh water. You could give a
quick spray as soon as the trailer comes out of the water.... should
help until a proper hosing can be done.