Color matched aluminum tread plates on boatmate-experiences/pics

[mikenbike211]

Anyone have a boatmate trailer with painted aluminum “5 bar tread plate”? Looking to order new and just wondering how they look and hold up.

[brit_hunsicker]

They look good. I’ll snap a couple photos for you this weekend. I’d recommend doing the trailer in a darker color to hide road grime and then match the tread plates to the accent of your boat.


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[mikenbike211]

They look good. I’ll snap a couple photos for you this weekend. I’d recommend doing the trailer in a darker color to hide road grime and then match the tread plates to the accent of your boat.


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Great thanks!


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[brit_hunsicker]

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[mikenbike211]

Nice boat (and trailer). Yeah that looks good, I think I’ll do it.


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[mikenbike211]

Turned out pretty nice.




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[ScooterMcgavin]

Very nice! That looks great.

[srock]

My experience has been over the long term you get rust under anything placed over the trailer surface.

[Infinity]

I have the diamond plate steps on my 2014 Boatmate. It would be nice if these were removable for the potential rust reason, tho I know doing that would not have the same clean looking install since you would have exposed screws or bolts. I don't have any rust that I can see under the step plates on my trailer yet, but know its just a matter of time (how long it takes for corrosion will largely depend on where you live, if you pull trailer with snow/salt on roads, etc) Just thinking if the step plates could be removed then you could clean/treat the areas under them at least once a year to prevent issues and then reinstall them. I am sure these aluminum plates far outlast the decking option to use as the step pads....but assume the decking option reduces the possibility of corrosion since you don't have any potential metal to metal contact. Obviously the diamond plates are still attached to the trailer using some kind of double sided adhesive sheet, you can see about a 1/16" space between trailer and bottom of step plates.

I recently found a product made by California Customs, called "purple polish". On Amazon for $30...you get 2 bottles. One is green colored de-oxidizer that you put on first and let dry for a few mins.... then the 2nd bottle is the purple color that gets the buildup off (turns the microfiber clothes black as you remove the tarnish on metal surfaces). Using the green de-oxidizer first, makes a BIG difference on the effectiveness and this is the first metal polish I have used that does an awesome job. Honesty not using the green deoxidizer first before using the polish, gave disappointing results similar to every other "metal polish" I have used in past. I used painters tape to keep the cleaners from getting on my trailer paint and using this combo to clean them, made my dull looking diamond step plates on the trailer perfectly shiny (mine are not panted like in above pics) and look brand new again and I also used it to make my board racks look brand new. They had water spots on them that I had been unable to remove with anything else.

I then used Collinite 945 paste wax to seal the metal after polishing (I tried my Jescar (Menzerna) Power Lock + first which outlasts the paste wax by far on the gelcoat, but liked the end result better using the paste wax on the metal). I wanted some kind of sealer on them to extend the life of the polish and give some protection and even tho I am sure it wont last too long with trailer going in/out of water and step plates being stepped on, it worked surprisingly well IMO. Rubbed on a small amount of the paste wax and then couple mins later before it fully dried, I buffed it off. Noticeable difference to how the metal feels when rubbing a finger across it after sealed with the paste wax. Maybe there is a better option to seal the metal, but this is what I had on hand and a little quick research did not turn up a lot of good options for helping to protect the metal after being cleaned.

I mention this since I wonder on your painted diamond plates (which look GREAT on both above trailers by the way) if this may help to protect them since over time you would think that the paint may start rubbing off? Did Boatmate give any kind of instructions on "long term care" to keep them looking good? If there is a better way to seal mine, I would love to know about it. (I think my non-painted step plates must have had some kind of clear coat on them from the factory since I noticed that the "purple polish", which has some micro beads in it, likely part of what helps it do the job polishing, put some small swirls/scratches in the polished finish). Assume that your painted plates also must have some kind of clear coat on them.

[Infinity]

Took a couple pics last night to show the difference in the cleaned diamond plate using the purple polish. Smaller triangle area is the "after"

[srock]

I have the best and prettiest trailer very. If anyone want so see my galvanized gem I will forward pictures. I went to galvanized trailers 20 years ago and will never go back to anything else. However, even my galvanized trailer developed cancer under the vinyl step pads it came with. Now its always naked all the time.

[mikenbike211]

I have the best and prettiest trailer very. If anyone want so see my galvanized gem I will forward pictures. I went to galvanized trailers 20 years ago and will never go back to anything else. However, even my galvanized trailer developed cancer under the vinyl step pads it came with. Now its always naked all the time.

Aww aren’t you funny


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