Trailer

[tsmyth]

A question for a chemist, I think?

I recently bought a trailer salier, and the trailer has been frequently submerged in salt water - and I suspect not rinsed off in fresh?

It is galvanized, but it appers to have what might be a calcium depost on the galv.

Does seawater deposit calcium or some other salt, or does it react with zinc resulting in some form of salt deposit?

Should I try to clean this off? If so, how?

Ray

<hr width=100% size=1>Heat Wave

 

[KeithH]

Ray

I suspect that the white material is zinc oxide - the product of the zinc doing its job in trying to protect the iron. I would not try to remove the deposit mechanically, as it may expose holes on the galvanising layer.

However, a good wash with fresh water can only do good in removing some of the salt from the sea water immersion. Remember that there will probably be box sections - so the inside will need a good wash to reduce corrosion from the inside.

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[dickh]

And I would check the wheel bearings very carefully! If you have to renew, make sure you regrease them immediately after launching the boat to drive out any salt water. (make sure the bearings are cool though before dunking them.

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[aitchw]

My trailers exhibited similar deposits. I washed and scoured them with a nylon/plastic pan scourer to get the loose off and then brushed a coat of a product called Waxyoil over the entire chassis. Brushed out thinly it eventually dries to a softish wax which doesn't easily rub off and I have had no further build up. It doesn't need a thick coating and can be refreshed quickly and cheaply once in a while. It leaves the trailer looking 'galvanised'. I don't know if you have it in Oz but is used here to protect vehicle chassis and other exterior steelwork from the elements. It's pretty cheap. It is NOT the type with black btitumen in. That's useless as it skins over and can trap moisture underneath. It's also ugly as sin.

I have changed my trailer arrangement now for trailer sailing to using an unsprung non road going trailer as a launch trolley and move it and the boat on a car transporter trailer. The road braked trailer never goes in the water at all.

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[MarkV]

You can get things called bearing savers that maintain the greese in the bearings under pressure (they have a sprung piston) I intend fitting a set of these this year to my trailer.

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[VicS]

I more or less agree but since ZnO reacts slowly with water to form the hydroxide that may be present also and since that presumably absorbs CO2 from the air zinc carbonate may be pesent also. I do agree that the deposit is left, other than what can be removed with a stiff brush. I also agree with the idea of using Waxoyl especially inside hollow sections.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>Ne te confundant illegitimi.</font color=purple>

 

[tsmyth]

Thank you all folks for your comments.

I "scrubbed" most of the trailer with a wire brush on an angle grinder. It took of some deposit, and in some places the surface underneath was rusted. So, I have treated these parts with rust killer, pimed, and painted.

Obviously, I cannoit do this inside box sections, so I have tried to wsh inside these with a hose.

Ray

<hr width=100% size=1>Heat Wave

 

[floatything]

May I suggest that you 'waxoil' the inside of the trailer box sections, and then seal them up (either weld or bang blocks of wood in the openings. I tend to mix the waxoil with old engine oil and brake fluid because a) it is cheaper and b) it tends to 'soak in' to the metal surface / rust better. This will stop further rot from inside.



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[tsmyth]

Thank you very much for the suggestion. I have not heard of "waxoil" but I will investigate.

I hope I have not created the impression that my trailer if "full of" rust, but there are some patches. Obviously, I cannot see inside the box sections, so I do not know about what is in there. I need one of those fancy CIA type mini cameras using optical fibres (or US fibers).

Ray

<hr width=100% size=1>Heat Wave