Impratical for saltwater use?

[TommyD11730]

Hey Guys

Former Starcraft 180 Mariner owner. She was a 89 with a 88SPL Rude out back. It went like a flat rock skipping across the bay if you know what I mean.

I purchased the boat 2nd hand. Lived it's entire life on a bunk style trailer <good> but always used in salt water <bad>.

As I recall when I sold it it has the following issues...

Few leaky rivets.

Soft spot behind center console right where you stood.

Some pitting could be seen in the bilge area.

Not too bad for what was a 10 year old boat. Each end every time I pulled her out of the water I would flood the hull with fresh water and pour 1/2 a box of baking soda in. No I wasn't making a cake! I thought perhaps that might help slow the corrosion down.

So here I am, getting back into fishing. I need a Center Console. It must be no less then 19 foot in length and honestly I'm drawn to these tin boats. Considering all the hulls in my area are used in 100% saltwater am I nuts to consider another Starcraft boat?

Thanks Guys

Tommy D

 

[barato]

Re: Impratical for saltwater use?

no, you're not nuts. after hanging around here for a while, who knows?

IMHO, these old crocks are the perfect combination of: 1. high freeboard and tall bows for big water...not sleek n fashionable but they WORK; 2. affordable to buy & not too uncommon 3. affordable to RUN (anyone who expects fuel to go back down, raise your hand....) 4. alum hulls last forever unless you have some galvanic corrosion problems 5. affordable to tow and don't need a huge thirsty dedicated tow vehicle....former owner used to tow mine behind a Westy, try that with any other cabin cruiser. 6. space efficient and roomy inside 7. easy to modify for fishin 8. easy to add LOTs of flotation to, AKA peace of mind for offshore use

my 2 pesos' worth.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Impratical for saltwater use?

Yeah I agree with barato on all his points...although here in Michigan the salt is not a big concern

If I lived near an ocean I'd get a 22' tin hull and have at it.

 

[TommyD11730]

Re: Impratical for saltwater use?

4. alum hulls last forever unless you have some galvanic corrosion problems

my 2 pesos' worth.

Boom

You just hit my number one fear. With the inability to see whats under the floor < aluminum corroding from the inside out> I guess it's a crap shoot. Or is it? I mean someone must know the life expectancy when run in the salt? Could it be there are too many variables? <trailer boat vs moored in the water for example>

The aluminum center console is VERY rare in these parts. Most are well... lets just say in rough condition.

Tommy D

Speaking of rough that best describes the inlet where I have been fishing. I have NO intention to even consider fishing outside it. It eats small boats for lunch. The current is swift <as is the breeze most days> and the inlet narrow. Wind against the tide + another boats wake get's PLENTY interesting fast!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cUw1TAZ_pc

 

[barato]

Re: Impratical for saltwater use?

A valid concern, and one shared by all alum boat owners cept the very clueless. FWIW, run a search on here and/or the yahoo forum on "galvanic corrosion" and see how many people have had problems with their boats rotting away due to it. i'd guess not many, and probably far less than the # who've had fiberglass boats rot from the core out. one big attraction of alum boats to many people is that they're relatively trouble free and durable.

aside from boats that live in the water (esp in marinas where there are sometimes stray elec currents going into the water...met a guy who'd lost a 40+ft steel hulled ketch to it), i've mostly only heard of problems under a waterlogged transom or if someone used copper base marine antifouling paint on underside. note that in these cases, any corrosion will be on the outside first so you can see it. avoid such boats and you avoid most of the issue.

as a rule of thumb, if the boat is good enough that the floorboards & transom aren't soft, you probably don't have any galvanic corrosion issues.

that inlet is hairy! you got some big cojones to fish that, and i don't know how big a boat i'd have to be in to be willing to run it. do you have to maintain a designated driver to keep the boat from disaster whle everyone else fishes?

 

[crumb]

Re: Impratical for saltwater use?

This 1979 V-5 floats verry well and dosent leak ..Salt Life..gotta love it

 

[jcupo6]

Re: Impratical for saltwater use?

I wouldn't be too worried. I primarily use my aluminum Holiday in salt water, I just give her a good wash down after every use. Is the boat going to live in a slip or on land?

 

[TommyD11730]

Re: Impratical for saltwater use?

Thanks Guys

Right now I'm fishing on my Partners boat. It's a 17 foot Mckee Craft side console powered by a 40 HP 4 stroke. It's neither the fastest nor driest <read tri hull!> but it does get us out on the water.

Yes our inlet gets very snotty indeed. All one has to do is google Moriches Inlet and add words like "Capsized" or "sunk" and it's a real eye opener.

To fish the breakwater you must have brass balls for sure, but also common sense. With our little hull we only do it on a week night <little other traffic> and on a incoming tide.

I'm going to keep my eyes open for another "tin boat". However it's hard to resist the fiberglass urge with used Mako's and the likes going for cheap as well.

Tommy D