Salt water Vs Fresh Water damage??

[DAREDEVIL]

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!

Are we talking about the BOAT ( hull ) itself or the drives and ect. ???

If u are talking about the core,glass, then i have to tell u your wrong.
Freshwater will eat up core matt. like balsa,plywood and other older mat. faster then saltwater, THATS A FACT ALSO !!!!!
I agree on the drives and other metal parts.

 

[Twin27Advantage]

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 )

You may already know this...but, merc and quicksilver have a anti corrosion spray. It is like painting on clear coat except it washes off. It sprays on clear and dries clear with no oily residue. You only need to spray once every couple weeks. I think the single best place to use it is on the head bolts under the headers or manifolds. Wd works, but evaporates and leaves a residue, not to mention collects dust.

 

[Geronimo36]

Just an FYI for the fresh water boats; warm fresh water is the major catalyst for hull blistering. Fresh-water boats are more prone to blistering than salt...

If you're buying a fresh water boat that's stored in the water full-time or for long periods be sure to pay close attention to this. Lakes (most are fresh) tend to be warmer in the summer time than any ocean.

 

[PM203]

Are we talking about the BOAT ( hull ) itself or the drives and ect. ???

.

We are talking about everything.

 

[scottw]

I think that a saltwater boat that is well taken care of and stored on the dry will hold up about as well as a fresh water boat stored the same way. All depends on the maintnence. There sure are some really nice boats that run in the ocean around Jersey.

 

[PM203]

I think that a saltwater boat that is well taken care of and stored on the dry will hold up about as well as a fresh water boat stored the same way. All depends on the maintnence. There sure are some really nice boats that run in the ocean around Jersey.

Sorry, no way. Salt and salt air gets everywhere. Wash and rinse all you want. You can keep a boat nice in salt, but it will never match the condition of a freshwater boat.

 

[JupiterSunsation]

Sorry, no way. Salt and salt air gets everywhere. Wash and rinse all you want. You can keep a boat nice in salt, but it will never match the condition of a freshwater boat.

The former OSO boat now has 300 hours (all saltwater) on it and is FLAWLESS. The bilge is bright white, not a mark on it. Everything that should shine still does. The owner keeps it on a lift and it is covered. It is detailed twice a week (salaried employee of owner) and nothing shows any use/rust/wear. Drives are still original and have never been off the boat also. Owner is a wingnut when it comes to clean/maintenance.

I have seen "freshwater only" boats that were stored outside all winter left in the water all summer and as a result look like crap.

It all depends on the owner.....just like cars, houses whatever.....

 

[scottw]

The former OSO boat now has 300 hours (all saltwater) on it and is FLAWLESS. The bilge is bright white, not a mark on it. Everything that should shine still does. The owner keeps it on a lift and it is covered. It is detailed twice a week (salaried employee of owner) and nothing shows any use/rust/wear. Drives are still original and have never been off the boat also. Owner is a wingnut when it comes to clean/maintenance.

I have seen "freshwater only" boats that were stored outside all winter left in the water all summer and as a result look like crap.

It all depends on the owner.....just like cars, houses whatever.....

I agree with you JS. All depends on how you take care of your equipment.

 

[PM203]

The former OSO boat now has 300 hours (all saltwater) on it and is FLAWLESS. The bilge is bright white, not a mark on it. Everything that should shine still does. The owner keeps it on a lift and it is covered. It is detailed twice a week (salaried employee of owner) and nothing shows any use/rust/wear. Drives are still original and have never been off the boat also. Owner is a wingnut when it comes to clean/maintenance.

I have seen "freshwater only" boats that were stored outside all winter left in the water all summer and as a result look like crap.

It all depends on the owner.....just like cars, houses whatever.....

Wrong again. Two identical boats kept on a lift, maintained to the same standards by the same owner. One is in freshwater, the other is saltwater. The freshwater boat WILL always be nicer.

 

[DAREDEVIL]

Wrong again. Two identical boats kept on a lift, maintained to the same standards by the same owner. One is in freshwater, the other is saltwater. The freshwater boat WILL always be nicer.

Ok,,,,so it does depend on the owner still !!!!!!

Like u siad ,,,same owner !!!:sifone:

 

[DAREDEVIL]

The former OSO boat now has 300 hours (all saltwater) on it and is FLAWLESS. The bilge is bright white, not a mark on it. Everything that should shine still does. The owner keeps it on a lift and it is covered. It is detailed twice a week (salaried employee of owner) and nothing shows any use/rust/wear. Drives are still original and have never been off the boat also. Owner is a wingnut when it comes to clean/maintenance.

I have seen "freshwater only" boats that were stored outside all winter left in the water all summer and as a result look like crap.

It all depends on the owner.....just like cars, houses whatever.....

100000% agree:USA:

 

[JupiterSunsation]

Wrong again. Two identical boats kept on a lift, maintained to the same standards by the same owner. One is in freshwater, the other is saltwater. The freshwater boat WILL always be nicer.

Sure the one with the 6 month layup, sitting un-used in freezing temperatures is being preserved like Ted Williams' head.......Vs the one being used once a week and cleaned properly.

Better question for you Paul.....If a boat is run in salt water for 10 hours out of 100 is it still a freshwater boat? How about 50 of 100 hours? Where is the line. If Phil built it and ran it in salt water on it's maiden voyage is the boat used up like a Vegas wh0re? What if Phil ran the boat for 100 hours in salt and personally flushed/maintained vs. the common man who ran it only on Lake Freshwater, USA on Sundays only with air temps over 70 but he didn't wax it every week but rather once a month? :sifone:

Paul I know it is cold up north, drag that beautiful Gladiator down here and thrash the salt out of the Atlantic!

 

[PM203]

Sure the one with the 6 month layup, sitting un-used in freezing temperatures is being preserved like Ted Williams' head.......Vs the one being used once a week and cleaned properly.

Better question for you Paul.....If a boat is run in salt water for 10 hours out of 100 is it still a freshwater boat? How about 50 of 100 hours? Where is the line. If Phil built it and ran it in salt water on it's maiden voyage is the boat used up like a Vegas wh0re? What if Phil ran the boat for 100 hours in salt and personally flushed/maintained vs. the common man who ran it only on Lake Freshwater, USA on Sundays only with air temps over 70 but he didn't wax it every week but rather once a month? :sifone:

Paul I know it is cold up north, drag that beautiful Gladiator down here and thrash the salt out of the Atlantic!

Even Phil will tell you that as hard as he tries to maintain them in the salt, it always shows somewhere. Is it noticeable to the average guy? I would say probably not. And to answer your question, The common man's freshwater boat would be nicer than Phil's saltwater boat. I can show you countless 20 year old boats at the lake that look like they just left the showroom. There really is a difference. But, I envy the guys that run offshore. I used to run in the salt and will probably do it again. And, maybe, just maybe, I will drag the Glad down and go for a ride this season. And one more thing, I find the saltwater down south alot more destructive than up north.It seems to be a little more concentrated and seems to cake up and stick harder to the outdrives and such. Its probably due to the water temps. What do you think?

 

[Geronimo36]

Ok, lets just settle it.... fresh/salt water cared for boat it really doesn't matter case all boats are faster in salt water!!!!

Ok, it's over!

 

[Frequency]

After reading this whole thing about how freshwater and saltwater is bad for boats, I think I'm gonna leave my new Cafe on the trailer! :willy_nilly:

 

[Geronimo36]

After reading this whole thing about how freshwater and saltwater is bad for boats, I think I'm gonna leave my new Cafe on the trailer! :willy_nilly:

The salt water monster is commin to getcha!:rofl::rofl::willy_nilly:

 

[PM203]

Ok, lets just settle it.... fresh/salt water cared for boat it really doesn't matter case all boats are faster in salt water!!!!

Ok, it's over!

Actually, Phil thinks that there is no difference between salt and freshwater speeds when it comes to stepped botom boats .

 

[JupiterSunsation]

Even Phil will tell you that as hard as he tries to maintain them in the salt, it always shows somewhere. Is it noticeable to the average guy? I would say probably not. And to answer your question, The common man's freshwater boat would be nicer than Phil's saltwater boat. I can show you countless 20 year old boats at the lake that look like they just left the showroom. There really is a difference. But, I envy the guys that run offshore. I used to run in the salt and will probably do it again. And, maybe, just maybe, I will drag the Glad down and go for a ride this season. And one more thing, I find the saltwater down south alot more destructive than up north.It seems to be a little more concentrated and seems to cake up and stick harder to the outdrives and such. Its probably due to the water temps. What do you think?

Don't really see anything sticking to the drives....but after a few days the props will calcify (crusty, frostlike film) but any type of acid will make them good as new. The biggest grip for me is anything metal/painted in the bildge will turn to dust. Pulleys, brackets that are just painted will become a victim on black motors. The blue motors use more aluminum/powder coated parts and can last much longer. The only time my boat is left in overnight is on a poker run or Bahamas trip. That 3-4 days in the water is the harshest environment for my own boat.

 

[Geronimo36]

Actually, Phil thinks that there is no difference between salt and freshwater speeds when it comes to stepped botom boats .

No idea...all I know is I loose 1-2 mph as soon as I get into only brackish water.

 

[scottw]

No idea...all I know is I loose 1-2 mph as soon as I get into only brackish water.

I agree with that. I pick up 2-3mph in the saltwater.:26: