Recommendations - Salt or Fresh Water Moorage?

[blzrul]

Assuming one is willing to haul out annually, inspect/replace zincs, bottom paint probably every other year....are there any additional downsides to mooring in salt water (uncovered)? We are currently in fresh water (uncovered), but there is a nice marina closer to where we want to be, with more amenities, the only downside is that it's salt water. We have a cruiser and are new to boating.

Everyone I ask has a different opinion; some say it's expensive but who cares and others say it's not as terrible being in salt as has been represented. Right now with the bad economy finding moorage isn't too difficult, but that won't last. So, we'd like to find a place we can stick with for years (in case we're forced to,) Normally the marina we're looking at has a long waitlist, now it's wide open. I just want to make an [informed] decision.

 

[shrew]

Re: Recommendations - Salt or Fresh Water Moorage?

I think it will require slightly more maintenance and cost slightly more. However I don't think it is a significant difference. Closed cooling would be preferred over raw water. If you currently do a good deal of boating in salt water, I don't think it will make much difference where it's stored. Some, but not a lot.

If you're storing in a slip year round, then i suspect you'll need to have the boat hauled more than once per year. Even with an ablative paint, if you only run the boat on weekends there will be some slime and growth. Periodic hauling and powerwashing may be required. You will more than likely replace your zinc's 2-3 times in a year.

Technically you could dive on the hull with a mask in an achorage and hand scrub the bottom periodically and replace zincs in shallow water at low tide in the anchorage as well. You'll need to keep a closer eye on the zincs and will most likely need to change them more than once per year. There's also a little more cleaning involved. Salt air and spray tends to get on everything. when it evaporates what is left behind is salt deposits on the hull, deck and cockpit. Nothing that little freshwater in a bucket, a rag in one hand and a beer in the other won't fix.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Recommendations - Salt or Fresh Water Moorage?

The salt water will be more corrosive on the innerds of the motors, as well as the external parts of the motors and other metal. You will need to replace exhaust menifolds and risers every 8-9 years in saltwater. In addition, I would lose stamped steel pieces of my sterndrive motor to rust, when I had one docked in the saltwater.

When you moor in freshwater, you automatically flush the motor. If you have a hose available, you can hose off the engine and hull easier, to eliminate any salt.

Zincs will tend to corrode faster in saltwater, however, if you do not get a season out of a set of zincs, you have current leakage somewhere.

Bottom paint is a wash, unless you can get away with none in the freshwater.

My recommendation is freshwater, however, the benefits of the saltwater marina may outweigh the cost of maintenance.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Recommendations - Salt or Fresh Water Moorage?

Saltwater and the critters that live in it will do a number on an outdrive that is left submerged all the time. A lower unit full of marine life isn?t a happy one.

 

[shrew]

Re: Recommendations - Salt or Fresh Water Moorage?

Zincs will tend to corrode faster in saltwater, however, if you do not get a season out of a set of zincs, you have current leakage somewhere.

Interesting. I can't get mine to last 3-4 months. I put on new ones in the spring, launch in mind May. Replace in July. when I pull in October, they have had it and need replacement again.

I suspected it was stray current in the marina, not my boat. I should probably start a new thread on zinc's rather than hi-jack this one. (stay tuned LOL).

 

[shrew]

Re: Recommendations - Salt or Fresh Water Moorage?

Saltwater and the critters that live in it will do a number on an outdrive that is left submerged all the time. A lower unit full of marine life isn?t a happy one.

Very true. In all honesty, that doesn't look like the outdrive has any anti-fouling paint (very hard to tell maybe it does but there's a lot of dried slime on there as well). If you sand the drive, then apply a few coats of Interlux Primacon, then a few coats of Trilux 33 it will significantly reduce barnacle growth like that. You'll still get some slime. I repaint the drive every spring. I also jump in the water while at anchor once a weekend and take a knukle brush to the drive and prop.

Mine looks nothing like that when I haul the boat in the fall.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Recommendations - Salt or Fresh Water Moorage?

I repaint the drive every spring. I also jump in the water while at anchor once a weekend and take a knukle brush to the drive and prop.

Sounds like fun but there are things lurking in the water that can eat me. I much prefer to push a button and have my outdrive resting out of the water.

 

[sasto]

Re: Recommendations - Salt or Fresh Water Moorage?

As one that kept and transfered boats in saltwater and freshwater for years.....I don't see a problem adapting to your new situation.

A good bottom paint and paying attention to your rigging and electrical systems, you should be fine. I keep them lubricated and maintained.

But........I love the saltwater. If I was looking for the perfect location for a boat.......it would be in the garage.

Good Luck!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Recommendations - Salt or Fresh Water Moorage?

the best thing about mooring in salt water is that you can go anywhere!

don't sweat it. Of course there are trade-offs and different conditions. But if it wasn't something peolpe could handle, there wouldn't be any boats there

 

[shrew]

Re: Recommendations - Salt or Fresh Water Moorage?

Sounds like fun but there are things lurking in the water that can eat me. I much prefer to push a button and have my outdrive resting out of the water.

OK, I will fully admit that depending on where we're anchoring and the tide, Jelly fish are a real issue. I find it best during a slack ebb when the tide is pusing the jellyfish out rather than during flood when the jellyfish are getting pushed back in again. That and the slack low tide allows me to stand up while i'm working.

You push a button to raise your OutBOARD out of the water, not an outdrive.
Unfortunately that is not an option for me with an IO. When I raise it to the out (up) position it is still completely submerged.