Aluminum boat and salt water

[Dustballs]

Hi everyone, I recent bought an aluminum boat that was used in salt water and I likely will use in salt and fresh water. The trailer the boat came with has bunks and I noticed some white-ish water dripping from the bunks and what seems to be the start of corrosion on the hull that rests on the bunk.

My my question is, should I change the bunk for rollers? If I change the bunks, what can I use as a preventitive measure to prevent corrosion?

thanks.

 

[Sea Rider]

What's sits on top bunks ? Against corrosion when dealing with salt water use the only remedy is to make a full preventive maintenance at least once a year and rinse trailer with fresh water along boat combo after use if happens that's put in/out salt water through a boat ramp.

Happy Boating

 

[Scott Danforth]

what can I use as a preventitive measure to prevent corrosion?

thanks.

paint the boat......



hope the bunks are not treated lumber

 

[Sprig]

I live in California and aluminum boats are quite popular for both fresh and salt water here. If you are seeing corrosion on the bottom around the bunks my first thought would be the bunks were replaced and treated lumber was used. Bunks made of treated wood will have a reaction with aluminum , even if they are carpeted, and cause damage and corrosion. Check to see what your bunks are made of and if treated replace them. I personally like polyethylene bunks especially for aluminum boats. They aren’t cheap but will last forever and are impervious to water, salt water, rot and other environmental factors.
I doubt the whitish water you see is from corrosion.
All you need to do with aluminum boats after use in the salt is hose them down thoroughly when you get home including the bottom, and you should flush the engine. It might be helpful if you could post a pic of the bottom of your boat, bunks and the “corroded” area.
Don’t change from bunks to rollers, just replace the bunks if necessary. In fact if the boat and trailer is a few years old, been used in salt, and has wood bunks I’d just replace them. It’s not a big deal and doesn’t cost much.

 

[Dustballs]

Thanks guys. Here are the pics.

notice where the boat sits on the bunk it’s not smooth like the rest of the hull.

 

[MTboatguy]

I am pretty sure those bunks have treated lumber based on your pictures, you need to change those out, they are eating into the aluminum on the boat. It looks like a combination of treated lumber and washed salt residue.

For my peace of mind I would replace the bunk wood and carpet.

 

[Sprig]

I concur, replace the bunks. At least look into polyethylene bunks, no need to carpet them and again they will last as long as your trailer. Also from the pic it looks like the bunk metal support is quite rusted you should replace those too.

 

[Dustballs]

I concur, replace the bunks. At least look into polyethylene bunks, no need to carpet them and again they will last as long as your trailer. Also from the pic it looks like the bunk metal support is quite rusted you should replace those too.

I will replace the bunks and the support. I was reading some threads on ultimate bunks and some folks weren’t satisfied due to the bunk sagging between mounting points and the difficulty to recover the boat when boating solo.

Any thoughts?

 

[Sprig]

I have an 18’ Alumaweld heavy gauge aluminum boat I bought new in 2006 and it came with a heavy duty all welded Rogue trailer. The trailer came with polyethylene bunks. After 12 years the bunks look great, no sagging. I launch and retrieve the boat often by myself and have never experienced any problem getting it back on the trailer. When the bunks are wet the boat slides easily on to the trailer. In fact the boat slides on to the trailer as easy or maybe easier than carpeted wooden bunks. I can’t imagine why anyone would have a problem retrieving a boat on to a trailer because of polyethylene bunks.
Keep in mind that some people have used polyethylene material used for decking as bunk material like Trex. Those materials will sag and should not be used as bunks.
Carpeted wood bunks work fine. It’s just that you have to replace them and the carpeting periodically. I don’t know if they deteriorate faster in salt water or not but I would assume that they do.
Bottom line is replace your bunks with what ever just be sure not to use treated pressure treated wood.

 

[Dustballs]

I would prefer to get the polyethylene bunk since it would be a one time investment. Unfortunately, due to the spacing in my support, they recommend buying the supreme version which is approx. $200. I will get them next time around.

 

[Sea Rider]

A cheap alternative.-

Have replaced on all my custom made trailers standard carpet stripes for 3M high transit plastic carpet used in office floors. Are cut to size glued direct onto top wooden bunks. Just sand wooden bunks well and glue plastic stripes with proper glue onto them. Combo will slide well on top bunks when released to water from trailer and winched back in from water.



Carpet holds too much water, worse if salted for too long time and eventually will end rusting, deteriorating lower deck portion where sits onto trailer. This 3M carpet holds a 300 kilo combo so well on top bunks that can make a full aft trailer wheelie without strapping bow down to front trailer whatsoever.



Happy Boating

 

[Dustballs]

Thanks. Will consider for next time. I ordered non treated bunks from etrailer.com.

 

[Sea Rider]

Thanks. Will consider for next time. I ordered non treated bunks from ********.com.

Can glue the suggested plastic carpet on top of the non treated bunks with the porous side facing upwards.

Happy Boating

 

[JimS123]

Wooden boats usually last longer in salt water because the salt pickles the wood. (provided that the fasteners are bronze)

Wouldn't wooden bunks last longer in salt water too?

 

[Fed]

I reckon your boat and trailer are forming a big battery short circuited at the front by a safety chain and/or a winch cable.

 

[minuteman62-64]

I had the same thing - but bunks were not pressure treated. After a lot of reading, I found that the carpet traps moisture against the aluminum hull - in the absence of oxygen this results in corrosion of the aluminum. I fixed mine by installing Glide Strips on top of the carpet. No problems since.

 

[Dustballs]

I had the same thing - but bunks were not pressure treated. After a lot of reading, I found that the carpet traps moisture against the aluminum hull - in the absence of oxygen this results in corrosion of the aluminum. I fixed mine by installing Glide Strips on top of the carpet. No problems since.

Where did you get the strips?