Jeff,
My little ritual is:

1. Open engine hatch and with the hose set on a mist, (high pressure) I rinse all the entire engine(s) and bilge, try to stay away from direct spray on the electronics. I always try to do this while the engines are still warm to the touch, helps with evaporation of the fresh water rinse.
2. Let it drip dry, while I'm cleaning the interior, dash/gauges
3. Flush engines for at least 10-12 minutes each, just plain fresh water, bumping the RPM's up to 1,800 -2,000 RPMs for a couple of seconds at time. Just to maximize the water pressure in the engine block/exhaust/intercoolers, etc
4. Wash the outdrives, flush my drive showers, wash the whole transom.
5. Wash the rest of the hull, paying extra attention to all the hardware, (Example: Pull-up cleats are up and washed thoroughly)
6. Grab 1st beer from Tiki bar, !
7. Jump back in cockpit, wipe down all hardware/gauges/interior with clean dry boat towels.
8. Wipe down engines with towels.
9. Get 2nd beer from Tiki bar...
10. Get a can of WD-40 with red sprayer inserted and spray down everything in the blige, expect the belts, (although some does get on the belts...) Usually use the whole can on (2) engines, and I wipe any over spray on the belts off right away
11. Close engine hatch later when engines completely cool off
12. Get 3rd beer at Tiki bar, and just relax a little at the Tiki bar, usually watching the kids catching fish off the other end of the dock...
12. Next day open up engine hatch and wipe down everything with clean shop towels. Put on cockpit cover or whole boat cover depending on whether or not we are going boating next week.......

Last, If I use the boat ramp, I spray down the under carriage/wheel wells/ of my truck, always done 1st, and the trailer brakes next, and the trailer when washing the hull....

It's definitely a labor of love, if you really want to boat in saltwater, year round....

The problem with both is leaving in or above water. Fresh water moisture from evaporation can create rust problems.

I have used this product before. Can wash whole boat with it. Seems to work good as part of salt maintenance program.

http://www.boatersplus.com/salt-away...aign=shopzilla

http://www.salt-away.com/au/store/sa.../injection-kit

You'd guys schit how clean alot of the stuff is here that's 20+yrs old and sits in the water from May- end of August.
Outdrives included only if people are actually smart enough to change their anodes once in a while.

I have a few mid 80's boats with original engines that look, run, and etc totally fine that sit in the water too...year...after year...after year....

Ad yeh, original engines.

I guess it's real good fresh water.

Just sayin.

So I guess I'm full o $hit

Yes

For me I will do a quick wash and flush at the ramps (they have water and I bring a hose).....tow back to storage warehouse.

Once there I will rinse the entire boat down, then hook up one motor at a time, I run each motor for about 10-15 min (even though they are closed cooled) and like Dean I will bump the throttle a touch.....also before I disconnect I taste the water to see if I still have any "salt" taste left or not.

While the motors are going I am also usually soaping down the entire outside top and bottom. Once when the motors are done I will rinse off the boat....however I do not do the transom....I do that buy hand and with a rag as well to make sure I get every nook, hose, line, drive, or whatever and assure it gets wiped, soaped, and cleaned.

From there I will go back to the cockpit and Cabin and do the engines as well. At that point they are warm but not hot. Wash them down, steer clear of the major electronics, and I too use WD40, close the hatch and go back to doing the seats, floors and all that. I have a mini vacuum as well and I vacuum the carpet, clean all counter tops and cup holder, wrap up an lines, jackets or whatever, and store everything neatly.

By that time before I climb down I will hand wipe the excess WD40 on the engines....Last Part is I always at minimum spray wax the boat after every use and hand wax it at times as well. So While I am doing that I run the hose into the wheel area and let the water run over the brakes, hub assy, and all that and wash them with soap too. I make sure every hub gets running water over it for 3min or more.

Sure there is a step or two left out but that is the normal ritual of putting away my boat and prob the part that is the most pain in the ass but has to be done and no one ever wants to help.

Nate I thought I was the only one that tasted the water

ROF... I tasted the water when I flushed the PP, thought maybe I was the only psycho that ever did that!!!! People must have thought I was nuts LOL!!

Some of us are just a little OSD I think lol.