one-time salt water - worth it?
 

I have run exclusively on inland lakes with my 496HO. Am considering trailering the boat to Maine for my million-dollar vacation. Would you use the boat in the ocean for the two weeks, knowing it'll likely never see salt water again? I know the closed cooling should help and that I can flush the drive after each use, but am wondering whether the greater risk of corrosion is worth it. Thanks.

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

Coming from a guy who has been boating exclusively in salt water for 8 years, you have nothing to worry about. We have to install fresh water flush kits and flush the engine after running all day, but that's about it. For two weeks, you have nothing to worry about..just flush it before you go back home, the fresh water running you'll do when you get home will more than finish the job. I know that you fresh water guys hear crazy horror stories but, like anywhere else, if you just perform regular maintenance you're fine. Enjoy yourself !

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

DO IT! What are the chances you'll be at the ocean with your boat again? Enjoy the h3ll out of it and then wash the h3ll out of it when your done. You can find 5 year old salt water boats that are in good shape from this kinda use (although I'll admit many others show the signs of saltwater)
The sea air won't do damage in 2 weeks, letting salt spray sit for weeks of the hull/ fittings will. Just wash the outsides down each day of use and where/if ever the spray lands in the interior. When you get back home then wash EVERYTHING! and you'll be fine.
Have fun!

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

I took mine to Fla for the winter...sprayed the entire engine comp with WD-40 before...Flushed & washed after every use.Used Salt Away
No problem at all....

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

There's something no one has mentioned here... what's your trailer made of? Steel? Or worse, tube steel?

If your trailer is tube steel, I would NOT under any circumstances dunk it in salt water. There is no way to flush out the insides off the tubes, and it will rot and break in half within a couple of years. "C-channel" or "I-beam" steel can be washed sufficiently to avoid long-term damage.

Do you have sling slots? Slinging it off with a Travel Lift isn't too difficult, back on isn't as much fun, but do-able.

If no sling slots, it would need to be lifted by the transom eyes and bow eye. Make sure these are in good shape and servicable. Also call ahead and find a marina willing to do it.

If your trailer is aluminum or galvanized, have a blast! Flush the motors after each use and enjoy that "million-dollar vacation".

Of course, for a million bucks, you could set yourself up with a nice aluminum trailer after you return home, and go back every year. :)

Cheers,
Brian

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

Make sure you have a VHF radio and GPS with current info. Look out for those big bumps in the water :D

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

YOUR BOAT WILL IMMEDIATLY DISINTEGRATE WHEN IT TOUCHES SALT WATER! :D

I boat in brackish and salt water all the time. Don't sweat it.

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

I prefer fresh water any day, but since I live only about 3 miles from the Pacific Ocean, 90% of the time that is where I take it. I have no problems. I even have raw water cooling. Just rinse it well.

As for my trailer. Since it is made of steel, salt will attack any unpainted surface like fly's on sh*t. Pay attention to welded spots, and just make sure it is coated well with paint. My trailer looks just as good as the day I bought it...(well, almost). :drink:


PS........one thing nice about the ocean is once your past the break wall, "NO SPEED LIMIT".....hell, you can even gamble legally once your a few miles from shore.

I would advise signing up for some type of membership to a "On-the-Water Towing Service". It can get real expensive if you need a tow. I pay about $120 a year. And saved at least $2500 last year alone if I had not have had it...just my 2 cents.

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

What style of steel... tube, c-channel?

The problem with tube steel is that there is no way to paint the insides, and most trailer manufacturers cut holes in the rear/bottom to allow them to drain when coming out of the water. This allows salt to contact and attack the unpainted surfaces inside. There's also no good way to wash out these tubes.

Just Don't Do It.

Cheers,
Brian

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

What part of Maine? going in at ocean or via river? Not sure where your from but just pay attention to your charts - we're kinda rocky between islands and close to shore up this way

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

Thanks for all the great info. The trailer issue is a concern and I never would have thought of that. I'm pretty sure it's tube steel - We're heading to Kennebunkport - are there any freak-of-nature rivers that are fresh water close to the ocean with boat ramps?

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

No freaks of nature but heres how you do it;

If you are comfortable going backwards with your trailer really fast - do about 80mph and before you hit the water - hit the brakes!

getting back on the trailer is a little more trouble :D

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

What a excellent question,I am also going to lake winni this sunday in wolfesboro until wed 9 days later and because I don't have to be back to work until following monday(aug first) we also are contemplating towing boat up into maine and running in the ocean. I understand the concern about steel trailers but i used my boat in florida 4 years ago and dunked my trailer(steel eagle) in innercoastal at least 10 times,it still looks like new but i did power wash it including rinsing water thru tubes before coming home. Where are some ports of interest to run boat in maine? I'd like to meet up with a few fellow osoe'rs while in NH. This too also assuming my boat is still running after9 days on lake winni! :eek: Smitty

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

I live in maine and have a 496 ho. since it is closed cooled and the risers are stainless you have nothing to worry about, You only live once and I would not have it any other way. as for your trailer if it is steel i recomend you have it travel lifted in. I always launch mine that way even though i run galvy and aluminum trailers. simply because i use them to haul boats long distances and it is murder on the brakes and bearings. I do not know where you are going but I live in kennebunkport and could arrange the t lift here for you probably 75 bucks each way depending what length of boat you have. And maybe even a slip since all three of my god damed power boats are broken. I guess that is how it is when you are in the business. Good luck Brian

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

Smitty - My boats up the lake now but due to get it back home in week or 2 for couple repairs (water circulator) and will be using out of Newburyport Ma for couple weeks and back to the lake again. Where you keeping it in Wolfeboro? I'm on the right side as you enter Winter Harbor

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

We are renting a condo without docks so we planned on launching boat everyday since it is only 27 ft and it is pretty easy to launch.I broke a rocker adjusting nut sunday on lake michigan after sotw,we thought something more major happened because of the evil noise coming from motor,just got parts today and am firing it up tonight,hopefully nothing else is wrong with the motor other wise our vacation will consist of watching boats go by(not my idea of fun). No idea where any launches or anything is since we have never been there before,figured we'd be able to find a launch (I hope) pretty easy,Smitty

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

its all free - town dock is right down town but -0- parking for trailer. head north west on 109 and across from the Libby museum free ramp and park behind the libby on week ends, road during week.

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

we are staying right on 680 main street (wherever that is) and there is supposed to be parking at this condo for boat trailer. I have been so busy that i haven't had time to research anything on where to launch or where to get a slip or anything,we do everything pretty much at last minute :eek: but appreciate any info,Smitty

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

C-Channel..........I could only imangine what a tube type trailer would look like in the inside :eek:

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

artic, get a bizar chart of the lake, it'll show you everything on and off the water, (and under water too) Cmg gave me advise last year. It was my first time there and the place was great. We stayed at the naswa, we're going again in august. :drink:

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

Why not just dunk the trailer in the lake when you get back home. Maybe even a few times, that should flush it out pretty well.

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

Will it? The problem is you won't know until the rust holes work their way from the inside, thru the paint and then show up on the exterior. Or worse, one of the cross members cracks loose, or an axle falls off.

Any trailer that's not brand new, even if only used in fresh water, will have some extent of rust in the tubes. If you trap salt particles in the rust scaling, I doubt that it will all just wash away by dunking back in fresh water a few times. How far forward does the salt water drain forward when you pull it out of the ramp onto level surface? How far do you dunk it in fresh water to rinse? Completely?

If you're planning to keep your tube steel trailer for a few years or more, I'd keep it out of saltwater.

Brian

Re: one-time salt water - worth it?
 

Good idea - when leaving Maine just stop at a decent size body of water and let it sit on a boat ramp for 5 minutes (with engines running)- pull it out - let it drain and do it again. even better after the bathbring along a Salt away flusher for engines and use it to hose down the trailer too.


As far as a Bizer chart, its a must if you don't know the lake cause you'll get lost (couple hundred islands) and you can get one at any marina.

btw -Do not assume following another boater around markers is safe - there are more numb nuts in borrowed bow riders fumbling their way around than you'd believe :(