Florida Keys, Salt Air Protection

Chickadee · 10-18-2009, 07:13 AM

Hi: Have reservations for a week & 1/2 visit at campground on the Keys near Key West. After reading another thread in this forum about boondocking on South Padre, we were wondering if it's worthwhile to try to protect some of the exposed metal on the rig (ie. wheel wells, toad hitch, etc.).

Rig has a "no wax" Perma Plate gel coat protection pkg. and not worried about that, but wonder about other none protected areas......or is a week & 1/2 too little time to worry about. Thanks. Steve & Lynette

**Route 66** · 10-18-2009, 07:40 AM

After spending a winter in Juno Beach, very close to the ocean, the only signs of corrosion I noticed were on the chrome mirrors and the chrome lug nut covers.

I don't know of anything other than wax to help protect chrome.

D in Davie · 10-18-2009, 09:09 AM

Just wash the unit and hose off the under carriage when you get home. Hose off the camp furniture before you put it back in the MH and you will be fine. Being so close to Key West may do more damage to you liver than a little salt air will to the MH. I recommend Monty Trainer's for eating drinking and swimming.
Denis

Toby · 10-18-2009, 01:13 PM

Chickdee

You might try a boat store--several of them on the keys and get the saltwater carrosive spray you use on outboard engines and spray all exposed metal and connections, i.e., steps, all batt connections etc. Inlieu of this spray, spray with WD-40 and wash as soon as you leave the keys. I've seen several mirrows turn green, so put something on them or wash often. Sometimes its hard to see the salt spray, but its there all the time.
If you have never been to the keys, there is little fishing off the shore (just Barracudas--not good in the states to eat due to poision they get from eating reef fish)as well as poor swimming from the "beaches" The new fishing regs require a lic for Fla residents to fish off the shore if under 65. If you like to fish, try the bridges at night with live shrimp for mangrove snapper--excellent eating. Watch the sand-in-the-shoes thing. Its very catching. s/Toby

Jim Stewart · 10-18-2009, 01:21 PM

We leave Tuesday for our lot in Marathon Florida on Vaca Key (East of Key West by 50 miles) we have spent entire winters in the Keys and have used the same sprays they use on boats on electrical connects and dry lube on slides and steps. Mirrors are a problem for long term stays, either painted or chrome. In Florida by the Ocean, many just have the mirrors repainted or chromed every 4-5 years. We used to rinse the coach every week and wax monthly. Now I call a mobile service near our stix and bricks (actually blocks and morter in Florida).