I know this is probably a dumb question but I have never been around a salt water engine. If you are to buy motors that have been in saltwater what are the problem areas besides the exhaust system and circulation pump? How long does it take to take a toll on the block?

From my own experience, the average raw water cooled, salt water motor is pretty well used up after 5 or 6 seasons. If the owner is real diligent with flushing maybe another couple of years.

I have only been around salt water. I have seen stock manifolds go 9 seasons BUT they were flushed out everytime. When I took this same motor apart, the block looked fine, no problems at all. I would say that the longevity of a salt water engine has to do alot with how the motor is maintained. If you don't use it often and don't flush it out, I am sure that the life expectancy will be drastically decreased.

Not a dumb question.For me it was in the form of rusting or should I say flakeing.Hot tanked the block and went 30 over without checking for wall thickness,well at least it wasn't the first time I flushed the bucks down the drain.

If you hoist a saltwater boat, you should be prepared to flush it well. If you don't have time to flush it "today" then you should wait until you have time to flush it to have it hauled/hoisted. It is better to leave it in the water overnight than to let the block drain and have air pockets in it cause that is where the rust comes from.

A friend bought a boat that had always been stored on a hoist, but had never been flushed. It had 100 hours on it and was 2 years old. He had blocks full of rust.