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De-rusting towbars

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: General Forums
Forum Name: The Boat Shed
Forum Description: Discuss all things boating.
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40261
Printed Date: 15 Jun 2026 at 9:31pm


Topic: De-rusting towbars
Posted By: bluecoraldiver
Subject: De-rusting towbars
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2009 at 10:51am
I have removed the towbar from my car to de-rust it.
 
I used a wire brush on an angle grinder to remove flaky rust.
 
I have now applied a layer of Plasti-Kote Rust Convertor. When it dries I'll apply another cote.
 
I then plan to use 2 cotes primer from a spray can.
 
And then 2 cotes Matt Black top cote from a spray can.
 
Is this the correct procedure and the right products to use to prevent to towbar from rusting easily again. I do spray it down to the best of my ability after using it each time after launching/retrieving the boat.


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Replies:
Posted By: tugboat
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2009 at 12:45pm
Looks pretty good to me blue, the key is the rust converter, killing the rust is essential first before painting or ya just wasting ya time!!
Ive been working on my trailer this weekend, taking out a small bit of rust, i used a grunty wire brush i attach to my angle grinder, clean off the scale rust and take it back to bare metal as best i can then apply the rust converter, i used masters "rust.tec" which ya just brush on, it reacts within minutes and kills the rust, wipe down the excess and allow it to dry..
Then i applyed wattyls "white" primer with a brush, 24hrs later wattyls cold galv, looks mint!!
I prefer to use a brush as it goes on alot thicker than the spray cans, you should be alright using 2 coats of primer, not sure what products you can get in black for that purpose!!
Spose you could put the cold gal on then spray paint it black then it would be bullet proof!!


Posted By: bluecoraldiver
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2009 at 1:36pm

Thx tugboat. I do the same to my trailer every winter. Reason I do it each winter is because it tends to rust around the drain holes in the cross members that have a downward curve in them. Naturally one cant paint the inside of the tubing so the rust is there all the time and eventually spreads ouwards.

Maybe it's time for it to be galv re-dippped.

 



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Posted By: tas-tackle
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2009 at 6:56pm
Blue... all my cross members bar the one across the back are closed off... each section has been drilled from the top and a s/s bolt installed.. once removed, each trailer section is partly filled with waste oil which sloshes around as you head for the ramp... this stops/inhibits any rust from the "inside out"... The rear one is simply flushed with water after each use....

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Posted By: robthefisher
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2009 at 7:32pm
Originally posted by *fisher* *fisher* wrote:

each trailer section is partly filled with waste oil which sloshes around as you head for the ramp... this stops/inhibits any rust from the "inside out"...


What a fantastic idea!
Have you put a drain bolt in so you can drain it if it gets milky?


Posted By: tas-tackle
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2009 at 7:49pm
RTF... not my idea but a clever one done by the builder of my custom boat...  there are only threaded bolts in the top of each section with a fibre washer to seal... Haven't actually inspected the "slosh" inside.... 

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Posted By: bluecoraldiver
Date Posted: 23 Apr 2009 at 4:51pm
I decided to spray on the undercoat as the thinner paint would get into any pitted areas more easily than thicker paint.
 
I then brushed on two topcoats of black Wattyl KillRust.
 
Hopefully this works. Time will tell.
 
Anyway here it is with it's new shiny coat.
 


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Posted By: tugboat
Date Posted: 23 Apr 2009 at 9:02pm
Yeah thats the bizz blue, that'll be sweet mate!!



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