Repainting boat trailer

[superflydudebike]

I need to repaint my trailer. It is a really old one and the paint is peeling and there are some rust spots starting to develop. I was thinking about using a wire brush on the peeling paint and then repainting. I'm not concerned with perfection. I just want it to last awhile. What type of paint should I use? Can I get by with using a bunch of cheap aerosol cans or will this only last a short time? I do not have a sprayer. Apply with brush? Again, I'm more concerned about the paint lasting than the up close appearance.

 

[tommays]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

Rustoleum and a paint brush is your friend AFTER you clean up ALL the bad spots


Tommays

 

[RobG]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

What I used on of my old trailers was duplicolor truck bed coating, it costs about 8.00 a can at Walmart and three cans put 3 good layers on my semi rusty trailer. It was for a 16 foot flat bottom boat. Just knock off anything loose. The finish has been rock hard for about 2 years now and makes the trailer look really nice.

here is the link:
http://www.duplicolor.com/products/truckbed.html

Rob

 

[Terry Olson]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

I used tractor and implement paint and it's held up very well. I hit the trailer with a wire brush on an angle grinder to remove all the loose stuff and sprayed it, but you can apply with a brush too.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

Can of rustoleum oil based. We have some that supposedly stops rust. Then, keep a spray can of the same stuff, and just touch up in places that get scratched up. Piece of cake.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

Wire brush and sander. Good brush and a thick coat of Rustoleum or 2 and it will not only look good but will last a good while.

 

[klicknative]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

A good prep job will not only make it look good but you'll get better adheson of the paint. After the sanding and brushing I like to give it a shot of Brakleen, especally anywhere there was oil or grease on the surface. I've had good luck with Rustolem and Plasticoat paint. To be on the safe side, use the same brand of paint for the primer and top coats.

 

[Wotam]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

>"What I used on of my old trailers was duplicolor truck bed coating,"

This stuff is tremendous. Word is getting out on how well it works in the 'marine' environment... but you do need to clean up underneath and prime first if you want it to last.

Sand, wire wheel or grind all loose rust, scale and paint away from the metal.

Use Ospho or similar 'rust-converter' product (usually a phosphoric acid solution) to chemically convert all iron oxide (active rust) to iron phosphate (pretty inert material).

Apply 2 coats of good quality rust-inhibiting primer.

Overcoat with duplicolor bed liner.

It will last a looong time, even in saltwater.

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

I boat in salt water and dip my trailer nearly every weekend. It's an old bass boat trailer so it's not galvanized (and not aluminum, either). When I first got it, I wire brushed and naval jellied all the rust spots. Then the whole trailer was coated with the rustoleum super rust-stop (or whatever the heck its called) spray cans. After eight or nine months, the rear crossmember was developing new rust (it already had a significant rust problem) so I grinded it back down and used POR-15 on it. It worked well, I am about to POR-15 the other two crossmembers as a preventative measure.


-E

 

[superflydudebike]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

Thanks for the feedback. I started the project yesterday. It seems to be taking forever. I used an angle grinder with a wire brush cup attachment. The brush is shot and I have not even finished the main beam. Would a crimped wire brush attachment work significantly better and last longer or is it typical to go through several of these brushes? I used the cheaper style brush (less aggressive). Also, I painted the section that I stripped and I did not apply a primer. I'm using Rustoleum royal blue from a can? Trailer was previously white. Will no primer be a problem? The trailer was heavily rusted but I made sure I got rid of all rust areas before applying paint. Also I'm stripping and painting in sections as I live in a rainy area. Is this problematic? Thanks.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

I would definitely use a primer. In a couple years you will be going over some new rusty spots. You don't want to have to redo what you are doing now as well.

 

[PondTunes]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

The wire brush on a grinder is the way to go but like everyone says priming will help the paint stay on there longer, I highly recommend a product called penetrol, you can pick it up a sherwin williams or maybe lowes. Slop it on with a paint brush and let it sit a few days, then come back with a good coat of rustoleum and your paint will be there a very long time. Every trailer we've built gets a coat of penetrol before paint and it really helps with the corrosion and paint adhesion. If you read the can it is supposed to be a paint conditoner but just brush it on by itself and let it sit a few days.

The stuff is NOT cheap about $20.00 a gallon, it took about 1/2 gallon to do my 26' trailer pictured below. After using it it also took less than 1 gallon of black rustoleum to paint the entire thing, brake hubs, axles, and under the fenderwells.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

Nice trailer PondTunes...

 

[pitahui]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

POR-15 for painting trailers hands down.

This stuff is tough as nails, and has positivly stopped rust in our harsh salt water enviroment.
www.por15.com

 

[MercGuy]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

I have to ask, what about the inside of the trailer ?

My assumption has always been that painting the outside is nice for cosmetic reasons, but the real rust develops on the inside where the trailer has probably never been painted, and the water does not get a good chance to dry.

 

[PondTunes]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

If your trailer has been boxed you should drill some drain holes in the lowest points if it doesn't have them already. Also after every use rinse down the trailer and boat with clean fresh water.

The trailer in the picture above was built using steel channel, thus there is no place for the water to become trapped, but it seems most galvanized trailers are boxed frame and could need a drain hole or two added!

 

[hopalong]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

A lot of trailer manf. including Shorelandr, Loadmaster to name a few do not have predrilled holes on the bottom of the cross members! This is the structure that crosses under the trailer and attaches at each side. These cross members are connected high to the sides of the trailer then curve down and back up to the other side. result...it traps water in the lowest part and in there the water will eat up the metal from inside out. Drill an 1/8" hole on the bottom of the cross piece at the lowest point so all the water can drain. You would be suprised to know how much water is trapped there, some up to a half gallon! After you drill the hole coat the hole with a sealer/paint that will adhere to the metal and seal out the rust and or corrosion.

I had a Shorelandr galvanized trainler that I had to replace these cross pieces within 3 years of salt water usage. There were no signs of rust anywhere outside on the surface, it rusty from within. If I had not found it the boat would have been launched off the trailer while towing. I drilled the holes for the Loadmaster trailer I have now.

 

[superflydudebike]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

Well, I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Almost finished. This "project" was no easy picnic. It took much longer than anticipated and even resulted in an arm infection from a piece of rusted wire that was embedded under the skin. I went with an angle grinder and several layers of Rustoleum mixed with Penetrol as needed. My main purpose in writing is to ask about the brand of the trailer. Under layers of old paint, I found a decal that said it was a Republic Boat Trailer. Serial number and year were unreadable. I did a brief internet search and could not find out anything. Out of business? Any word on quality of this tilt trailer? It seems solidly built and my father-in-law upgraded the wheels from 8 inches to 12. I estimate that it is at least 40 years old. I believe it was manufactured in Indiana. Curiosity killed the cat and satisfaction brought him back. Thanks.

 

[superflydudebike]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

Any information on Republic boat trailers?

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Repainting boat trailer

Not that it would help you much now, but I am sure someone might need to see this. You talked about wearing out wire wheels. Dewalt makes this real mean one, pictured below. It comes in both cup type, and this standard type, and fits 4 or 4 1/2 inch angle grinders. We have a standard, and a cup type, and so far, each one has out lasted 3 of the old style ones, and we haven't gotten near the end of it. Plus, it preps it a tad faster, but doesn't eat into the steel like a grinding disk would.