Salt water help
 

Ok so I'm sure this topic has been covered but my search has turned up no results. Question is, I'm very seriously considering purchasing a 32 fountain I found. My 1 hang up and maybe it's ignorance,but it's been a salt water boat for its life. Is the saltwater fact a reason to walk away and if not some advice on things to look for? I'm certainly very green when it comes to this topic. Any help would be appreciated

1st questions i have are
1) what year boat?
2) fresh water closed cooling system?

Imho, i would always try to find a freshwater boat over a salt boat.

It's a 2002 with raw water cooling. My intent was to find freshwater but stumbled across this one which lines up with everything I'm after except freshwater

The ONLY thing the saltwater DEFINATLY damages are:
Outdrives, Oil Coolers, Intake Manifolds, Exhaust Systems, Motors and anything else NOT Stainless.
The ONLY way to fix Saltwater corrosion I know of is REPLACE.
NO WAY I would consider a 15 year old all saltwater boat as reliable.

[QUOTE=GLENAMY 242SS;4307889]The ONLY thing the saltwater DEFINATLY damages are:
Outdrives, Oil Coolers, Intake Manifolds, Exhaust Systems, Motors and anything else NOT Stainless.
The ONLY way to fix Saltwater corrosion I know of is REPLACE.
NO WAY I would consider a 15 year old all saltwater boat as reliable.[/QUOTE



Motors were freshened 25 hrs ago along with new manifolds, exhaust. Not sure about the coolers. Drives were also serviced(rebuilt) at the same time. Either way, I think you answered my question with that statement. Thanks for the help!

I forgot to mention the trim pumps, tab pumps, motor hatch motor, distributor, ignition, mercathode system, starter relay, circuit breakers, etc.
All electrical connectors and motors are now a prime failure point. NO way to stop electrolysis and salt speeds the process MANY fold.
Electrical gremlins on the water are NO fun, trust me.
Just my opinion, hope you make the right choice.
Good Luck

Thanks again

I run in salt water. If I were ever to buy another used boat it would not be a salt water boat.

Suppose all was deemed good by a reputable surveyor at time of purchase, then boat was moved to fresh water, would it still be cause for concern? In other words even after the move would their be residual effects impossible to stop even with it no longer being exposed to salt?

Salt water. VS frost, freeze and poor winterization. Hmm.. NO BRAINER. I boat in salt water, and you could not tell. But I'm pretty anal about the upkeep and desalting, wash down, etc. EVERY time. Salt won't hurt much. Lack of maintenance does. AND yessss in the salt it takes a hellava more upkeep. But I would never by a boat that's been in winter, several times, especially an older boat. Unless the owner is your bro, and it was kept in heated storage all it's life. Most don't realize the damage is done to boats, fiberglass, engines, rubber, gaskets. etc. in freezing temps. I run like hell from the "winter boats". And I been in the winter enough. too.

Like I said, the ONLY way to repair the saltwater damage is REPLACE.
That many years of salt has eaten away some parts and clogged up the others..
To put in perspective last year I bought a boat (Formula) knowing it started it's life in Long Beach, CA and has spent at least the last 10 years in either OK. or Dallas, TX. fresh water only.
The boat looked good and recently "rebuilt" (read fixed from internal damage). I knew what to really expect so I brought the boat home.
I planned on a year or so nut/bolt redo but here are some of the boat suicide things I have found.
Intake manifold below the thermostat housing rotted almost completely through to valley area because of constant saltwater blasting of water. I finished poking a hole in it with a small screwdriver.
Exhaust manifolds were completely "flacking metal" especially at water exit from risers. Manifold internal metal flaking from body. Exhaust manifold bolts break instead of loosening.
Cracked exhaust valves and terrible seats in rear cylinders of heads, (thank you exhaust water reversion).
All trim/tilt pump bodies rusting on cases and around screws. All electrical motors needing attention. Badly corroded connectors especially around high amp areas, pumps, starter, .solenoids, larger breakers well you get the idea.
Back to the point 'YOU CANNOT WASH 15 YEARS OF UGLY OFF A SALTWATER BOAT!!!! period IT TAKES SURGERY.
Pics avail of parts removed from boat.'
By the way saltwater boating is the best. I plan on this boat being destroyed in salt but I will have a closed cooling system before seeing salt.

Yeh, I have to replace my truck too every year because of being in the North. :bong:

That was the craziest thing I have ever heard.

Many 20-30yr old boats here with original motors/exhausts/outdives...oh, and hulls. LOL.

Vey fresh water and at times -10 to -20F during winter with ost boats stored out side shrinkwrapped. Cooling systems winterized obviously.

Salt water can cause quite a few issues but most of which can be minimized with proper maintenance. Concentrate on finding a well cared for boat whether salt or fresh, but to eliminate a boat just because of salt water use?? Going a little overboard there..

Salt water has a bad name but properly taken care of with flushing and zincs its not bad. I just sold a saltwater boat that was in in much better shape than my new to me freshwater boat

I don't have much choice about winter being in upstate ny. That said I haven't seen issues with my past boats either after being properly winterized and stored in a cold garage. Im definitely no mechanic however. I mis spoke earlier about motors being freshened, they were actually rebuilt with internals replaced 20 hours ago. I'll admit I don't know a whole lot about what I should be looking for when evaluating motors. I was thrown off because the boat is very clean with no obvious corrosion my blind eye could see, but again maybe I missed some obvious important stuff. Maybe it was meticulously maintained as owner says and it looks but only he really knows. I simply can't afford to have a grenade after the first 5 hours. I was hoping that moving it to freshwater would stop any current unseen salt issues from progressing since now it seems to be good. Apparently that's not the case.

I have to rebuild my house every spring, the cold just kills the wood! lol

I am in salt, and would take a well maintained salt boat over a boat that had average maint and went through freezing winters.

Salt requires more corrosion prevention maint but having to properly winterizing is just as much if not more work, so either getting done is just as likely imo

My boat was fresh water its whole life except the last two years I was in salt water. I only ran it about 8 times in the salt because I would spend 2-3 hours flushing and washing the boat after so I didn't use it much. Spending all day in the sun on the boat and then another 2-3 hours flushing and washing the boat in the sun in the driveway sucked. My boat and trailer (aluminum) looks just as good as it did in fresh water. If it was properly maintained a salt boat should be ok. I'm glad I just moved back to MI and can enjoy fresh water boating again.

Don't know what you were planning on spending but I have a '92 32' Fountain I'll sell. I am the second owner, first owner only used on Grand Lake Oklahoma and now it's at LOTO were I use it. Outside of boat was redone in the mid 2000's having the bow rails removed and new imron paint. The interior was redone by me in 2007. My family owns Parker Marine at the lake so maintenance was religiously performed every season. Fresh water 100% of it's life. Twin 502 carbed, runs 73.

I disagree with all that has been said about salt water boats. I own a 94 top gun that has seen a lot of salt water time and am willing to bet it's one of the cleanest top guns around. Properly maintained and flushed makes a big difference. make sure you give it a thorough inspection and survey before buying. good luck.

Salt requires more maintenance, if the maintenance is done it's a non issue. Fresh water has a much higher tendency to rot the wood. Seen many fresh water boats with way more rot than just about any salt water boat I've dealt with.

Apparently there's a lot of varying opinions on the subject... Thanks for the input guys

Don't know why your search was unsuccessful because these threads show up frequently. And they always get the same negative responses. The truth is it's all in the maintenance. I'll take a well maintained SW boat over put up wet FW boat any day. Fresh water flushing and washing after every use is critical. And inside storage is even better as it keeps it out of the salt air. Been there done that! Just gotta know what to look for.

Good luck with your search.

I'll back every salt water boat I've owned against a fresh water equivalent, no problem. It's all in the maintenance. If the boat has been pampered and engines flushed after every use you should not have any issues.

Salt water requires a bit more care but in the right hands, it shouldn't make any difference. Closed cooling is a definite plus.

Do your testing and research, survey the boat if you're not an expert, due diligence and you should be OK.

Good luck with whatever you decide,

RR

Nuff said that salt does present additional challenges that can be overcome.

Can't believe that nobody has brought up the different challenges due to different freshwater "types" - northeast vs southwest freshwater. Very different ph's and corrosives from upstate NY to LOTO to Mead etc...

Ford.......Chevy

Ok, what does it take to completely desalt a boat? (if it is even possible)

yeah but DODGE is the best! :eek:

All joking aside, yes it is just like Ford/Chevy arguments on salt/no salt.

I can say a salt water boat can be tough on metal parts. I bought a brand new boat and within 2 years the trim pump brackets were rusted like they came off the titanic! That being said, 90% of performance boats have been used in salt water! Every Nortech, Outerlimits, Cigarette had their first test drive in salt water near the factories! Then everyone wants to do the KW Poker Run and guess what, back in the evil salt water for days without being rinsed, desalted, etc. It is all in the maintenance regardless of where it came from. The only thing I'm not sure about (that was posted) is the drives......pretty sure they will be fine unless they are left in the salt water submerged for seasons or if they get water intrusion. The drives still looked great after 5 years, as did the paint/fiberglass.

i don't care how often and how much care you take fliushing a motor, the second you turn it off at any stop along your day the corrosion begins.

A 10 year old motor flushed after every outing is still starting to get at the end of its life.

Don't mention that on the 11 year old 51 Outerlimits thread.......that boat is made of gold and must have titanium 1075s! :eek:

Two things to consider about salt. Are they dipping in and out of salt? What I mean is a guy who doesn't live on the water and trailers the boat home/storage away from the salt. Or is it on a lift? The trailered home and rinsed boat, will be o.k. for the most part. The on lift just above salt water boats are the ones with problems. I know from experience leaving on a lift just above salt water 24/7 all spring and summer. Salt film will be on everything. I wouldn't buy a salt water lift boat. But would consider one that's run in salt and not stored near the ocean.

I keep mine in a warehouse and on trailer and it gets a very good in and out cleaning after very use.

Most prob wouldn't even know my boat is a "salt" run boat cause of basic care and storage. I would have zero problems buying one like mine in the future.

I had an 89 formula 242ss 330 I/O salt water cooled - always left in the water, traded for a new one in 2001. Engine was flushed after almost every use. It had over 1000 hours when traded and the next buyer used it at least 3 years or more with no issues. Never a drive or engine problem or anything go other than exhaust elbows which were replaced every 5 yrs & manifolds 10. It all depends on care.
The owner of my old boat wanted first right of refusal to my next boat !!

How do you know that the Previous owner flushed it ever time, its one thing to say you do but how can one prove it. The seller isnt going to let you take the engine apart to see what the coolant passages look like.

That being said if you find a good SW boat that you can clearly see it has been well taken care of I wouldnt hesitate to buy it.

Does not matter if you flush it every time or not. once the corrosion begins it is well on its way .Which was when you turned the key off and went up to the bar for 5 hours before you went home and flushed it

Pull an intake or thermostat housing apart on a brand new motor that has been run a few times with flushing after and get back with me.

I wouldn't worry with a SW boat like this. Its the boat in and over saltwater all the time that will have more problems.

Over here, the marina where I store my boat has a cleaning service available. It's laughable but here's what they do when they retrieve your boat after every use....

Retrieve boat back on trailer.
Flush all (3) engines, 10 minutes each.
Clean interior and check under hatch storage areas for water.
Clean exterior.
Dry everything and put the boat back inside storage shed.
Leave covers off for 1 day and all doors, hatches open, seat cushion lifted to make sure everything's dry.
Replace covers after a quick inspection.

Most of you guys probably do something like that anyway. I used to do that until the marina staff asked why I didn't get them to do it. Total cost for the service, this is the laughable part, 250 Thai baht. (About $7)

I no longer clean my own boat and it's always shiny, dry and salt free!

RR

Fresh water boats get bonus points as Salt Water is harder on all gear- but to rule out all 15 yr old salt use boats as unreliable is far fetched. There are plenty 10-20 year old salt water boats that have been well maintained that still look and run great. Just saying take all things into consideration....

It's just like anything else mechnical, how was it maintained? Granted with SW boats, this is ALOT more care required, but if said care is done, the SW boat will be in just a good of condition as a freshwater boat...... For example, I personally spray WD-40 on my engines ~ every other time we got out, and then wipe them down 24 hours later... Here's a SW engine with ~65 hours of SW running....

A lot of these million dollar go fast boats are all ran in salt water , you don't here these guy's *****ing about the salt , It's all in how you take care of it , just like Dean's motor :)
I drove 10 hours once to buy a lake boat that had more rust and pit then any of my salt water boats combined ," I turned around empty on that one " Most people don't understand that ALL water is corrosive fresh and salt , so the fresh water guy's don't spray and clean there motor's ect, properly because they think there safe from corrosion but there NOT , go look in person and have any boat you by surveyed and inspected