Salt water float operations

[Jerbear]

Looking for information on corrosion blocking treatments to use on a cessna float plane. Aircraft will be used in salt water. ACF 50 or corrosion X systems work? Besides fresh water pressure washing is there any else one can do to protect aircraft?

[Float Pilot]

Make sure you install a sacrificial zinc down by the skeg off at least one float.

Fresh water wash-down as you said.

On exterior cables, pulleys, and rudder bars, I have been using Fluid Film for the last few years. It stays on even with water blasting it.
http://www.fluid-film.com/

For cables that you do not have to touch, I found that Jet Lube Cable and Anchor chain dressing works. BUT, it leaves a black messy coating like creosote. So if you get a light colored shirt or trousers anywhere near it, you will have black lines on your clothes. I had it on my Cub's external cables and it lasted for TWO Years.



Another fairly new product is the new WD-40 Specialist line of products. They make one version that is a long term corrosion preventative. http://www.wd40specialist.com/produc...ion-inhibitor/

On the SHOOTING section of the ALASKA OUTDOORS FORUMS there is a guy who did some long term testing of various products and this one really works.

They also make a new dry lube in their specialist line. I have been using it around flap rollers and places where I do not want sand, grit and /or pollen to build up. It also works well on my fishing gear.

[bkmail]

Check out a product called "Sharkskin". Works excellent on my aluminum ocean boat.
Wipe it on a clean surface and it protects.
BK

[Mr. Pid]

Corrosion X works well. They make aviation and marine versions and believe it or not, the aviation stuff is less expensive. Maybe the marine version is better in salt? They also make a HD version that's waxier. That's what I'd use on rudder posts and the like. I'm not a fan or squirting any of that stuff in the wings. I did once. What a mess. A friend that used to run maintenance for a SE Alaska floatplane operator told me he wiped the planes down regularly with auto tranny fluid.

I always wanted to catch a halibut from floats. That could make a cool video.

[AK-HUNT]

I always wanted to catch a halibut from floats. That could make a cool video.

ME TOO. I saw a video of Don Lee do it, and its been high on the list since.

Jerbear,
If I was in your shoes, I'd call Harris Aircraft in Sitka. They have made a living doing it. So do a lot of other guys I guess, but I'd call him.

[Float Pilot]

You would think that carrying enough anchor line would make halibut fishing from floats a big pain in the butt... I hate dragging up my long anchor line on my boat when halibut fishing.

[algonquin]

All you need to do is drift fish thru a hole and it's done. I also have some spots in bays that are protected. Not big fish or many but after a while you would get one. Seldovia bay use to be good on the days they dumped the fish cleaning pen near the mouth of the bay. Talk about chumming ,lol. Once saw a 209 lb one taken in the bay from a set line, don't think that would be a good deal on a float.

[Jerbear]

Thanks for the fast feedback Looks like some great options are out there. For pulling in the anchor line once saw a boat turning in circles to raise his line up instead of doing it by hand. Not exactly sure how it was done but it worked.

[Mr. Pid]

A buoy on a ring. Pull the rope through the ring until the chain comes through it and holds the anchor. Stow the line and anchor/buoy and off you go. No lifting 250' of heavy line! Wouldn't be practical in a plane. Drift near the slack tide for that.