Yard trailer - rust protection

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conor54

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Hi All,

In October 2009 I got a new yard trailer made for storing my boat ashore for the winters. The project started in July but was delivered just before lift out! I had intended galvanising or painting it last summer but......never got around to it. Now the boat is back in the water I think I really should do something.

Like moorings and anchors, rust protection seems to be a religion of many churches. Some say galvanise, some say paint. I can find out locally about galvanising but I don't have any idea about what sort of paint systems are available and whether there would be any savings by doing the painting myself.

Any advice on what paint systems would work, what is the necessary preparation, and what skill level is required by the painter!

Thanks,

Conor

Trailer pictures:

IMG_1240.jpg

IMG_1239.jpg
 
Galvanizing is costed by the Kg of the metal being treated. Your trailer will cost a fortune. Vactan off ebay (for some reason it is cheaper there) and a top coat is what I would do.
 
I coated mine with Waxoyl, the clear not the black - it's more penetrative. Mine was if anything more badly rusted than yours. It seems to stop the corrosion worsening. I'll probably give it a further application next winter. You can get it from Halfords and probably from other places more cheaply. Do a Google search.
 
I have a very similar yard trailer as yourself,
Dont pay a lot of money for "super" paint.
Any old cheap stuff will do , just give it a coat every season your boat goes in.
Hose down every time trailer comes out of water, alot round the wheel bearings and joints.
You will never beat the rust, just hold it at bay..
:eek::eek:
 
Thank goodness it's made of I section steel and not box.
The odd bit of box I'd suggest drilling a 5/16ths hole underneath next to each end (beside the weld) to allow water to drain out after any immersion or condensate to find a way out.

I've had a lot of success with Gate Black paint recently. Angle grinder with a twisted spiral wire brush and paint it onto the bare steel.
Google for it.
 
Get it shot blasted and before leaving site (where it was blasted) paint with red ozide primer before bring to yard, then finish paint.
 
I was given a climbing frame for my kids many years ago. It was quite rusty so I painted it with Hammerite. It was only supposed to last a year or so, until I could afford to buy a replacement. It lasted for years. I would be interested to hear is anyone else has any experience with Hammerite, good or bad.
Allan
 
Hamerite will not stop sea water rust..

I painted my old trailer with Hamerite.
Rust still comes through.
Must admit not as much, but still rusts.
We must remember, sea water is probably the most corrosive substance to metel.
My previous trailer was "box" metal, a bloody nightmare for rust it was, ie- water laying in the box so it rusted within, ( and i drilled holes ).
When i had my trailer made for my new tub, i had it made from "c" section iron so no water lays within.
End of the day, we must hose down trailer after it comes out of the water.
Slap on a coat of paint every other season, and all should be well.
PS,Grease up your bearings and any movable parts of trailer.
My club we all have trailers, so we ,paint, paint, grease all the time.
HAVE FUN ..:D:D
 
here's a pic of my trailer, painted (spray) with Hammerite over basic red oxide.

Built over ten years ago, and used regularly, when not stored in a drafty dampish barn.

The most exposed parts (mudguards) are in need of a repaint, but the frame paint is relatively OK, except where it has been scraped and had scaffolding poles dropped on it.


I would be ready to use Hammerite again.
 
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Yes, Hammerite is ok if you can store your boat and trailer in a barn over winter.
90% of us have our boats layed up, in a wind swept yard over winter.
Open to the elements.
Also most clubs are within 50 metres of the coast, so sea air also is corrosive.....
 
And do not forget to either remove the wheels or put covers over the tyres if you don't want to replace them very soon.
 
Your tyres will be ok, open to the elements.
Just make sure trailer is "chocked" up, when boat is on it, so not to put pressure on tyres and force them out of shape..

"PAINT, PAINT AND PAINT SOME MORE...:D:D:D
 
Some time since we did it but when we built a dinghy combi trailer and launching trolley the cost of galvanising worked out at about 50% more than painting...we did not want to paint so we probably costed our time in as well but in the time since the launching trolley has been in water hundreds of times and the trailer lives by the sea.
Apart from greasing the bearings maintenance has been nil....so I have three trailers including the one we built for dinghy, racing yacht and dory and in the last 15 years have probably spent less than 30 minutes greasing them.
but obviously you have to look after tyres and brakes.
That is a super yard trailer you have built and if it had been galvanised it may have seen your grandchildrem out....so in the long term galvanising is the cheapest option but if you have to paint I prefer Rustolene to Hammerite
 
If you can get hold of any - because the thought police have banned it - good old fashioned creosote is unbeatable. Paint straight on, maybe chip off exfoliating rust but surface rust seems to give it something to soak into. Smells a bit, but so what? Lasts almost for ever. I wouldn't put the trailer in the water for a season until its dried off a bit though.

The modern "substitute" is, of course, completely useless. For anything except B&Q's profits, that is.
 
Hammerite do a rust eater type primer. I bought a (very) second hand steel box trailler over thirty years ago. I've replaced the wood three times, each time wire-brushing off the accumulated rust and re-treating with Hammerite. The chassis is still going strong. Waxoil any box sections. Even has the original mudguards.
 
I think it's been mentioned a few times on these forums that Hammerite has changed formula in recent years.
It's now no better than household paint. (IMO)
 
It's a very substantial trailer so even without any treatment will last for many years - but, having said that, I feel that you will get better value in the long term by having it pickled then galvanised.
Paint systems are all very well IF you apply them properly and in particular prepare the substrate (the metal) correctly. This involves sand blasting to SA 21/2 including all the nooks and crannies and immediately applying a zinc rich primer. It's amazing how quickly surface rusting accurs. If you don't do this, you will get corrosion starting in these areas. In my experience rust treatments like Fertan etc are largely a waste of time.
By all means price out the alternatives but I'm sure that to protect a lovely trailer like yours galvanising is the way to go.
 
I have had two yard trailers made and these days I have a steel cradle.
I could have replaced any of them for less than the cost of galvanising after assembly.
I would suggest using a zinc rich primer making sure to cover everything as many coats as patience allows, ( I use a zinc primer sold to farmers in big tins) then cover with ordinary gloss, (quicker with a 4" roller with a brush for corners) and slap another coat on every year during the summer. You will still get some rust particularly in the legs but they look as if they are replaceable. I tried bitumen roof paint for the top coat, its good but once you put that on you are stuck with it as it can not be overcoated with anything else. I did at one time have a great primer for this which was marketed for painting machinery in bacon factories where there is a lot of water and salt but I have long forgotten what it was called.
 
Search for POR15. Its a direct to rust paint that does what its says.
Far better and stronger than hammerite, can even be used as a filler for gelcoat on fibreglass and also can be used below the waterline on steel. You may need the top coat pro15 aswell though as the uv light does apparently affect the rust prevention part.
 
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