Tahoe Q5i in salt water?

[harley78108]

I am considering a Tahoe Q5i that is a great deal at my local Bass Pro shop. However, without a pretty long drive, my only water access is salt water on the bay. Does anyone have any information on how well the Tahoe holds up to use in salt water? Thanks!

 

[12oclock]

Re: Tahoe Q5i in salt water?

I also own a 2008 Tahoe Q5i and I use it in Clear lake which is brackish. I sometimes venture out into Galveston Bay which has more Salinity. Within 20minutes from leaving the dock and trailering my boat. I wash the entire boat
with boat wash and then flush the engine with Fresh water for about 20mins. I also make sure to pump the bilge of any water and leave the engine hatch open for at least 12hrs to allow the moisture to dry out. Not sure of the long term affects but this is what I do.

 

[harley78108]

Re: Tahoe Q5i in salt water?

12oclock, thanks for the information! That is exactly the kind of information I'm looking for. Have you had any problems with the Q5i? I've read of some owners having problems with loose screws, leaking and poor warranty service.
Thanks!

 

[12oclock]

Re: Tahoe Q5i in salt water?

I haven't had any real problems with the boat. Just small things. Horn didn't work. Had to get the idle speed adjusted becuase the boat was idling high
and linkage was a little sticky. Took care of that myself back adjust the set screw. Trailer brake light was not working due to a short from the factory. I took the boat in to Bass Pro and they took care of it no questions. So far all has been good and I have really enjoyed the boat. I would suggest getting Smart Tabs 60lbs version. They make the Q5 respond like a new boat. Get on plane faster and a much smoother ride in choppy water. For $120 investment they are well worth it.

 

[harley78108]

Re: Tahoe Q5i in salt water?

12oclock - Did you have to do anything special to get the SmartTabs installed? It looks like all the curves on the back of the hull would make it hard to do. Thanks.

 

[12oclock]

Re: Tahoe Q5i in salt water?

Yeah, I was worried about the curve also when I read post here on this forum. I used stainless steel washers as shims to compensate for the curve in the boat transom. I made sure to use 5200 marine sealant and was able to install so far without issue. I also had to make a run to Home Depot to get longer #14 sheet metal screws. The ones they supplied were 3/4" and because of the shimming and curves I needed 1 1/4" screws on the outside holes. The center holes were fine with the supplied screws since they were flush against the transom.

 

[boughtthewrongboat]

Re: Tahoe Q5i in salt water?

It's a good deal because it's very poor quality ... I have an 08 and the problem list gets longer by the river trip. Save your money and get a Chaparrel, Stingray or something in the higher end. These cheap boats lure us into the sport with never ending problems.

My old 91 Stingray was a better boat.

Good luck.

 

[LS1Fan]

Re: Tahoe Q5i in salt water?

I've had my Q4 for about 3 1/2 years and only run it in salt water (Gulf of Mexico). No problems due to salt except it does make the bimini top hardware corrode and wear quicker. It's also hard on trailer parts but I wash the boat after every outing and flush the motor. I think it requires the owner to pay a little more attention to maintenance.