saltwater and shipping from Cartagena to Colon
 

Hi you all,

I wonder what the salt water wil do to my presious bike when I put it on a yacht from Cartagena (Colombia) to Colon (Panama).

Has anyone experiance with this? Does the spray do damage of is it just a matter of washing afterwards?
Ofcourse I will cover it up... but I guess water has it,s way to get in anyway.

Maarten

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Salt water do only BAD!

You may damage your electrical system seriously because the salty water makes corrosion very intense.

If you really want to have fun with saltwater, you really need to wash it off with neutral water quickly after that.

Margus

Margus is right on.

I would spray all the electricals FIRST with a water displacement/sealer spray, spraying under the tank especially. Also spray the rest of the bike (not tires, seat and rubber bits) with a light oil. Then cover with a tarp, and wash thoroughly when you get there.

If the weather is good, you might not need it - but if it's bad, you'll be very glad you did. I've been on yachts where the entire bow is under water at times in bad weather. REALLY good for a bike tied in front of the mast! http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Maarten,

Although I've never sailed in the region you are talking about I wouldn't take my bike on a sailing trip anyway.

Even in good weather conditions salt will gett to your bike. Remember how you can 'taste' the salt on you lips when you arrive at the coast...

And if you get bad weather... the waves breaking over the boat will wash away any protection layer you've sprayed on it.
By the way: you don't need much of wind or even bad weather to have water spraying over the boat.
An no water to rinse of the salt for how long...???
Plus... check how you will anchor the bike down to the deck and be sure these are decent anchoring points!!! Bolted through the deck with achoringplate on the inside. Not just a bolt, washer and a nut.


I would only do it if there is no other option.


Pieter.

Perhaps you could wrap it in heavy polythene plastic, after having it sprayed with the above mentioned products and tied it down.

Whatever you do, don't get any of that stuff on brake parts, not even the discs. Otherwise, your brakes will never be the same again.

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Salut from Southern France, the bikers' paradise,

Peter.

Hi mmaarten, Try to get some electrical contact cleaner/sealer spray and do all the connections you can reach, and then thoroughly wash the bike as soon as possible after the trip. It wont be any more harmful than riding the Salar...I know a few people that have put their bikes on a sailboat going from Panama to Columbia and they were fine.
So do not forget that now you have made it to North America you are very Welcome to stay with us when you get to Canada... Cheers and good luck, Peter and Carol

Hi,

I came across from Colon to Cartegena back in June. I also have an AT and it does not seem to have suffered too badly so far! In Colon, I found a shop that sold super strong cling film and after spraying everything with WD40 wrapped the bike thouroghly in this - unfortunately I did not buy enough and the wheels were a bit exposed - the spokes look a bit crustier than before but thats no major drama.

The weather on my crossing was quite rough and the bike almost went over the side one night after one of the cargo straps worked loose. Everything got completely salted up on the trip and my advice to anyone who plans to make the crossing is to spend time and money preparing the bike thoroughly.

Hope this helps.

Matt

Currently in Quito and heading south soon