Freshwater boat in saltwater prep

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Freshwater boat in saltwater prep

Volvo sells a spray on wax like substance.

http://www.volvopentastore.com/Corrosion-shield/dm/store_id.366--view_id.345284

 

[Philster]

Re: Freshwater boat in saltwater prep

I was simply asking if there was any preventative measures to protect the outside of engine and components from salt.Not the lower unit, the engine.Il either use wd or post #15.I thought is was a simple question,perhaps not

I think it gets confusing because one might wonder what salt is doing sitting on the outside of an engine. You got good suggestions, so all is good.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Freshwater boat in saltwater prep

I'm constantly bewildered by the notion of a "freshwater" vs. "saltwater" boat. Until I joined the forums, I'd never even heard of such a thing. Down here in FL, most folks go through fresh, brackish and salt water all in one trip. I know I often do. The previous posts are right. You don't need to do anything "special" to "prepare" your boat for the saltwater. Just be sure to rinse it down well with fresh water after each day at sea. Most docks will have a freshwater hose you can use. You can/should also flush the motor with freshwater by running it on muffs, or in a test tank for a few minutes. They do make special products that you can flush with, but you don't really need it. You can give your interior a good coat with and Armor-all type product before your trip just to be safe, but you'll be fine without it. You can also give your motor/power head a very light misting of WD-40 before you hit the water too. All that being said, you'll be fine without doing anything special. In fact, there are a few perks to being at the beach. You should notice that your boat is a bit quicker at sea than on a lake thanks to the increased buoyancy due to the salt water, and also more bikinis at the beach You will also find that it's really the salt air that causes most corrosion and not so much the saltwater itself. In fact, freshwater is far more damaging to wooden hulled vessels than saltwater. Now 'ye landlubber, relax, have fun, be safe, take pics, report back Happy Boating!

 

[Philster]

Re: Freshwater boat in saltwater prep

Salt air is old wives' tale type stuff. Coastal living is more humid, but unless the sea spray is being blown onto your property, you don't have 'salt air'.

And there are differences in many boats that are targeted for coastal living vs. inland lakes/rivers. Stainless steel fittings, cast iron exhausts and other corrosion resistant pieces can be found on many boats whose target audience/consumer is the coastal boater.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Freshwater boat in saltwater prep

well said, KFA

Do not use WD40 in salt water environment. It is Water Drying. It does not protect and seems to attract corrosion. Silicone, teflon, white lithium grease, marine products like CRC is what you want.

What do you mean by "freshwater boat"? A normal boat that has only been used in fresh, or a boat like a bass boat made with substandard parts that can't handle salt?

"Salt air" is not an old wive's tale. I don't need to give the thousands of examples as to its effects. Your statement is simply wrong.

Keeping equipment covered in a salt environment can often be worse for it than laeving it in the sun to dry.

The OP seems way to converned about cosmetics. The perfect solution to avoid your boat showing salt water use is to leave it in an air conditioned garage and never use it. Ever see people with beautiful furniture they keep wrapped in plastic, leave plastic on lampshades, and put plastic runners over gorgeous rugs? Don't they get it?

 

[Philster]

Re: Freshwater boat in saltwater prep

You're entitled to your opinion, but since we're here fighting ignorance... the salt in sea spray is quickly converted in the air to other chemicals. If you live right on the coast, direct sea spray is an issue, but the overwhelming issue is boating in the salt water, leaving a boat in the salt water and the never-ending dampness and high humidity. When things are constantly damp... well, we all know the issues here.

Home Cookin', why bash anyone interested in boat cosmetics? I care enough to have a "beater boat" to supplement my shiny boat. There are gorgeous eye-candy boats out there, and they are all legit boaters. (I've made fun of the dry bilge club guys, too... I know... but there is nothing wrong with asking about corrosion resistance and keeping a boat pristine)

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Freshwater boat in saltwater prep

Thanks for the tip on WD-40 Home Cookin' I didn't know it was "water drying". I suppose there are "freshwater" boats inasmuch as the factory hardware and other accessories are not corrosion resistant by "marine" standards (e.g. stainless steel), but I consider anything that floats in water be it fresh, or salt is a boat. I believe the original question was in reference to a relatively quick trip to the beach for a few days, in which case the salt water/spray issue will be minor and can be easily remedied when you get home with a good thorough cleaning. Shoot, in my neck of the woods it's not uncommon to see guys fishing the flats in their Ranger bass boats and Jon boats that they had on the lake and rivers the day before. Nothing wrong with wanting a nice, shiny boat of course, but I think most of us here that do lots of coastal boating are more worried about safety and getting there and back again in one piece than cosmetics. All boats are safe and shiny in a harbor, but that's not where boats belong.
If you use a boat, it's gonna get dents, dings, scratches and wear on it. No two ways about it. It think that may be a lake/freshwater boater vs. coastal boating perspective. Trust me, when your 20+ miles out to sea with no land in sight and the motor dies, the last thing you're worried about is the shine on your gel coat. Down here, every trip out that you don't hit an alligator, manatee, oyster bar, crab trap, shark and/or tourist is a good day. Well except for the tourist part, we don't mind hitting them so much and they make great bait We kind of like the dents and dings. Boats are like blue jeans, the more you use them the better they look. Safety and reliability first (especially at sea). Gelcoat and bling second.

 

[Philster]

Re: Freshwater boat in saltwater prep

Just a note: The OP is moving his boat to salt water permanently.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Freshwater boat in saltwater prep

I'm all for keeping a boat looking good as long as you can. I admire the well-kept boats I see out in the rivers and bays, especially the old wooden ones and the blue-hull whalers. I hate seenig people dunk trailers (and cars!) in salt water.

But my point is, you can't use a boat in or around salt water and not have salt water in and on the boat. You can't coat or cover the boat to form a barrier ("I just want to do everything I can to keep the salt off.Theres got to be a product to spray on to form a barrier???") and you shouldn't (ever see someone shellac their brass or paint their stainless?).

Instead, you address the salt water/spray/air that inevitably gets on and in the boat realistically, and in different ways for different parts. Hull? disregard. Topside fittings, external motor parts? hose it off with fresh water. Internal motor? flush with fresh water (although many outboards have done just fine for years without it. can't speak to I/O). Electronic connections? those you coat with a barrier (once clean) and then maintain by cleaning/coating as part of maintenance, typcially annually, more or less frequently if you are so inclined.

But there is no one "coating" and there is no way to avoid contact with the sea and also use the boat. Better to realize it ain't all that bad to begin with.

 

[Chris-R]

Re: Freshwater boat in saltwater prep

Fluid Film
Corrosion X
Salt Away

The dude who recommended Fluid Film is spot on. It sticks to everything and is the best underwater rust inhibitor made. It is used by the Navy in underwater applications. I buy it by the gallon and use an air sprayer to spray my trailer. It looks horrible but when you wipe off the fluid film, every single bolt, nut, weld, joint, pin, etc. looks like the day I bought the trailer. After you come home from the ocean, use Salt Away when washing your boat and trailer (before using fluid film on the trailer). Use it when flushing your engine too. It's fantastic. My boat looks like a lake boat yet it is used 100% in salt water.

 

[ewenm]

Re: Freshwater boat in saltwater prep

my experience is ONLY in salt water and moored year round, i used to regularly flush my motor with fresh water after using the boat, and hose the whole thing down. now i dont do either, the only rust i get on my twin 4.3 efi's is where the mechanic has damaged the paint, clean it up and respray and its all good, on my previous boat that i cleaned and flushed regularly the manifolds and risers lasted 5 years, in this boat that i dont bother with they lasted 5 years hmmmmm.

all i do now, other than keeping the cockpit and interior clean, is to occasionally water blast it, and once a year have the exterior buffed and polished.

i think sometime we can get a little carried away with these things, they are boats, water/ salt is what they do.