I have an Eagle trailer and have put my Fountain in salt water 50 or 60 times with it. Rinse it off real good including the drain holes in the back and sides. Wax the painted surface. After constant dunking like I did before I put it back on a lift you will see a few small rust spots. A couple of dunkings will be no problem if you RINSE it immdeiately after, especially when the boat is off the trailer. As far as the fork lift, they will lift the back end of your boat, just enough to slide the strap in and then lower it and pick it off the trailer with the straps. They will usually put it on a rack and again lift it with the forks and drop it in the water. I would go to the local dry dock marina and see if you can make an in and out deal for the few times you will be there. With the slow economy most will be willing to earn a little extra. Good luck and have fun.

Just use the trailer and wash it off. as long as you rinse it off it will be fine.

+1

You should also consider the trailer. If it is an 01 no harm splashing and rinsing it real well, it is already 8 years old and probably not mint anyway. If it is an 08 I would be more cautious.

trailer's only 2yrs old. Boat was rack stored prior to that.


thanks for the reply's! Hopefully this Winter I'll be posting wanting to know the good spots between Stuart and Miami. :evilb:


mb.

Spray the trailer with Salt Away !!! I have been using my steel Skater trailer for 5+years without a problem probably dunk it 20+ times a year in salt water.

I second the Salt Away. I use it every time.

If you really don't want to put the trailer in, look around for used good condition trailers or even look around to see if you can rent one.

I guess those that have done it know better (salt-away etc.) but my steel Nordic trailer started rusting the first day I dunked it. I had no way of rinsing the trailer off after I launched the boat so it sat for 5-6 hours unwashed until I came back, loaded the boat and washed everything. I washed it thoroughly and inside the box frame as much as possible but it was a mess after a short time, and I mean 3-4 dunkings. The little dings from road debris started first and got a foothold along with inside the box frame. Never again will I own a steel trailer...what a waste of money. All boats that I now buy will have an aluminum trailer or no deal.

I'd have it lifted off or unload it in a fresh water canal or something, not worth the headache, and if something goes wrong and the trailer manufacturer sees that you had it in salt (not hard to tell) you're up the creek...not worth it imho.