Bringing the old pontoon to Florida, advise?

[nasdaqsam]

Now that I have a new power head on the old toon I am bringing her to Florida. She has always been a fresh water boat so never had to deal with salt water before. I have seen on some pontoons they have a salt water package including something they add to the toons to keep them from oxidizing I assume. Will I need these if so what are they? I assume when I use it each time I should flush the engine and give it a good wash down. Anything else? I all ready purchased hot maps for the Humminbird so all set for charts. Thanks in advance.

 

[Scott Danforth]

sharkshide

http://www.sharkhide.com/sharkhide_metal_protectant.htm

also, you will need to flush the engine, rinse the trailer.

Maps for the GPS are ok, however if you are in skinny water in the ICW, the channels keep moving all the time. use your depth finder, a pair of polarized glasses and towing insurance.

 

[nasdaqsam]

Great advise. ICW =m Inner coastal Waterways???

This one has polished toons with shark hide on them that is still in good shape but will keep an eye on them. I will be running mostly in the inter coastal area from Daytona to down to Cape.Canaveral. My place in is NSB so actually probably will not venture much than a few miles in either direction. The charts do not cover that area very well I see from doing a quick look. I do have the humminbird 1198C SI so the depth finder is top notch and the side scan might be fun in those water. Who carries good tow insurance in Florida? Up here my insurance is a crap load of friends on the water but that just costs a six pack. lol.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Boat US and SeaTow are both down here in Florida. At least on the gulf side where we boat.

annual premium with Boat US is about $154. however without it, I would probably quit boating (I think the average call starts at $300). spun prop hub/ overheat from fouling HS once (following GPS, rand into edge of channel), dead ignition module second time. first tow was 23 miles, second tow was only 1 mile.

A few years back I was towed in (ignition module on prior boat) by local fishermen. cost me $125

 

[robert graham]

Just because you're in Florida doesn't necessarily mean salt water....lots of nice freshwater rivers like the St. John's, etc....great for boating without the saltwater issues!...

 

[MinUph]

Just use your common sense while boating anywhere. You're going to trailer the toon so as long as you rinse it well there is really no need for anything special. If it's an oldie as you say there is no need to polish the logs unless you want the shiny. I've been in the water for a few years here and have to keep the logs painted but you are pulling it after use so you're good to go. Trailer bunks will keep salt on the so do your best to rinse them off. Maybe shake the boat while someone else runs the hose on the, Or you could add some sliders to the bunks that won't absorb the salt water. If you end up at a slip you will need to paint the logs. Epoxy then paint. cost is around a grand for mine. If you leave it in the water turn off the batteries.

 

[nasdaqsam]

Lots of great advise. I will definitely hook up the insurance not knowing the waters it just makes sense. As for the wash down I have a small pressure washer but as stated that will not get between the logs and bunks. Maybe I will pick up a small car jack and just lift each side a bit to wash them. There are a lot of good spots to boat for sure we are just across the road from the inter coastal and been on it heading out to a few dive sights, with the water taxi and on some tours. I think that is going to be our water of choice. There are a lot of nice restaurants real close so looking forward to going to those. There are some nice sand shoals we see boaters on all the time that look like a nice place to spend the day also. We have no interest in heading out into open water just nothing out there we are interested in.

Thanks for the all the advise. I will be using it all.​

 

[nasdaqsam]

Picked up Sea Tow today. Talked to the rep out of Daytona. Real nice guy gave me a lot of good advise and wants me to call when I get down there to get current info on the shoals. That was worth the yearly fee right there. They have an aerial of the shoals its a bit dated but they update it once in a while also. Very happy for this advice. Thanks Again.

 

[KillerBeeZ]

all of your equipment for the boat (trolling motor and what not) has to be rated for salt as well, rinsing it will not help you if you get salt inside a fresh water (insert equipment here)

As for Florida... don't come here... IT'S A TRAP! lol

 

[nasdaqsam]

all of your equipment for the boat (trolling motor and what not) has to be rated for salt as well, rinsing it will not help you if you get salt inside a fresh water (insert equipment here)

As for Florida... don't come here... IT'S A TRAP! lol

I do not really have anything other than the boat and motor to worry about. The boat has always been used for pleasure and diving so everything above the water line. If I do pick up a trolling motor I will keep that in mind. As for Florida, too late we have had a 2nd home there for 8 years now just not using it full time yet. We have a few more before we get to spend more time there. I do not ever see us full time the summers up here on Lake Champlain are just too nice to give up.