22 Dec 20:
Our good friend Eddie of Eddie English Boat Trailer in Milton, Florida shared an article with us on trailer maintenance, Rust Never Sleeps, posted at https://www.nzfishingworld.co.nz/.../rust-never-sleeps.... Our boats are only as good as our trailers, and the article points out some key items to look for. What we were surprised to learn is that rust grows from inside a box frame to outside, so by the time an external spot appears, there is extensive rust inside the frame. So it is just as important to rinse off a trailer as it is a boat. Some folks even carry a pump sprayer with them to rinse off their trailer after launching, as they can get to all the nooks and crannies easier. Rhett English mentions that a lot of corrosion starts where the bunks drip on the frame and axle, while folks are out boating. When the boat is in the water is a good time to check rollers, bunks, hardware, axles, etc that are usually hidden by the boat. We have rehabbed a few trailers and the problem spots we see are corroded U bolts on the axle, so bad that a wrench can not grip the nut, and leaf springs corroded to the point where leaves start to fall off. And rusty fenders, don't even get me started on that...So don't stop at just the tires, wheels and bearings, give the whole trailer a good looksee. Or swing by Eddie's Magic Kingdom and his team will take care of it for you, or send your boat down the road with a shiny new trailer.
Eddie and Skipper, with her "new" trailer aka My Grandfather's axe, or Theseus' Ship. All Skipper's trailer needed was a new coupler, safety chains, tongue, bow stop, winch, winch strap, hook, bow roller, keel rollers, roller plates, axle, axle hardware, springs, spring bolts, nuts, washers, hubs, bearings, wheels, tires, guide posts, LED lights...Eddie fixed up CYANE's "new" trailer so it will be good for our grandkids.
