Trailer brakes and salt water

[flashgor]

I am about to put brakes on my boat trailer. I occasionally dip it in the Gulf of Mexico at Galveston. Do I need special brakes to resist corrosion or do they make such a thing?
thanx

 

[Slow Ride]

Re: Trailer brakes and salt water

I'm not familiar with "special brakes" for salt water. My experience is that brakes and salt water don't mix very well. I live on the coast and fish Port A all the time. I have eventually removed the brakes from every trailer that came with them on it. Last summer I put new axels, springs, etc. and the guy at the trailer shop didn't even have a single axle with the brake bracket welded on to it. When I asked why, he commented that brakes only last a short while and most people don't bother with them.

I found this odd and questioned a friend of mine who happens to be a State Trooper. He said it is understood that on boat trailers, the brakes almost never work and that they don't ever really check for them unless there are other violations that cause them to have to look. The law says yes but reality says you will be replacing them often if you spend much time in the salt H2O. Be sure to wash the very well. Not just a 10 second blast from the car wash! You will need to really soak them with lots of soap and water and get aggressive if you want to save them from their almost certain salt water demise! LOL! Sorry bud, that's just the price of playing in the salt.

 

[Al Kungel]

Re: Trailer brakes and salt water

If the law for your state requires you to have brakes, I would make sure that the brakes work. I know metal (brakes) and saltwater don't get along. Ask yourself what if you are in an accident and someone is seriously injured and you have no brakes or the brakes don't work, what will happen if the insurance company refuses your claim?
For saltwater, get Kodiak SS disc brakes and maintain them. Yes they are costly, but in the long run they are worth it. Do a search on the web for stainless disc brakes, stay away from drum brakes, there is lots of information.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Trailer brakes and salt water

I have had more success with disc brakes in the salt versus drum brakes. Search around the web, but yes there are variations in brake systems that hold up better in salt water.

If you are going with a whole new system, make sure to go with stainless steel lines.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Trailer brakes and salt water

ss discs.
wash the brakes within 30 seconds of BOTH launch and retrieve (the ramps I use have a hose at the top for this).
drive your trailer often.
You should have a roller trailer; if not put slicks on the bunks. Use a power winch. keep the brakes out of the water.

 

[hawkrdr]

Re: Trailer brakes and salt water

Buy a brake wash kit and use salt away. Flush em out just like you do your motor when you get home.
I know that the salt water will still win, but at least you can fend off the impending replacement for as long as possible.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailer brakes and salt water

keep the brakes out of the water.

That would be an amazing trick with my 24' boat. I would be bouncing it off the concrete.

Just don't buy the Tie Down stainless...they are junk.

I have regular steel disc Kodiak brakes. I just rinse them well after being in salt. Not a problem at all plus regular steel brakes work way better than SS because they dissipate heat better.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Trailer brakes and salt water

I know that larger boats can't be ramped dry. In days past, the larger boats aren't launched as frequently, but were slipped--especially in salt water areas where, for one thing, there were lots of options to store them, coupled with the conventional thinking that a salt-water dunked trailer is a short-lived trailer.

Now, towing packages have people with their big boats at the ramp every weekend, but I don't know that the technology has caught up.