Quote Originally Posted by hairball View Post
I did a complete rehab job on my old '86 Tracker a few years ago. Sanded down and refinished the trailer, new bunks, new tires and bearings, new wiring - you name it. After I got the boat back up on the trailer, it got the same treatment. New front deck covered in Nautolex - actually Nautolex everywhere carpet used to be, new batteries and trolling motor, new wiring and pumps.
To make a long story short, everywhere I used staples, I used the ones made from Monel. It's an alloy developed back in WWII that, as near as I can tell, is totally rustproof. After about 5 years, there are no signs of rust. They're pretty costly, but show me something on a boat that isn't. I just thought that might be an alternative for you if you want something that's going to last - even stainless will eventually rust.
If your trailer or boat is ever going to be in salt or brackish water you must insulate monel from other metals, especially steel or a steel alloy. Monel has a problem with electrolytic interaction with other metals when exposed to salt water and will disintegrate within a matter of days. I would speculate that the same interaction would occur if your rig were exposed to salt treated roads in the winter.