Re: Boat for salt/brackish waters
Great question, Doug. We bought our new 2010 Q5i last year for general family recreation . . . but also for some serious fishing - both in fresh and salt water. I've run the rig in our Texas bay systems and had a blast - even in water a shallow as 2'. But at the end of each day I spend a considerable amount of time thoroughly washing down the entire boat inside and out. And finally, since we have the advantage of living in a lake community, I back the rig down into the lake and just run the engine for 10 minutes of so. That bathes the trailer, brakes and stuff that might not get sprayed thoroughly enough with a car wash wand or your garden hose (though I do that as quickly as I can get to a car wash). I've run my routine by our local dealer for their thoughts, and they have said that I'm way on the conservative side. So after a year of doing this, absolutely no problems with engine or any other systems. But just for safety's sake, this year I've mounted a gps and vhf radio just in case something goes wrong. So I'm safe for some near off-shore operations given the limits of a 20' boat. Anything can happen in bigger water, but if you provide some diligent care to the Q5i, it is versatile enough to be an effective fishing platform in near shore and bay operations (weather permitting). BTW, would love to pull mine over to see an uncle in Ft. Walton . . . what a gorgeous area over there.
