Salt on boat

[mnypitboat]

Re: Salt on boat

I run my boat in salt too, about 50/50 salt and fresh. I also dry store my boat at a marina on a trailer. I can tell you this, no matter how much you flush it, there is always gonna be some left in there. I have a drain on my engine that I pull every time I pull the boat out. It gets almost all out. I also take it to a fresh water boat ramp and put it in there and run it. Just remember, it isnt just your boat, but also your trailer that is taking a beating from that salt. If you arent getting them rinsed, they wont last long. I had a trailer rust completely out and break in half from the inside(paint still looked like new) in just over 3 years. I didnt even know til it broke. It rusted from inside and the paint looked perfect.

If its on a trailer you can transport it. If dropping it in fresh water isnt an option(which in NC I wouldnt think would be a big deal, then take it home once in a while and get it completely cleaned top to bottom with a hose. If your marina doesnt have a fresh water flush, I would maybe look for another marina.

Maintanance is key to keeping your boat nice. Salt water is evil. It will get everywhere and if you cant get it off it will destroy your boat. You have to figure out a way to get it flushed and rinsed.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Salt on boat

I had an earlier thread about keeping the boat on the coast or in Raleigh, I think I will keep it in raleigh for the time being. I guess I will just have to put the whole thing in the local lake when I get back and run it for about 10-15 min at the dock to flush it out and let the trailer sit in fresh water for a bit. The storage plases down at the coast all have wash down stations with hoses you can flush your drive with via the muffs. I just want my headers and risers to last as long as they can seeing as they have cats in them and I am sure that it will be $2K+ in parts to replace them.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Salt on boat

I vote for B: "just more work than its worth?" after initial protection.

Totally agree. Mine gets cleaned and waxed in the Spring. It might get rinsed off after use if there isn't anyone at the rinse hose on the way out.

Flushing an outboard is a feel good thing. Running is salt, you’ll have more problems with erosion (sand)than corrosion (salt).

 

[Jake007]

Re: Salt on boat

Ditto to many of the other posts. I go 50/50 fresh and salt trips. Mostly fresh in winter due to wind and salt in the summer.
Flush everytime you use it in salt. The lake idea is best but requires allot more time that I never have so I have always used the hose and muffs. I alway wash the interior and exterior after my trip and cover before storing. My boat is now 15yrs old and looks better than most at 3-4 yrs old. Also a recent mechanic was shocked at how clean my exhaust manifolds were considering the salt usage which I attribute to the routine I just described.

Also on the engine coating, there is a product you can buy at your boating supply store that you spray on the engine let it dry for 24hrs and it places a nice protective coating. The recent one I used was from Quicksilver.

Bottom line, there is no substitution for proper maintenance. Pay me now (time and effort) or pay me later (money for repairs).