How to Protect Your Boat from Salt Water

Boat trailers and boats are prone to corrosion. In the absence of proper maintenance, they can cause serious damage to boat trailers. It would be great if corrosion could be prevented in the first instance. How can you prevent your boat trailers rusting? It’s one of the consequences of owning a saltwater boat and something that all boat owners should consider when looking after their vessel. You can protect your vessel from corrosion but you cannot stop mother nature.

1. After each trip, give your boat a good wash. The most important part of this process is to keep your boat free from saltwater. To protect your vessel against corrosion, you will need to get rid of all saltwater. Start by washing your vessel in fresh water. Pay special attention to metal parts, which are most vulnerable to saltwater corrosion. You will need to clean your vessel from the bow to the stern with soap and water. To remove salt traces, we recommend using a bristled brush. Then, wash it again to remove any soap. To ensure that your boat trailer is free of saltwater, wash it thoroughly.
2. Flush your engine. Flushing your engine with water is one of the most important steps in protecting against saltwater corrosion. This should be done every time your boat crosses the ocean. This removes saltwater from your engine and helps prevent corrosion.
3. Use grease on moving parts. Apply grease generously to all exposed metal parts. Even the smallest parts require a coating. This lubrication will keep everything moving and protect your vessel from corrosion and rust. Marine grease is used to move metal parts such as latches and hinges, linkages, bow roll, and so on. You should grease all metal parts. To ensure that you don’t miss any important metal parts, double-check your engine manual.
4. Salt-friendly products are your friends. You should make sure that you use the right paint to keep your boat looking new and fresh. You can’t use any other paint on a saltwater vessel. It is important to choose a salt-friendly and anti-fouling coating. This paint acts as an anti-corrosive and saltwater barrier and protects metal from corrosion and weakening. It is important to remember that paint cannot withstand saltwater. After saltwater trips, you’ll need to wash and scrub your vessel regularly.
5. Take a look at your vessel after your voyages. Do you see any blemishes on your vessel? Are there any rusty, corroded or blistered parts? You should pay attention to any problem areas and make sure they don’t grow larger. To prevent corrosion, take your boat to a specialist.

To ensure your boat (and it’s trailer) lasts, it is important to keep up with its maintenance even in saltwater.