I/O Salt Water

[Gfriedman]

I am upgrading boats and am looking to do some lake and salt water boating. Nothing major off shore, just around in the bays of Mass. Am looking at a 22 - 24' Cuddy.

Do i need to be worried about running an I/O in the salt water?

It will be trailered for the first year i have it, so i can flush it after every use, but if i dock it in salt water am i ultimately going to condemn the engine?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: I/O Salt Water

Well, believe it or not, I/Os are used in salt water all the time. Just be consistent with flushing them after each use.

 

[Lou C]

Re: I/O Salt Water

Ah yes the old running an I/O in salt water question...well I've both run one and moored it in salt water...the running part is not that big of a deal...as long as you flush it out...but leaving it in salt water on a mooring or in a slip will greatly increase certain kinds of maintenance...for example the anti fouling paints for aluminum do not work as well as copper based paints and you will have to pull the boat out mid season to clean and re-paint or else you will get a ton of fouling if it's a bad area for barnacle growth. You also may need to replace your anodes mid season as well...it all depends on the conditions...It can be done...yes...but an outboard would be a lot easier if you are going to leave it in the water...
In addition to that...I'd consider adding closed cooling if possible on a boat before putting it in salt...the engine will last longer and it makes winterizing a little easier...
Finally if the manifolds are not closed cooled you have to inspect the risers/manifolds for signs corrosion and maybe replace them every 5 seasons....

The engine in this boat has at least 10-12 seasons of salt water use and it's fine...I changed the manifolds 4 seasons ago so I will check them at the end of the next season...

I'd check around boatyards in the area you plan on keeping the boat...if you see outdrives and transom mounts with a lot of barncales on them (white circles where they have been scraped off) then you know that the fouling in that area is bad and you will fight that too...it varies greatly by location. In mine its BAD...bad enough to make me consider an OB next time...

 

[alex3012red]

Re: I/O Salt Water

it's better to keep it off the water! Done it and if don't do the correct maint. it will cost you alot more than paying for dry storage or trailering it. Ive done both ways.

 

[Gfriedman]

Re: I/O Salt Water

Thanks for the quick responses.


So when you say a closed system, does that involve just pulling coolant from a tank as opposed to the water your on?

What does it cost to have a mechanic do that? I am pretty handy when it comes to my car, i take my grand Cherokee and wrangler apart plenty, but still a newbie when it comes to boats.

Lou C where are you running your boat? How does the Fourwinns hold up when the water gets choppy?

 

[Lou C]

Re: I/O Salt Water

The closed cooling system uses a heat exchanger to act like a radiator to cool the engine with antifreeze and then seawater removes heat from the antifreeze in the heat exchanger...it can only be installed on new or nearly new engines not run in salt...

The Four Winns has a stable hull design and takes waves very well for its size...I just think that for salt water you'll be happier with a boat designed for it with an outboard and self draining decks in case you get in big water....We run it in the bays of LI north shore and LI Sound on calm days....

 

[sr280da]

Re: I/O Salt Water

Garrett,

We keep our boat on mooring above Cape Ann. If you moor/wet slip the boat you might want to watch the first year for anode depletion and growth on the drive. Use a good anti-fouling paint and don't be afraid to load it on. If the boat you are looking at has the Mercathode system, make sure it is working properly, it does work as advertised.


I flush the engine and drive whenever I can and we are now in our seventh season with the current boat. The drive certainly looks ugly with all the paint on it, but there is solid aluminum.

 

[Lou C]

Re: I/O Salt Water

Yep salt water I/Os are ugly for sure...but if you keep up on the anodes...they don't have to corrode away...

 

[marke077]

Re: I/O Salt Water

Anyone knows how well a new raw water cooled Mercruiser 3,0 I/O puts up with brackish water? I can't pull it up and flush it after each use..
I will get a new boat for next summer, have it taken to a dealer every fall..
I have always had OB and no problems with them and corrosion..

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: I/O Salt Water

If the anodes are maintained and the proper anti-fouling paint is used you should be fine.

I keep mine in the water from mid April till mid Nov......no corrosion and all I need to do is hit it with the power washer to remove any growth when I pull it at the end of the season.

I am FWC'd........if you are raw water cooled you need to keep an eye on the risers and manifolds.......probably need to replace every 3-5yrs.......

just mt $0.02......

 

[Gfriedman]

Re: I/O Salt Water

What do i need to do to prepare my boat for salt water use?

Bottom Paint?
Zincs?

Etc.

Thanks.

 

[Lou C]

Re: I/O Salt Water

If the anodes are maintained and the proper anti-fouling paint is used you should be fine.

I keep mine in the water from mid April till mid Nov......no corrosion and all I need to do is hit it with the power washer to remove any growth when I pull it at the end of the season.

I am FWC'd........if you are raw water cooled you need to keep an eye on the risers and manifolds.......probably need to replace every 3-5yrs.......

just mt $0.02......

Tony how bad is the marine fouling where you are....here we get tons of barnacles...it's bad...I have the yard put on Trilux but I don't think they put on a thick enough coat...this year I'm going to do it myself and put 3 coats on with a brush....are you on the South Shore of LI or the North Shore...here up on the North Shore it's barnacle city....even in the folds of the bellows...

 

[JoLin]

Re: I/O Salt Water

What do i need to do to prepare my boat for salt water use?

Bottom Paint?
Zincs?

Etc.

Thanks.

Both. All other pre-launch prep is exactly the same, salt water or fresh.

 

[Gfriedman]

Re: I/O Salt Water

If i plan on using the boat in salt and freshwater, what types of Zincs should i be looking at since it seems like you use different types on salt water.

Any idea how much it will cost me to have my boat painted (marina) with anti fouling paint? I am looking at 22' - 24' boats?

In regards to the outdrive, is this something i can paint myself? I have seen spray cans, is this a good way to go?

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: I/O Salt Water

Tony how bad is the marine fouling where you are....here we get tons of barnacles...it's bad...I have the yard put on Trilux but I don't think they put on a thick enough coat...this year I'm going to do it myself and put 3 coats on with a brush....are you on the South Shore of LI or the North Shore...here up on the North Shore it's barnacle city....even in the folds of the bellows...

Hi Lou, I'm on the south shore. All I get is some algae, no barnacles. Cleans-up easily with the power washer in the fall. I use Trilux and I only put on 1 coat.