Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

[padlr]

I have a freshwater boat that has never seen saltwater in its life. Its an i/o thats 21 yrs young with about 200 hrs (really). I'm taking the family to Ocean City MD in a few weeks and had planned to take her with us.

But I'm having reservations. If I wash her down and run freshwater through the cooling intake after each use, will she be alright? Will that flush even matter or should I bother? Is there anything else I might do if she does come along?

Or is it simply not worth the risks for the potential three or four days of boating while I'm up there?

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[HAV2FISH]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

I have a freshwater boat that has never seen saltwater in its life. Its an i/o thats 21 yrs young with about 200 hrs (really). I'm taking the family to Ocean City MD in a few weeks and had planned to take her with us.

But I'm having reservations. If I wash her down and run freshwater through the cooling intake after each use, will she be alright? Will that flush even matter or should I bother? Is there anything else I might do if she does come along?

Or is it simply not worth the risks for the potential three or four days of boating while I'm up there?

Thanks for your thoughts.

You might want to check out there salt water regulations before making the trip. You will probably need ship to shore radio and flairs etc. Things you don't need in fresh water.

As far as putting your boat in salt water you will be fine. Just run fresh water through the engine ASAP to flush it out. Even better if you can put in fresh water and run to salt water. This way on your return back to ramp your engine will be flushed out. I would also rinse the trailer down real good.

 

[solar7647]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

You might want to check out there salt water regulations before making the trip. You will probably need ship to shore radio and flairs etc. Things you don't need in fresh water.

As far as putting your boat in salt water you will be fine. Just run fresh water through the engine ASAP to flush it out. Even better if you can put in fresh water and run to salt water. This way on your return back to ramp your engine will be flushed out. I would also rinse the trailer down real good.

Your boat should be fine as long as you clean it well as HAV2FISH suggested. But FYI to you, your safty equipment is determanded by the size of the body of water not weather its fresh or salt water. Infact acording the the state of ohio watercraft officer all power craft in ohio are required to have flairs, ship to shore, fire exting, a spot light and a distress flag on board along with enough life vest for every one on board. Beleave me the last place you want to be stranded is out in the middle of the great lakes with out those items. Dont under estamate freash bodys of water, the largest ship wreack grave yard is in freash water, right up in lake Huron, Thunder Bay. Besides its better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it!

 

[dingbat]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

Dont under estamate freash bodys of water, the largest ship wreack grave yard is in freash water, right up in lake Huron, Thunder Bay.

Lets get real. Thunder Bay is not even close to the largest ship graveyard. Ever hear of Cape Hatteras and the Diamond Shoals?

There are reported to be over 100 shipwrecks in the Thunder Bay area.

http://web1.msue.msu.edu/iosco/tbfulllist.htm

We have identified more than 2000 shipwrecks between Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras, an increase from the 300 vessels identified prior to the beginning of the project

http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04ocracoke/welcome.html

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

Why go if you don't bring your boat?

Don't fear the salt it will be fine just give it a good loving bath as soon as you can when you get home.

Salt is hard on things but it really isn't an over night thing.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

padlr, I'm doing the same thing as you in August. I've decided the reward of having my boat on vacation will be far greater than the risk of salt damage. Mine will be in a slip for the week and I don't forsee having the ability to flush things out. However, what I am going to do is take it for a run on the river as soon as I get back home to clean everything out.

Also, if it makes you feel any better I had an uncle who kept a pontoon boat in a slip on the bay the whole time I was growing up and he never rinsed or flushed anything. He'd get 10 years or so out of an outboard so I don't think a week will kill ours.

 

[capt sam]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

if you can't flush that motor within 20 minutes or so, don't even worry about it, the salt has already dried in the jackets. It's not a big deal short term, I've never boated in freshwater, I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have to scrub the boat after every trip, lol.

 

[koberlee]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

I took my 25 year old I/O down to florida over the holidays and had the same concerns. We loved having the boat with us and I will do it again and would recomend it to any one else.
I would make sure all your sacrificial anodes are in good condition (I put new on) and just flush it with fresh water asap after getting it out. If you leave it in the water for any period of time just make sure that the drive is in the water.
I also made sure to wipe down all the salt spray from the chrome bits every night.
You are under CG rules and laws on saltwater and the great lakes so you do need some additional safety equipment.

 

[the butcher42]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

The real effect on your boat may not be from the saltwater, but from all the Yahoos out on it! Not sure how familiar you are with OC MD, or where you're used to running, but it can get crazy there. A lot of boats running through some narrow channels. There's also alot of sand bars and flats that seem to pop up out of no where. But, with all things considered, my family loves it there! We like to anchor off the back side of Assateague, right across from the entrance to the commercial docks. The kids play in the sand, the wife gets some sun and I just watch the parade of boats. No kids? Pull up to any of the bayside establishments like Seacrets or Bahama Momma's. Where will be staying? Somewhere with its own facilities for flushing/cleaning your boat?

 

[fishon13]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

Take the boat have fun and flush the boat most ramps don,t have hoses but do have hook ups so don't foget the hose. I would always flush the motor at the ramp spray the boat down then wash her good when I got home about a mile. If I was night fishing I would wash her at the dock always had blood in the boat.

 

[lkbum]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

Check your insurance policy. I don't think most inland marine policies cover off shore or ICW use. I have also rented and that's an option I'd also look at (both rental companies and private owners)

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

I've taken our boat(s) on vaction a few times and in the end its more hassle than its worth. I've found it usually easier to just rent a boat for a few hours.

At least in OC it's HUNDREDS of dollars just to rent a pontoon boat for a few hours. If he uses his boat twice while he's there it will be well worth the effort.

 

[solar7647]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

Lets get real. Thunder Bay is not even close to the largest ship graveyard. Ever hear of Cape Hatteras and the Diamond Shoals?


http://web1.msue.msu.edu/iosco/tbfulllist.htm


http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04ocracoke/welcome.html

I am sorry for the typo - I ment to say "the largest fresh water ship wreck site". And i was simply makeing the argument that people under estimate bodys of freash water. They have the faulse illusion that it is safer or some how less likly some thing will go wrong because its not the ocean. I did not mean to miss inform or spit out incorrect facts. Thanks.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

Why go if you don't bring your boat?

Don't fear the salt it will be fine just give it a good loving bath as soon as you can when you get home.

Salt is hard on things but it really isn't an over night thing.

+1

MILLIONS of boat owners keep their boats in salt water full time. YES, it's corrosive. NO, your boat will not disintegrate before your eyes. Flush the motor and wash it up well when you get home.

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

I run mine in the pacific 50% of the time. Clean her up good after each use, flush the engine for about 10 minutes, the last bit with "salt away". Make sure you run the salt away thru after the T-stat is open. Also, use salt away spray bottle on all SS (cleats etc) while washing hull, deck. Have fun!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

June 5th, 2009, 06:19 PM

Ayuh,... I haveta believe the OP has already gone on vacation,+ winterized his boat by now,....
Don'tcha think,..??

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

Bondo, in the other's defense, this thread was dug up by a spammer whose post I have since deleted.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

How did that crop up again as a curent topic on page 1?

I DIO NOT resurrect it.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

the dreaded "old post" surfaces again.
oh the inhumanity............

 

[Bondo]

Re: Saltwater - Should I take my boat on vacation

Bondo, in the other's defense,

Ayuh,... No defense needed,.... I'm just pointing out the Fact of it...