freshwater motor in saltwater?

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crazyhunter

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Jan 25, 2012
Messages
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ive got and 84 blackmax 150 on my boat and we are going to take the boat to flordia to go up a river and swim with manates the river we are going to be on is all freshwater but me and a couple guys want to take the boat out to the bay to do some fishing what do i need to do before and after the to ensure the saltwater dosnt damage the motor:cool:
 
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Maxz695

Guest
Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

I,m in Bradenton Florida. Between Sarasota and Saint Petersburg. Salt water is bad !bad ! bad! and will in time (Not long) load up in the plates and ports and is very hard to get rid of. Extreem flushing after removing the boat is recommended or runnig the boat in fresh water after for an extended period will do alot to deminish the salt. I,m from CT Long Island sound and the clumps of salt buil up I have seen in the past three years here in FL with several engines and rebuilds due to other issues have still seen major remants or salt and corrosion from running it in the salt waters in the gulf of mexico. Expecially in the exhaust port and rear jacket covers. If you find a solution to disolving the salt after running in it then please send me the cure. Scincerely Maxz695.
 
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crazyhunter

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Messages
128
Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

thanks for the reply it will not be in salt water for more than a day or to and i am running back up a freshwater river going back to the camp ground plus after i am fishing in a liake atleast twice a week so it should get flushed good
 
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Maxz695

Guest
Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

I gathered your going back to fresh water and see no big issue with a trip out there and the newer type engines may be equiped with protective coatings that may protect the inner surfaces. You should be fine but be sure to do several days of a quick start and flush as any salt left in the engine not removed eats aluminum like it was paper. Have a nice trip. You wouldn,t be camping in Ruskin by any chance?
 
sourbsted

sourbsted

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Messages
216
Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

Hey max, have you heard of that "saltaway" stuff. I have seen it at boat shops and its not cheap, like 4 tlrs for $120. I think they put it in a test tank, dissolves salt real quick. I've had mine in and out of saltwater for years and its still gets corrosion. I don't flush it less than 15 minutes.
 
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crazyhunter

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Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

I think the place is call homasasa springs or somthing its a wierd name
 
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Maxz695

Guest
Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

Thats a bit more north from me. upwards from Tamp towards the panhandle stay safe and watch out for the BULL sharks. Remember if you can,t see your feet the sharks can. Almost forgot when you get to the gulf the hammerheads will be waiting too! LOL Be safe and respect the rules as they like to hand out tickets and the coast gaurd is everywheer looking for dugs and mexicans. One last thing before I retire for the night gotta go boating in the AM. If your really lucky a Dolphin will take the shark out before the shark takes you out to dinner.:facepalm:
:lol:
 
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Maxz695

Guest
Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

I can start bulding another engine for 120 a liter but thanks for the info
 
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crazyhunter

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Jan 25, 2012
Messages
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Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

haha i think it would be kinda cool to hook a shark atleast a small one.
 
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Maxz695

Guest
Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

They catch the baby Hammer heads all the time off the Rod and Reel peir on Anna Maria island I had 2 4 foot hammerheads go under my boat when a was drifting not 1 minute apart.Sheeps head, red snapperm snook all like shrimp or shinners. Bring lots of bait.. The sharks like all of them too so if you hook something you just might get a bigger fish by the time you get it to the boat.
 
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TD_Maker

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 31, 2005
Messages
564
Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

I LIVE on salt water here in Florida. You will not have to do a thing different. You are launching and retrieving in fresh water, so that will be just finefor flushing. A one time excursion into salt water is not a motor killer.

I would be more worried about swimming with Manatees. The Manatee won't hurt you, but the wildlife officers will nail you (and ticket you) for that. The large mammals are endangered and protected here in Florida, and the officers have no sense of humor when people start jumping into their habitat to swim with them. (My brother is a wildlife officer)
 
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minuteman62-64

Lieutenant
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Apr 12, 2011
Messages
1,350
Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

Is the salt water in the Gulf region saltier than the Pacific? Here in San Diego there are lots of regularly used motors 20-30 years old (including mine) that have never seen fresh water. All it takes is a good fresh water flush on the muffs and a little regular maintenance including greasing the fittings, wiping down surfaces with WD40 or equivalent, etc., etc., etc..

I'd think that if you run up river, in fresh water, for 15-20 minutes, after venturing into the Gulf, you won't do any damage.
 
tpenfield

tpenfield

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18,149
Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

Contrary to popular belief, salt water is not acid. Outboards are made for salt water. You should be fine.

Flush it with fresh water after your journey, if you like. You should have no worries.

Aren't there alligators to contend with in Florida ???? :noidea:
 
kfa4303

kfa4303

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Sep 17, 2010
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Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

Hi minuteman. In short, yes the Gulf is saltier than the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The extra salty environment and near year round use means motors and trailers usually don't last very long down here in FL. That being said there's really no such thing as a "saltwater" boat/motor or a "freshwater" boat/motor. That's Yankee talk :) I'd never actually heard of such an idea until I cam here to the forums.
I'm native Floridian and have grown up fishing and boating the rivers and Gulf my whole life. If you take care of your gear, it will take care you. I run a '66 Johnson 20 hp in fresh/salt all the time. The key is to rinse it thoroughly after every use in the saltwater. We're lucky in that you can launch from a dock on the river, cruise out to the Gulf, run around in the salt all day, then run up into the spring fed rivers to rinse everything off. Just take your time and enjoy the trip back to the ramp.

Oh, and Crazyhunter. We love it when folks come visit FL, but do respect the posted boat speeds and regulations. It can be a little frustrating at times, but there are people and critters everywhere down here and they're for your own good. You can look at the manatees all you want, but no touchy, touchy. They're wild animals not pets and there's no better way to **** off the locals (which is bad I can assure you) than to mess with them, or any of the critters for that matter. There was a tourist lady recently who though it would be cute to "ride" a dying manatee. Once the pic hit the web, they tracked her down several states away and slapped her with a felony, and rightly so. Take only pictures, leave only foot prints ;)
 
tazrig

tazrig

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Joined
Dec 20, 2012
Messages
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Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

Aren't there alligators to contend with in Florida ???? :noidea:[/QUOTE]


I'd be more concerned with all the Democrats running around down there.. Sometimes you can't spot them until it's too late!! :laugh:
 
tpenfield

tpenfield

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Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

tazrig said:
Aren't there alligators to contend with in Florida ???? :noidea:


I'd be more concerned with all the Democrats running around down there.. Sometimes you can't spot them until it's too late!! :laugh:
Click to expand...

You are gonna cause a thread lock . . .
 
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Maxz695

Guest
Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

LO Yea I left that alligator part out Can,t give him evrything or it won,t be an adventure :eek: I have yet to hit the Okeechobie. but I have hit the casino in Brighton and won 2 G,s
 
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Maxz695

Guest
Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

And don,t feed them lettuce or anything eles as it messes up there feeding habits causing them more harm than good and will also land you in the brinK Come on vacation leave on probation thats the saying here in FL.
 
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Maxz695

Guest
Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

There are newer engines disigned for salt water and state it on the engine. I had a next to new exhaust baffle on my merc 79 40 HP In one years time it was almost as bad as the one I removed. New sierra gaskets and a good cover all clogged with salt. wonder it was even pumping water at all. The engine has been parted out. and now working with a 79 70hP. I,m actually using the 40 HP Mid section and lower with it. I used etching primer on the plates as it does help resist the "salt clumps" that don,t get flushed
 
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crazyhunter

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jan 25, 2012
Messages
128
Re: freshwater motor in saltwater?

I would be more worried about swimming with Manatees. The Manatee won't hurt you, but the wildlife officers will nail you (and ticket you) for that. The large mammals are endangered and protected here in Florida, and the officers have no sense of humor when people start jumping into their habitat to swim with them. (My brother is a wildlife officer)
Click to expand...
where we are going it is legal to swim with them but there is dnr there making sure your not doing anything wrong
 
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