Shoreland'r Rusted Through

[eddy2419]

I bought a well kept 1998 21' Wellcraft CC with galvinized Shoreland'r trailer recently. The trailer is in excellent condition except for one thing. On each side rail, about 1 " behind where they are welded to the tongue, there is a rust through on top about 3" long and 1" wide. The weird thing thing is that they are exactly the same on both sides. No other rust through except here. I plan on having it fixed. <br /><br />Has anyone else experienced this condition? Any suggestions on proper way it fix it?

 

[brine]

Re: Shoreland'r Rusted Through

can you post a picture?

 

[eddy2419]

Re: Shoreland'r Rusted Through

Not set up for it right now. <br /><br />Imagine placing 1/2 of a hot dog (a small, cheap one) on the top rail, in line with the rail, 3/4" aft of the weld that joins the rails to the toungue. The hot dog would represent the affected area on both rails.<br /><br />There may have been a hole drilled in the rail at the rear of the spots. It was too rusted to know for sure.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Shoreland'r Rusted Through

Any reliable repairs are going to involve a Welder..........

 

[rwidman]

Re: Shoreland'r Rusted Through

Originally posted by Bondo:<br /> Any reliable repairs are going to involve a Welder..........

I don't believe galvanized steel can be welded. Or at least it's highly toxic while being welded and will rust soon afterwards.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Shoreland'r Rusted Through

While Welding Galvanized is alittle more involved than Plain Steel,.......<br /><br />It's Still Weldable,........<br /><br />The Extra Steps include,....<br /><br />Grinding most of the Galv. Off the area to be welded......<br /><br />And,... Working Outdoors, or with Fans,... The Burnt Off Galv. IS Highly Toxic,.......<br /><br />Stick welding works Best,.. due to the Contaminants.........<br />It takes alittle more Clean Up, before welding with a Mig.......<br />And,... If you're using a shielding gas,... It tends to get Blown Away, by your Fans......<br /><br />After the job is Done,.... Reground,+ Cleaned Up,........<br />A Spraycan of Cold Galvanizing will keep the rust,.... Somewhat at bay........<br />Granted,... It's Not Hot-Dipped,....... But it Does work..........

 

[BrettNC]

Re: Shoreland'r Rusted Through

I am having the exact same thing going on with mine. I read your post last week. I went to the beach last weekend and noticed the same rust happening in the exact same spot on the trailer. Even the same dimensions. Let me know what you did to repair the problem.

 

[eddy2419]

Re: Shoreland'r Rusted Through

Is yours a Shorelandr also???

After much thought, I just put some duct tape over the holes, hooked it up and made 2 600 mile roundtrips to the coast. On mine there is a solid plate cross member welded on aft of the rusted out spots. It is welded to both the tounge and side frames. This would have to fail in order for it to come apart. I even remembered my previous boat's trailer (17 ft CC) only had a square tube cross member u-bolted to the sides and tounge and the sides were not welded to the tounge.