Salt water usage?

[kyleolson]

Guys... I am trading up to a 35ft to 40ft boat. Since I am on the west coast and have access to the ocean.... what should I be looking at for this? Anything special? I would like to be take it out and maybe up and down the coast periodically and want to know what I should be preparred for. I have only been on the laskes and rivers here.

Sorry for a newb question but want to make sure I got everything right.

Kyle.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Salt water usage?

The answer depends on what you are trading from-- a 14' boat or a 30' boat? Pontoon/sundeck?
On the ocean the big difference is tides and currents, then weather patterns, then shipping.
Can't speak to bottoms not knowing where you have your experience.

 

[kyleolson]

Re: Salt water usage?

The answer depends on what you are trading from-- a 14' boat or a 30' boat? Pontoon/sundeck?
On the ocean the big difference is tides and currents, then weather patterns, then shipping.
Can't speak to bottoms not knowing where you have your experience.

I have a 20ft runabout.... take it to the river or lake.. throw it on the trailer and store it in the garage. I am looking to get something I can keep at the marina and stay on it from time to time and to take it for a weekend cruise, or week.

 

[grahamh]

Re: Salt water usage?

There's lots of other things to consider too, but figure out if you want one engine or two.

I like the idea of two for safety if you do a lot of cruising far offshore, but maintenance gets twice as expensive!

 

[kyleolson]

Re: Salt water usage?

There's lots of other things to consider too, but figure out if you want one engine or two.

I like the idea of two for safety if you do a lot of cruising far offshore, but maintenance gets twice as expensive!

I am more worried about, do I need to find something that is more suited for salt water... or is there anything special I need to do?

 

[RoyR]

Re: Salt water usage?

A fresh water cooling system will limit the engine internals exposure to salt water...

http://www.perfprotech.com/store/articles/fresh-water-cooling-benefits.aspx

 

[Les Robb]

Re: Salt water usage?

I sure don't want to throw cold water on you but have you truly considered the cost of keeping that boat in the water all year. Believe you me the greatest thing in the world is walking out on the dock with your cooler, jumping in and taking off without a worry in the world. But it does come at a rather large price in maintenance, hauling fee's, bottom paint etc.

If you have absolutely no experience offshore, or in handling a twin engine boat, I would suggest hiring a captain to take you offshore for a day on moderate ocean (not flat calm) and give you a few pointers in basic boat handling and running the inlet.

Hope you don't have to worry about cost etc cause you will enjoy a whole new world out there.

Best of luck in your endeavor

 

[puddleboater]

Re: Salt water usage?

Depending on how far you go offshore, here are some things you'll need:


- radar (in case your running in pea soup fog or at night)

- GPS and compass (never leave the harbor without a compass, at least)

- SOLAS (safety of life at sea) grade signalling devices, such as hand and ariel flares. USCG rated signals are minimal, at best. SOLAS is superior though more expensive.

- VHF two-way radios for communicating with the US Coast Guard during an emergency. The USCG does not monitor CB radios and cell phones may or may not work well out there, depending on conditions.

- 406 Mhz Epirb emergency locating beacon equipped with GPS. If it is a matter of life and limb and you end up in the water, 406 Epirbs may be your only salvation. If you can afford to upgrade to a 30 or 35 footer, then you can at least afford to get a personnal 406 epirb.

- 7X50 binoculars. Good for spotting distant objects/vessels. Not too small and not too large, I believe this is the preferred size/magnification by a lot of private boaters due to minimal shake and better clarity. One equipped with compass and reticle would be nice, but is not necessary. Some very nice ones are gyro-stabilized and are useful in choppy seas, although these tend to run close to and over one thousand bones!

- First aid kit and freshwater

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: Salt water usage?

A salt water boat requires constant -- daily -- maintenance. If you're not replacing some corroded mechanical part, you're hosing it down, washing it off, polishing its hardware, or waxing it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Salt water usage?

every 35-40' boat should already be designed and built for salt water. Anything you add (such as electronics) should be as well, or so cheap that you don't mind replacing it--IOW get a marine-grade stereo or a cheapie.

I try to get everything at "submersible" grade. Hopefully I will never submerse my flush-mount VHF, but with that standard, the salt air won't get it.

 

[d_saum]

Re: Salt water usage?

A salt water boat requires constant -- daily -- maintenance. If you're not replacing some corroded mechanical part, you're hosing it down, washing it off, polishing its hardware, or waxing it.

Daily? What kind of boats have you owned????

 

[RICHARD5]

Re: Salt water usage?

In aviation, one thousand bones = 1 AMU (aviation maintenance unit)

I suppose in recreational boating, one thousand bones = 2 MMU.

Example,

"Man!, what with the bent prop, lost anchor, and hull damage while trying to dock, that fish cost almost 1 MMU."