OT NPC Rust help., Trouble in the Swimming Pool Options

[TargaToy]

4 years ago, believed a sales pitch and my wife and I purchased an above-ground pool with a salt water system. Despite my questions to the contrary, the salesman assured me that the pool water would be "less salinic than a human tear" and that corrosion would not be a problem.

He has since "moved on" and the pool store acknowledges that the rep lied to many people. They also say he SHOULD have highlighted the fact that a salt system would void any warranties for the pool. Nice.

I'll get to the question soon.

On top of each post of the pool, there's a "joiner plate" which is made of steel. This plate rusts like crazy. Twice, I popped the caps and coated these things with an Eastwood product but I could only get to the faces...they are rusting everywhere. This year, they are crumbling into the pool.

I've ordered 17 new plates and I'm planning to treat them with the best stuff I can find before installing them. Short of powder-coating, what might I try that will make the parts far more impervious to salt water? I *think* they are galvanized steel as the come from the manufacturer.

[TargaToy]

You mean you're convinced you WEREN'T actually swimming in pee? You put way too much faith in your fellow man (and his kids), my friend. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

But back to my rusty crusty problems...

There was a day when I worked for Wayne Pump (Gilbarco) and had access to an extensive manufacturing plant and machine shop and I had really good friends out on the plant floor who could hook me up with favors ranging from CNC to powder coating....but the UAW went on strike one time too many and the company moved to TX. ...and I didn't take them up on their invitation to join them.

So now, I'm looking for good coatings. Rust preventive coatings.

I had a friend suggest roll-in bed liner. May be simple and effective, yes? Since there wouldn't be direct UV exposure, how about POR-15. The stuff I've applied in the past hardened like appliance epoxy.