Salt water Vs Fresh Water damage??

[VetteLT193]

I think it is far easier to tell a well maintained salt water boat than a well maintained fresh water boat.

I have a neighbor that has a fresh water only boat. I think it might have the original oil in it from 1995. He does nothing to it but cover it, still looks fine. If he ran it like that in salt it would be a piece of crap. If you were buying the boat you would never know how bad he abuses it because of the way it looks. So... there are a lot of reasons why I prefer to buy a salt water boat.

Also... Salt Away is a must. I salt away the entire boat, trailer, brakes, etc. And Saltaway does not equal soap. I keep reading that they are the same in various places but soap does not have sulphamic acid in it, which is the key ingredient that makes salt away work. All you are going to get with putting soap in your engine is a bunch of suds.

I also prefer to dunk in fresh if I can. I kind of have the best of both worlds. I put the boat in a fresh water river then run out to the Gulf of Mexico. By the time I get back in my engines are pre-flushed with fresh water. I re-flush them at home with water then salt away as a double precaution.

 

[sledge]

CORROSION BLOCKER....an ounce of prevention....

Whether it's Merc's can, CRC, PB Blaster's product or even just WD40....probably one of the best things you can do BEFORE going to the salt. Engines, drives, electrical, trailer hardware, everything but brake discs. Doesn't hurt anything but stickers after years of liberal application. Might take the shine away from certain surfaces over time but small price to pay for protection.

As for the trailer, the real killer with salt water is heat. I bring a 5gal fuel jug with water in it to A)cool down the hubs/brakes before I dunk, B)rinse hubs/brakes after unloading and C)rinse hubs/brakes immediately after loading and before leaving the ramp. Once you start rolling, the heat evaporates the water and helps accelerate the salt attack.

If you want to be really "prepared", pick up a 15gal agriculture tank/sprayer for under $100. Comes with a 12v pump and small length of hose but you can swap that for a 30+' coil hose. You could even pre-mix Salt Away in the tank during the fill up. Here in SoFla I'm seeing more and more trailers with fresh water washdown tanks since most of the ramps have cut off the hoses.

I would imagine "hard" fresh water can be more destructive than "soft" fresh water, but my '91 Formula with over 1000hrs looked better than all the fresh water boats I looked at. It's also kind of hard to compare boats that only get 20-30hrs per year with boats that see that every month.

 

[Dueclaws]

My neighbor just purchased a 38' Fountain with 260 hours, 500 HPs, etc. The boat has always been in salt and it looks and runs like new.

 

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

I would imagine "hard" fresh water can be more destructive than "soft" fresh water, but my '91 Formula with over 1000hrs looked better than all the fresh water boats I looked at. It's also kind of hard to compare boats that only get 20-30hrs per year with boats that see that every month.

There is hard water here. Calcium I'm told. It leaves water spots and tends to collect in spots similar to salt. It is not corrosive and does not expand and crystallize. It cleans off easily with proper cleaners revealing no hidden damage.

Yes, Is is possible to keep a salt water boat looking good. And yes of course some fresh water boats don't look good as a well cared for salt water boat.

One thing I doubt anyone can argue is it is easier to care for a fresh water boat.

 

[Matt Trulio]

Someone once told me: Think of your sterndrive as a big Alka-Seltzer once you put it in saltwater.

 

[Frequency]

Ours is a freshwater boat, but we will be dropping it in saltwater at our new place from time to time. Problem is, our dock/lift is not in yet.

Say we're using the boat over the weekend. Would you leave the boat in the water the whole time or pull it out and flush after each use if it was convenient to do so?

 

[Dude! Sweet!]

Someone once told me: Think of your sterndrive as a big Alka-Seltzer once you put it in saltwater.

No way! :biggrinjester:

 

[cigdaze]

Ours is a freshwater boat, but we will be dropping it in saltwater at our new place from time to time. Problem is, our dock/lift is not in yet.

Say we're using the boat over the weekend. Would you leave the boat in the water the whole time or pull it out and flush after each use if it was convenient to do so?

A weekend every now and again is no big deal, but I wouldn't make it a habit. I like to flush after every use, but will do the occasional weekender.

If you want to weekend a lot, then get some inline ball valves installed on your raw water intake lines. That way you close off the line to your drive and flush your motors while still in the water.

 

[Geronimo36]

There is hard water here. Calcium I'm told. It leaves water spots and tends to collect in spots similar to salt. It is not corrosive and does not expand and crystallize. It cleans off easily with proper cleaners revealing no hidden damage.

I get those deposits in my toilet at home.. The deposits got so thick the toilet stopped flushing once... what a chitty mess! :leaving::rofl:

 

[scottw]

After running the boat in saltwater does anyone wash the engine compartment as well as the outer engine down?

 

[Expensive Date]

After running the boat in saltwater does anyone wash the engine compartment as well as the outer engine down?

I do

 

[Slandrew]

Someone once told me: Think of your sterndrive as a big Alka-Seltzer once you put it in saltwater.

I believe that any where the salt water hits spray it with no salt & fresh water flush with no salt!:beatdeadhorse5:Fresh water boat will get more hours on all parts!

 

[DAREDEVIL]

I believe that any where the salt water hits spray it with no salt & fresh water flush with no salt!:beatdeadhorse5:Fresh water boat will get more hours on all parts!

I think it all depends on how much u take care of your stuff !!!!!!!

Water and steel really don't mix in any way,,!!!!!!!:USA:

 

[ChiefApache]

After running the boat in saltwater does anyone wash the engine compartment as well as the outer engine down?

We did when we put our boat in saltwater last month. We washed everything down........everything.

 

[Sean Stinson]

Ok Im from fresh water state and never plan on running in salt. My question would be How much does salt hurt a boat say I/os twins with all the good stuff. Now everyone that is in MI and fresh water totally turns their noise up at salt water boat saying that everything would be junk ext.... Im looking at buy a boat and have one in mind that a salt boat. But all the salt water guys could care less about running in salt.

I know the usual of rust and stuff but lets hear you options on salt water vs fresh water.

Granted I have only read your post and none of the others including #2......So if this is repetative please forgive me.....

Salt water is the harshest environment on earth for a boat, however if it is properly taken care of and stored properly you have very little to worry about!!! Everything has to be rinsed and flushed thoroughly not just replace the water in the engine but thoroughly flushed.....an additive such as "Salt Away" used at the end of the flushing procedure so it sits in the engine after flushing makes a night and day difference!! Also you should drain the headers after use everytime if you have no way to do this make a way to do this!!! I used to fog the motor after everyuse to keep the upper cylinders and valve train coated with a lubricant such as Marvel Mystery Oil or a fogging agent!!!! Now you must wash and rinse the boat thoroughly as well NOT just squirt it off with a hose....WASH it with soap and water rinse it dry it and do this inside the engine compartment as well.....treat the upholstery with something to keep it conditioned.....keep it waxed.....keep the zincs updated.....you can never do enough but if people would even attempt to do some of the things mentioned here the corrosion problem is diminished 10 fold.....

There you go and thats my tips for the day!!!!

 

[PM203]

Salt water boats age faster than fresh water boats.That is just a fact. I don't care if you spend all day cleaning and washing. A fresh water boat will always be nicer than a salt water boat. I use my boat in freshwater and don't even have to clean it if I don't want to. I could raise it up on its lift and just walk away if I wanted to. No flush, no clean, no rinse, no nothing. And, if I did that for 5 years, I guarantee my boat would be nicer than a 1 year old saltwater boat. You can maintain a saltwater boat to the highest of standards, but it will never equal the condition of a freshwater boat.

P.S. Original factory outdrive Zincs look like they just came off the parts shelf!

 

[Sean Stinson]

Salt water boats age faster than fresh water boats.That is just a fact. I don't care if you spend all day cleaning and washing. A fresh water boat will always be nicer than a salt water boat. I use my boat in freshwater and don't even have to clean it if I don't want to. I could raise it up on its lift and just walk away if I wanted to. No flush, no clean, no rinse, no nothing. And, if I did that for 5 years, I guarantee my boat would be nicer than a 1 year old saltwater boat. You can maintain a saltwater boat to the highest of standards, but it will never equal the condition of a freshwater boat.

I would argue this point to a certain degree.....but you are correct as far as 2 boats over the same period of time one in salt and one in fresh the freshwater boat will have less issue than the salt one!!!!

 

[Geronimo36]

Zinc will not work in freshwater so be sure you're using magnesium anodes.

I've always stored my boats on a rack or in a lift and have never needed to change a zinc either.

Equally cared for boats, salt will loose long-term... it's harsh but it's also not the end of the world. :03:

 

[PM203]

... it's harsh but it's also not the end of the world. :03:

That is so true.

 

[Big Time]

After running the boat in saltwater does anyone wash the engine compartment as well as the outer engine down?

I wipe down the engine/headers after almost every run. I take a rag and spray some WD 40 in it and just wipe down the engine. I really use this time just to check over the engine to look for any visible problems/leaks. Takes me maybe 5-7 mins (single engine) and it keeps the engine looking like new! I clean the bildge maybe once a month, but normally it stays pretty clean (except for that time I changed the oil and had trouble putting a new oil filter full of oil back on....but that's another thread )