Boat Trailer Rusty -- Where to find Replacement?
 

I have a 1997 Princecraft 196 19.5' aluminum fishing/pleasure boat. The
trailer is showing a tremendous amount of rust. I suspect the rust may be
due to my launching it in sal****er a few times. However, every time I did
that I dumped the trailer in freshwater very soon afterwards.

Anyways... There's a lot of rust on the outside of the trailer. I can't see
inside the trailer shafts but I imagine there's rust in there as well. What
to do? Grind the rust off and use POR 15 or something? Or replace trailer?

If I replace trailer are there generic trailers for 20' boats or do I have
to get it from the manufacturer?

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

Painted or galvanized? Salt water trailers should be galvanized.
And it's a good idea for freshwater trailers too.

Trailers are generic. Quality varies. Look at the thickness of the
metal in the beams. Shorland'r is one good brand. Calkins was,
they retired and sold the biz, and the new ones have a good rep
too, but I can't remember the new name.

Brands are mostly regional. There are a couple of national brands
(Shorland'r, EzLoader, a few more).

Could there be some electrical contact between the aluminum
boat and the trailer? That might cause some galvanic action
(mmm, but I think it would eat the boat, not the trailer).

--
Chuck Tribolet

http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/people/triblet

Silicon Valley: STILL the best day job in the world.


"JW" wrote in message ...
I have a 1997 Princecraft 196 19.5' aluminum fishing/pleasure boat. The
trailer is showing a tremendous amount of rust. I suspect the rust may be
due to my launching it in sal****er a few times. However, every time I did
that I dumped the trailer in freshwater very soon afterwards.

Anyways... There's a lot of rust on the outside of the trailer. I can't see
inside the trailer shafts but I imagine there's rust in there as well. What
to do? Grind the rust off and use POR 15 or something? Or replace trailer?

If I replace trailer are there generic trailers for 20' boats or do I have
to get it from the manufacturer?

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

JW wrote:
I have a 1997 Princecraft 196 19.5' aluminum fishing/pleasure boat. The
trailer is showing a tremendous amount of rust. I suspect the rust may be
due to my launching it in sal****er a few times. However, every time I did
that I dumped the trailer in freshwater very soon afterwards.

Anyways... There's a lot of rust on the outside of the trailer. I can't see
inside the trailer shafts but I imagine there's rust in there as well. What
to do? Grind the rust off and use POR 15 or something? Or replace trailer?

If I replace trailer are there generic trailers for 20' boats or do I have
to get it from the manufacturer?

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.



If you are going to buy a new trailer, get an aluminum one with
stainless steel fasteners and a torsion bar axle. It will cost you a few
hundred more than a new galvanized trailer.

Most trailer manufacturers can set up a trailer for your boat if they
know what boat you have, and your dealer can take care of final adjustments.

Anyways... There's a lot of rust on the outside of the trailer. I can't see
inside the trailer shafts but I imagine there's rust in there as well. What
to do? Grind the rust off and use POR 15 or something? Or replace trailer?
If it's a painted steel trailer you might check around for some
galvanizing plants. You would need to remove bunks, rollers, axle etc.
but they can dip to remove all rust, paint etc. then dip in galv.
tanks. Would cost a lot less than a new trailer (I was going to do one
a couple of years ago and it seems it was less than $100.00).

"Tom" wrote in message
. ..

Anyways... There's a lot of rust on the outside of the trailer. I can't
see
inside the trailer shafts but I imagine there's rust in there as well.
What
to do? Grind the rust off and use POR 15 or something? Or replace
trailer?

If it's a painted steel trailer you might check around for some
galvanizing plants. You would need to remove bunks, rollers, axle etc.
but they can dip to remove all rust, paint etc. then dip in galv.
tanks. Would cost a lot less than a new trailer (I was going to do one
a couple of years ago and it seems it was less than $100.00).


$100 to remove rust & paint AND galvanize a 20 + foot
trailer. Did you mean $1000 ??

$100 to remove rust & paint AND galvanize a 20 + foot
trailer. Did you mean $1000 ??

Nope - I couldn't find the place I had checked with earlier but I
called another plant and their rate was .25 / pound with a minimum of
$150.00. Would still be a lot cheaper than a new one if the rust
hasn't eaten through the metal.

"How come the dealer who sold you the outfit, did not sell you a galvanized
trailer....

that dealer screwed you well........

What was this place called? What are this type of businesses called?

Thanks.

"Tom" wrote in message
. ..

$100 to remove rust & paint AND galvanize a 20 + foot
trailer. Did you mean $1000 ??

Nope - I couldn't find the place I had checked with earlier but I
called another plant and their rate was .25 / pound with a minimum of
$150.00. Would still be a lot cheaper than a new one if the rust
hasn't eaten through the metal.

On Tue, 17 Aug 2004 16:06:37 -0500, "JW"
wrote:

What was this place called? What are this type of businesses called?

I just did a search for "Galvanizing Houston". The place I called was
called Metalplate. http://www.metalplate.com/galvanizing/pitx.htm .
The one I talked to a few years ago was located about 40 miles east of
Houston but I can't remember the name (a friend of mine did a lot of
business with them). I'm pretty sure they took the trailer as/is
without sandblasting but I wouldn't swear to that. Good luck - let me
know if I can help in any way.

On Mon, 16 Aug 2004 23:50:37 -0500, "JW"
wrote:

I have a 1997 Princecraft 196 19.5' aluminum fishing/pleasure boat. The
trailer is showing a tremendous amount of rust. I suspect the rust may be
due to my launching it in sal****er a few times. However, every time I did
that I dumped the trailer in freshwater very soon afterwards.

Anyways... There's a lot of rust on the outside of the trailer. I can't see
inside the trailer shafts but I imagine there's rust in there as well. What
to do? Grind the rust off and use POR 15 or something? Or replace trailer?

If I replace trailer are there generic trailers for 20' boats or do I have
to get it from the manufacturer?

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

Get it galvanized if it's not to far gone. Look around in your area
for a galvanizer. Up in my neck of the universe, it's about $200 for
a trailer like that complete with acid bath. You will have to strip
the trailer down, but it's not a bad job.

If you are looking at a new one, I agree with Harry - aluminum is the
way to go.

Good luck.

Later,

Tom