Question about salt water boat
 

Need some help on boats that are salt water used. If the engine is closed cooled I take it that the insides won't be damaged. What about the outdrive what would be the main things to look at that could go bad.

There's a boat in Ft. Walton Beach Florida that is a 2003 with 121 hours. I was told the boat was kept on a trailer and not left in the water.

Any help I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

If he was good about washing / flushing it should be 100% fine.

My boat is in salt, but I wash and flush after every outing. You CAN NOT tell my boat is a salt water boat - period.

So it depends on the care it received. A close look is all that is needed.

What Bill Said

Even a closed cooled engine has salt/sea water flowing through parts of it. There is a heat exchanger that runs the cool salt/sea water next to the closed cooling antifreeze to cool the antifreeze which actually touches the inside of the block. Depending on the engine and CC setup, the sea water might be going through the oil and/or fuel coolers. The salt/sea water still gets introduced into the exhaust so the exhaust system is always as risk.

As Bill mentioned, flushing routine is KEY. You have to get ALL of the salt out of the entire system before you put the boat away. Otherwise you are eating and corroding things away that you can't see.

Does anyone know of a good surveyor in the Ft. Walton Beach area. Never been there so I don't know the area. What about asking the marina would that be ok?

Ed Cozzi

He is on this site

Hey BillR how can I get a hold of him? What's his user name and is he around Ft Walton? If the seller is willing to take our offer I just might need to get ahold of him.

Thanks.

Ed.....954-895-4633

LS

A little off topic, but what flushing system does everyone recommend for a 496 Mag?
Thanks,
Dan

Install an inline T-fitting into the sea water hose coming in from the outdrive. Do a search. I have posted the parts needed here on OSO in the past. Works great, last long time.

You don't need the checkball system or anything like that from Perko. First of all, the checkball can become jammed and cause you problems. Second of all, the checkball system does not reverse flush from your T-fitting out the outdrive.

First turn on the hose with the engine not running. This will flush from the SWP back out the outdrive. Leave the hose running for a couple minutes.

Then, start the motor, and flush the motor for a minimum of 5 minutes.

Then, shut the motor off, and let the reverse flush out the outdrive run for a few more moments before you shut the water off.