I changed my trim pump brackets to stainless steel ones I got off ebay that solved that issue. Why the a holes at Merc still make them in steel is baffling.

For you guys who are constantly spraying everything down with 6-56 or WD40, switch to Corrosion-X and you only have to do it once a year, that stuff is incredible. I sprayed my trim lube bottle brackets with it almost 2 years ago and they still don't have any rust. I cleaned off the loose paint and gave them a good soaking with the Corrosion-X and that was it no more rust. I say this because I have used all the different products on the market at one time or another and none of them are as good as Corrosion-X.

I keep my Advantage on the lift behind the house in Cape Coral during the winter. I spray it liberally with corrosion inhibitor, flush and spray and wipe it down every time we use it. For the most part when I take it back north for the summer you could not tell that the boat has been in salt water.

Late this fall I had Eddie Young do the top end of the 525 in the Advantage. Figured that since it was already at the shop I'd have him go through the XR drive just to be safe. The drive was fine other than this. Apparently a seal had let go and this is what the gulf did to the linkage. Nice :)

Thanks for all the comments guys, great stuff, maybe they will dispel the negativity of boating in salt.

Where do you get Corrosion-X?

locally they have it west marine, and some tackle shops, but I usually buy it online.

CRC Marine has a product called Salt Terminator that you rinse down and flush with.

yes

You missed a spot!! :drink: nice clean setup,

Thanks, I try and keep her clean,

I have been boating in South Florida for 35 years. One trick I learned from an old "Salt" was to inject Dawn Dish Washing liquid into the fresh water flush regimen and let it sit in the block. I have never had a corrosion failure of a block or exhaust manifold in practicing this habit. There is something in Dawn that neutralizes the effect of NACL on the FE...it's as if it coats the surface of the block and prevents the salt from reacting with the iron.

I remember my Chemistry I recall that most household dish washing detergent has Soda Ash in it which is higher on the PH scale than Salts such as Sodium Chloride and the Dawn simply neutralizes the effect of the salt because of this.

Anyone else ever hear of this?