Preparing your boat trailer for galvanizing

This information sheet has been prepared by GB Galvanizing to take the guess work out of preparing a boat trailer for Galvanizing. This has been broken down into the following four sections:

1) Surface Preparation
2) Venting / Draining Holes
3) Galvanizing Parts and Accessories
4) Paperwork Required

Part 1 - SURFACE PREPARATION.

Many boat trailers will require sand blasting before they are ready for galvanizing. Some trailers will not need sand blasting if :

1) The trailer is made of new material or;
2) The trailer has already been galvanized and the zinc layer is unbroken.
(.Note: Acid stripping of old galvanized trailers is an extra charge.)

Any trailers that are painted require sand blasting (Blue or Green paint supplied on new tube will not require sand blasting).
 

Part 2 - VENTING / DRAINING HOLES.

Every tubular section of the boat trailer must have an opening at each end. This allows zinc to enter the tube and air to escape in order to prevent explosions.
Holes must be as close as possible to the ends of the tube. (Hole size should be a minimum of one third of the size of the tube - ie: a 4Omm x 4Omm tube requires a minimum hole size of 13mm.)

Part 3 - GALVANIZING PARTS AND ACCESSORIES

Leaf Springs
Leaf springs can not be Galvanized due to the fact, that they become very brittle and can fail at any time under load with no warning. There are Galvanized leaf springs available in the market, but these are specially manufactured to avoid embrittlement.

Tow Couplings
Tow couplings must be removed from the trailer or they will seize once Galvanized.

Threaded Items
Any threaded items will need the threads re cut after Galvanizing so that nuts and bolts will fit correctly once they are Galvanized. We do not recommend that U bolts be re galvanized. It is more economical to discard them and purchase pre galvanized U bolts with nuts to suit.

Mud Guards
Trailer mud guards that are separate to the main frame have by far the best Galvanizing finish and can be replaced more easily if you have an accident. Mud guards welded to the main frame could suffer some handling damage when turning the trailer in the Galvanizing process.