Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

[Shadow66]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

I do both so I didn't vote. I love them both equally. I suppose most people will vote to whatever they are near.

 

[stubbsboogie]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

Fresh water no question at all!

I live 20 min for the river and there are springs and all sorts of fun things.

I do ocasionally go to Salt water but it tastes bad, gives a salt residue, corrosion, requires alot of clean up, burns my eyes ect. But it sure is cool to be out on the open ocean, and exploring canals and new areas.

 

[witenite0560]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

I'm with Wyocobra, just a bit more west in Idaho. Way too long a drive to get to salt water. Plus, I just like freshwater better. The ocean is nice to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.

 

[_chris_]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

I voted fresh because I have a bowrider and do most of my having fun and relaxing in fresh water but when it comes to fishing it's 90% salt water, you just can't catch a Blue fin or Dorado in a lake.

 

[lprizman]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

Salt for fishing hands down-I have lived on both coasts, RI and So Cal
Fresh for fun,I lived on a lake with a bass boat could'nt beat it

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

Wavenbye2,
Yo, jdlough the OP, here. So you're 'stuck' in fresh water all your life. I'm 'stuck' in salt or brackish water all my life.

Any 'envies' for the other side? That's the big question for this extra-point essay part of the poll. How do you see the other side? What do you think you're missing?

I see you fresh guys as boating in a big, clean pool. And more girls. Somehow, thinking about freshwater boating, in my mind the weather is always nicer.

And yep, in the poll you only got the choice of one or the other.

No 'brackish' answers.....

Honestly?? Being a fresh water person my whole life the oceans scare the H3ll
out of me. Am I curious, Sure am! I don't worry about rouge waves, or fish that can severely damage you in a split sec with one bite and deform you. Yes we get severe weather here but mostly the worst you have to worry about is getting dreanched, drop anchor and wait it out. I have always had an admiration for the beauty of the ocean and all its wonders but haven't gone yet to check it out. my wife wants to take me deep sea fishing and I would love to do some scuba diving near the coral reafs and take some under water pictures(shallow water). But I see that things can happen very quickly on the ocean and out of nowhere, Yes I am hesitant. fresh water no problem, I can pretty much handle anything on the river or the lakes, All of my experience is on the fresh water, The ocean, I would be a beginner and my eyes and alertness would be on overdrive. I am 41 and have been camping and swimming and boating since I was 2yrs old, Its second nature for me. to Answer your questions: Envy no, curious Yes!! Apart of thinks it would be awsome and the other part is, it would be a completely new experience and would be, (I don't know) mental awareness would be through the roof. Hope that answered you.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

But I see that things can happen very quickly on the ocean and out of nowhere, Yes I am hesitant. fresh water no problem, I can pretty much handle anything on the river or the lakes, All of my experience is on the fresh water, The ocean, I would be a beginner and my eyes and alertness would be on overdrive.

Your changes of getting killed while driving to work are a millions times more than your chance of getting killed by a rogue wave or eaten by a fish. Does that stop you from getting in a car?

To me, the draw of the salt is the danger and really big fish. Same reason people climb mountains or jump out of perfectly good airplanes.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

I'm a 30 minute drive from Cape Cod, stripers and the fabled rips off nantucket/marthas vineyard.
You need the right boat, no girly boats out there please.

 

[highN'dry]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

Lakes are cold dreary places and they stink.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

Your changes of getting killed while driving to work are a millions times more than your chance of getting killed by a rogue wave or eaten by a fish. Does that stop you from getting in a car? Same reason people climb mountains or jump out of perfectly good airplanes.

Don't get me wrong I don't scared easily, I have just never been to the ocean, hesitant "a little" but won't stop me!! Not looking for the pefect example but you know how it is treading in unfamiliar ground for the first time I know myself, once I've done it that first time, Look out cause here I come!!

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

Lakes are cold dreary places and they stink.

Now thats what I am talking about right there!! That is my dream!! I have wanted to scuba dive and take pictures of sea life ever since I was able to read National Geographic, Has been a life long dream of mine!!
Awsome pic!!

 

[steddy]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

I guess I'm a bit biased myself, since I grew up right by Lake Michigan. I've been in salt water before, but never in a boat. Salt water sure is hard on things, especially without the proper maintenance. I read people's post about loving the open water aspect of the ocean. Have they ever been out in the middle of Lake Michigan? Even on the clearest of days, you can't see any shore line. It's just like being in the middle of the ocean. We don't have nearly as pronounced tides, but they are there. We still have some marine fouling, but not as bad as salt water. If conditions are poor enough, they keep even some of the larger ships (Lake Express Car Ferry, like 180' or so) in port. The waves can get up to 15-20 feet in Lake Michigan. Yeah, they can get bigger in the oceans, but man, 15-20 feet is monstrous. It makes for some really cool scenery (waves crashing over light houses and piers - great photo opportunities). I've always taken for granted that when I jump into the lake, nothing is going to bite off my leg.

The biggest problem about this area (down South, where all the major waters are salt they don't have the problem) is that the season for comfortable boating is so short - only about 4 to 5 months. We have the seasonal change, sometimes to an extreme, so the water in the Big Lake only gets up into the upper 60's, and that's on a good day. Most of the time during boating season, the water temperature is in the low 50's to mid 60's. Chalk one up to Souther salt water.

Fishing - monster vicious fish in the ocean. Great fighting. The biggest fish in fresh water, most of the time, are carp, catfish, and salmon (averaging about 20 pounds, maybe bigger). mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm salmon mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm........

All in all, I'd say there are advantages either way, but I'm a fresh water guy.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

Well it is quite a distance to the salt water but I was raised on salt water and love it. I do not love the havoc it causes with salt vs metal....... and I have always feared falling off the end of the ocean!!

 

[puddleboater]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

Saltwater for me.

I have boated in a couple of lakes before, including Lake Tahoe. In my opinion, if there was one lake that I would enjoy boating in for a very long time, it is Lake Tahoe. Majestic mountain ranges, forests, the deep, clear blue waters..............sweet place to be!

Aside from having enjoyed Tahoe, I exclusively boat and fish in the salt. I've gone offshore using 14 foot runabouts to 20 footers. Sure, it is more work and hazardous, but not only do you catch fish but also catch crabs, lobsters, clams, etc. I've fished some jetties in the east coast, but have never boated there.

When I lived in Northern California, on any one day boating, we would spot grey whales, humback whales, porpoises, sharks, sea otters, sealions and harbor seals, bat rays (one time I saw a ray with a wing span of about six to eight feet, in the shallows off Monterey).

The kelp forests in the West coast not only offer good fishing, but also offer good diving opportunities where divers can see a wide variety of wild life that fresh water does not have.

I also enjoy going to the various seaside towns, most having beautiful scenery.

With regards to the corrosion issue, it can be kept to a minimum once you adopt a pro-active approach in rinsing the trailer and motor, and also lubricating moving parts. After boating, I would flush the motor for five minutes while at the same time, I sprayed the trailer with fresh water.

I had a 150 HP Merc that didn't have any major corrosion on it in the twelve years I had it in use, although I couldn't say the same for the boat trailer!

As for sharks, yes they're there, but there are plenty more sharks on land than there are in the ocean! Besides, that's why we have sealions(shark bait).

 

[d_saum]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

I have to say.. I just love being on the water... BUT.. Salt wins hands down. Bigger fish (bigger boats), clamming, lobsters, crabs, etc.. plus like others have mentioned, you get all those great little coastal towns, lighthouses, and fishing villages. Nothing beats that.

Fresh water has its place, and I actually like lakes more than I thought I would.. but if money was no object and I could live wherever the heck I wanted, I'd be back on Long Island boating in the Great South Bay and the ocean.

The catch from a deep sea fishing trip off the outer banks!

Boat from aforementioned trip

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

Either is good for me.
Salt around the coasts of England and fresh for the last 20 years since I have been in Canada. Miss the shoals of mackerel but love the lack of corrosion on the equipment.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

I prefer salt, especially since that was I was brought up around and that is what is in abundance here. I do like going up to the Fresh Lakes in GA and boating them, but the exploration factor is not the same...Still prefer salt...

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

Fresh for skiing / tubing. Salt / Pacific Ocean for cruising / exploring. Both are close to me. Sure, a bit more clean up time after salt (flushing engine with Salt Away / wiping SS) but I do all that (except flush) even after fresh water use.

 

[pmillar]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

Well, I grew up sailing on the great lakes (Michigan and Ontario) but got to enjoy living/sailing up and down the California coast for many years. My take is lakes for watersports and salt for everything else. Sailing around Grand Traverse Bay or the North Channel is nice, scenic and all but you don't have the interest critters you get in the ocean. dolphins, flying fish, seals, whales, pelicans, etc. are way cool. From a snorkeling perspective it's kind of like going from black & white TV (fresh water) to color TV (salt)

And with the need to rinse down after pulling out from fresh water now it's not all that much different (to get rid of invasive hitch hikers )

At the end of the day, it's all good though

 

[Philster]

Re: Salt water vs Fresh water. Who has it best?

I can be seen from Cape May County, NJ down to Cape Charles, VA, and spend my time in the intracoastal waterway, the Delaware Bay, The Chesapeake and, of course, the Atlantic Ocean. All these spots, with the exception of the North Chesapeake, are salt water.

I don't want to be landlocked. It doesn't matter if it's fresh water or salt, but I cannot imagine being landlocked.

All my grief has come from the sun. The sun dries, fades and is relentless. Salt can be washed and just adds to costs. But, what it offers (coastal Atlantic life) is worht every penny.

The greatest boating is from New England down to Florida. Barrier islands, harbors and the intercoastal wateray are heaven.