Keeping your bass boat alive, part 10

If a trailer frame is solid but showing rust, it can be revitalized with a chip-resistant truck-bed coating.

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<em>All photos and captions by Mark Hicks</em><br> The previous owner of my 25-year-old bass boat had replaced the trailer’s bunks, winch and jack. The trailer’s frame was solid but showing rust. I revitalized the frame with a chip-resistant truck-bed coating. The textured coating hid blemishes caused by rust and made the trailer look like new. My total investment in materials was around $150. Here’s how I did it.<p> A friend let me store my boat in his slip so I could strip the trailer. The fenders on my trailer are connected with bolts, which allowed me to remove them.
All photos and captions by Mark Hicks
The previous owner of my 25-year-old bass boat had replaced the trailer’s bunks, winch and jack. The trailer’s frame was solid but showing rust. I revitalized the frame with a chip-resistant truck-bed coating. The textured coating hid blemishes caused by rust and made the trailer look like new. My total investment in materials was around $150. Here’s how I did it.
A friend let me store my boat in his slip so I could strip the trailer. The fenders on my trailer are connected with bolts, which allowed me to remove them.
I used a hair dryer to heat and soften the rubber casings around the inset, waterproof tail lights. This helped me work them out. I left the reflectors in place and covered them with masking tape.
I used a hair dryer to heat and soften the rubber casings around the inset, waterproof tail lights. This helped me work them out. I left the reflectors in place and covered them with masking tape.
I used an electric grinder with a nasty, knotted cup brush to remove the loose rust.
I used an electric grinder with a nasty, knotted cup brush to remove the loose rust.
Wire brushes in various sizes let me remove rust from tight spots I couldn’t reach with the grinder. I didn’t take the trailer down to bare metal, which would have required costly sandblasting. The winch stand resting on the cement block in this photo is ready for a primer coat.
Wire brushes in various sizes let me remove rust from tight spots I couldn’t reach with the grinder. I didn’t take the trailer down to bare metal, which would have required costly sandblasting. The winch stand resting on the cement block in this photo is ready for a primer coat.
I used Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer as a primer coat. This flat black coating bonds with rusty metal and transforms it into a non-rusting surface. It also gave the truck-bed coating a darker black appearance. It took seven 10.25-ounce spray cans to coat my trailer.
I used Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer as a primer coat. This flat black coating bonds with rusty metal and transforms it into a non-rusting surface. It also gave the truck-bed coating a darker black appearance. It took seven 10.25-ounce spray cans to coat my trailer.
A gallon of Rust-Oleum Truck Bed Coating was enough to give my trailer two coats. Mix the coating thoroughly before applying.
A gallon of Rust-Oleum Truck Bed Coating was enough to give my trailer two coats. Mix the coating thoroughly before applying.
I applied the truck-bed coating with a narrow roller. I used a paintbrush wherever the roller wouldn’t reach. Even with a brush, the coating had the desired textured finish and dried with no brush marks.
I applied the truck-bed coating with a narrow roller. I used a paintbrush wherever the roller wouldn’t reach. Even with a brush, the coating had the desired textured finish and dried with no brush marks.
The grounding bolts that held the clearance lights in place were so rusty they broke off when I removed them (top). I ordered four new lights at a marina.
The grounding bolts that held the clearance lights in place were so rusty they broke off when I removed them (top). I ordered four new lights at a marina.
I brought back some of the shine to the trailer’s stainless steel steps by working them over with heavy-duty rubbing compound.
I brought back some of the shine to the trailer’s stainless steel steps by working them over with heavy-duty rubbing compound.
The chrome rims on my trailer’s tires showed some rust, but I revived them with Quick-Glo. My local stores didn’t carry this product. I bought it online.
The chrome rims on my trailer’s tires showed some rust, but I revived them with Quick-Glo. My local stores didn’t carry this product. I bought it online.
It took only a few minutes of rubbing with Quick-Glo and a clean cloth to make my chrome rims sparkle.
It took only a few minutes of rubbing with Quick-Glo and a clean cloth to make my chrome rims sparkle.
The rusty safety chain in the foreground is one of two that came with my boat trailer. I replaced it with new, heavier chain.
The rusty safety chain in the foreground is one of two that came with my boat trailer. I replaced it with new, heavier chain.
I also replaced the rusted safety chain that connects the winch stand to the boat’s bow eye.
I also replaced the rusted safety chain that connects the winch stand to the boat’s bow eye.
Here’s my 25-year-old bass boat resting on its renewed 25-year-old trailer.
Here’s my 25-year-old bass boat resting on its renewed 25-year-old trailer.
The rejuvenated trailer exceeded my expectations.
The rejuvenated trailer exceeded my expectations.