How to prevent jack from seizing up? Gets submerged every launch

[jakec]

I’m on my second jack right now, and I just found out it’s seized when I went to take out my boat for the first time this year. The first jack lasted about 3 years, this one only lasted one summer. Unfortunately due to my trailer design, boat, and just the slope of the launches, I can’t avoid submerging the jack.

I’m about to buy another jack so I want this one to last. I paid for a high quality one (1500 lbs, $130) last spring and it’s already toast.

 

[jlh3rd]

I grease mine.

 

[jakec]

how and where? mine didn't seem to have a grease nipple or anything. And the top of the shaft is pressed on. Are you just packing by hand?

 

[roscoe]

Hmmm, So the trailer tongue gets submerged???

I’ve never seen a trailer tongue or Jack go under water.

Mount it further forward?
Extend the tongue then mount it further forward?
Buy a higher lift Jack and mount it above the trailer tongue?

Hard to suggest much more without a decent photo of the trailer tongue.

 

[redneck joe]

Hmmm, So the trailer tongue gets submerged???

I’ve never seen a trailer tongue or Jack go under water.

Mount it further forward?
Extend the tongue then mount it further forward?
Buy a higher lift Jack and mount it above the trailer tongue?

Hard to suggest much more without a decent photo of the trailer tongue.

I can't figure out how I would get mine wet.

 

[jlh3rd]

how and where? mine didn't seem to have a grease nipple or anything. And the top of the shaft is pressed on. Are you just packing by hand?

I'd have to see a picture of yours.
I don't have a grease nipple either.
There was a black cap that I would pop off and add grease if I wanted. I'd just stick the grease gun nozzle in and pump a few times.
Mine never goes under water either.

so this was the original on my '04 (?) trailer I bought used in 2016. It's been replaced because the marina broke the wheel and got me a brand new assembly 3 years ago. So it was 21+ years old and still good.

 

[Earl Cordova]

Mine gets wet when launching and the jack would last a year or two until I figured out
what part was filling up with water and drilled two 1/8" drain holes on the lowest section.

 

[jakec]

Ok, I probably need to be popping that top cap off and adding grease in addition to whatever comes from the factory. There already is one hole near the crank which may be for drainage, but obviously wasn’t enough to save it.

I only use a couple launches and they are all saltwater and just follow the slope of the beach. So for the folks saying they can’t imagine how it gets wet.. just imagine a low slope boat launch. The boat is flat bottomed and needs to go far in the water to float. Typically the water level is reaching just below the hitch receiver.

 

[Jeff J]

I have had to launch where I stepped into water getting out of the truck so pretty easy for me to imagine getting a jack wet. Shallow sloped boat ramp with long pontoon boat pretty much guarantees it. My rear axles have been completely submerged. I have never done a saltwater launch but have had some corrosion issues pop up on truck and trailer for needing to back in so far. For the record, I power load anything that has the power to do it (not illegal anywhere I have been).

I believe my current boat trailer manual says to drip some gear oil into it along the shaft the handle is attached to. I will confirm that if I can find the paperwork that came with it.