Should I buy a boat that has been in salt water?

[its a marathon]

I am close to buying a 2006 bayliner 225xt and am pretty excited about it. However, the owner mentioned that he has taken the boat out in the Puget Sound 2 times for 3 hours each. He also said that that he dipped the trailer in a local fresh water lake (trailer is galvanized) and flushed the engine in the lake each time, as well, since it is not set up for salt water. The boat is a steal for what he is asking for it. Assuming the engine checks out OK at a local mechanic, should I take the risk and buy the boat given that it has been exposed to salt? Or, is it something that I should stay clear of? I am a boating newbie so I have very little from my own experience to draw from. I also know very little about engines, so any and all opinions are welcome. Thanks in advance.

 

[Antares2000]

Re: Should I buy a boat that has been in salt water?

I would think if the mechanic checks it out it should be fine. Changing the impeller and flushing the cooling system wouldn't hurt either. Good Luck and I hope it works out for you.

 

[countvlad]

Re: Should I buy a boat that has been in salt water?

I am close to buying a 2006 bayliner 225xt and am pretty excited about it. However, the owner mentioned that he has taken the boat out in the Puget Sound 2 times for 3 hours each. He also said that that he dipped the trailer in a local fresh water lake (trailer is galvanized) and flushed the engine in the lake each time, as well, since it is not set up for salt water. The boat is a steal for what he is asking for it. Assuming the engine checks out OK at a local mechanic, should I take the risk and buy the boat given that it has been exposed to salt? Or, is it something that I should stay clear of? I am a boating newbie so I have very little from my own experience to draw from. I also know very little about engines, so any and all opinions are welcome. Thanks in advance.

theres nothing wrong with the motor, boat, trailer being in salt water... as long as you rince the trailer and flush the motor after every use to remove the salt and deposits .... there are times when i come home late and do the rince and the flush the next day.... go for it... good luck

 

[Jonathan3206]

Re: Should I buy a boat that has been in salt water?

theres nothing wrong with the motor, boat, trailer being in salt water... as long as you rince the trailer and flush the motor after every use to remove the salt and deposits .... there are times when i come home late and do the rince and the flush the next day.... go for it... good luck

+1.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Should I buy a boat that has been in salt water?

I'd be checking it over really close for saltwater damage. I've been around saltwater all my life, when I go looking for a boat, I go inland far enough to find a boat that's not been in saltwater, or at least a motor that's not seen saltwater.
Even with proper flushing and maintenance, saltwater still takes a toll on the motor. You get real good at drilling out rusty or seized bolts, replacing springs, axles, and bearings, and replacing pitted chrome and trim.

Being a 2006, if it was trailered and properly flushed and washed down, it's probably OK but if not, it will have some degree of corrosion here and there.

 

[its a marathon]

Re: Should I buy a boat that has been in salt water?

Let me propose a bad case scenario (probably more likely)...if the owner is lying and took it out a bit more than he is stating, and maybe missed flushing it once or twice, how much damage can I expect to the engine and how long will it take before it starts affecting performance. The owner is asking about 4K+ less than NADA. This leads me to ask why...maybe a guilty conscience. So, in the more likely scenario I suggest above (in my mind), should I walk away or take it (assuming everything else checks out).

I live a bit more inland than he, can I eliminate the affects of salt to the exterior by washing it down really well after the fact?

Again, thanks for your wisdom on the matter.

 

[southtexas]

Re: Should I buy a boat that has been in salt water?

With proper care, it will be fine. Our boats down here spend their entire lives in a complete salt water environment, and they last for years and years (again, with proper maintenance). Our trailers are "saltwaterized", that is, all screws, bolts, etc are stainless.

You'd think that the salt would totally eat them up after a year or two, but it's simply not the case.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Should I buy a boat that has been in salt water?

Let me propose a bad case scenario (probably more likely)...if the owner is lying and took it out a bit more than he is stating, and maybe missed flushing it once or twice, how much damage can I expect to the engine and how long will it take before it starts affecting performance. The owner is asking about 4K+ less than NADA. This leads me to ask why...maybe a guilty conscience. So, in the more likely scenario I suggest above (in my mind), should I walk away or take it (assuming everything else checks out).

I live a bit more inland than he, can I eliminate the affects of salt to the exterior by washing it down really well after the fact?

Again, thanks for your wisdom on the matter.

If the owner has a guilty conscience, it isn't because he's lying about flushing after using it in salt water.

C'mon folks- the boat's all of 3 years old. He hasn't been running it in sulfuric acid! As with any other boat, have it checked out by a qualified sureveyor.

Yes, salt water corrodes, and maintenance requirements are greater, but I boat continuously with owners whose boats are 20 or more years old. The vast majority still have the original motors and drives. Take care of it and it'll last far longer than you'll probably want to keep it.

 

[rbh]

Re: Should I buy a boat that has been in salt water?

look at the leg and the anoides, if you see lots or some corrosion the guys holding something back, like its been moored on the ocean.
rob

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Should I buy a boat that has been in salt water?

don't think twice about it. there are plenty of boats in the salt water that are more than 3 years old. The fact that he disclosed this horrendous casualty says he's probably honest.

Boats that are moored in salt water generally aren't flushed after use at all.

This with one reservation: do they make i/o engines that can't be used in salt? all outboards can, and someone told me the only difference between salt and fresh trolling motors is paint.

 

[t0r]

Re: Should I buy a boat that has been in salt water?

my friend..i live on an island in the caribbean..we have no lakes here AT ALL...do you really think there are no boats cause of the salt water ? lol

i take my boat out every weekend..i just wash it,flush the engine, lubricate the engine and its just fine

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: Should I buy a boat that has been in salt water?

Puget sound is not entirely salt either, it goes from salt to light brackesh as you go south , that's why Seattle has such tough snow and salt rules.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Should I buy a boat that has been in salt water?

I've got twins ten years old each and both have never been in fresh water. Over 1300 hours and zero corrosion.

If there taken care of saltwater does nothing. Just need to rinse them well after use. I've seen freshwater boats in worse shape than mine.

 

[Big Keepers]

Re: Should I buy a boat that has been in salt water?

Even lake boats need to be rinsed with clean water inside. Just because it is fresh doesn't mean it is clean. Even lake boats should be flushed out with clean tap from the garden hose.

Being a Long Islander surrounded by salt water all I ever see are boats that are open sea boats. If the owner takes care of it, washes and waxes it, rinses the motor out if not regularly at least occasionally you should not have issues with it. My Yamaha is an '85 and spent its entire life in saltwater. Last spring I did the cylinder head gaskets and water jacket cover gaskets. I also did the t-stats and gaskets. The bolts came out easy like they were brand new but I could tell the gaskets were very old. Sure there is some corrosion on it, namely the tilt/trim motor but it runs great and the insides look almost new. The same goes for my trailer. The rims are kind of rusty and the lugs are too but I got them off to put new tires on the wheels when I got it.

The boat if used in salt water will be readily obvious. Chrome will look pitted, hinges and screws too will show corrosion. If the price is right and you want the boat go for it. You won't have a problem.

 

[slongholio]

Re: Should I buy a boat that has been in salt water?

I'm sorry what? Why couldn't a boat be used in salt water? Only reason I'm asking is because I'm considering taking mine down to the Intracoastal on vacation. It's a Sea Ray 205 Sport.

Salt will hurt my boat? Never heard of it. Didn't see anything in the manual.

Supposed to wash them out after fresh water too? I'm screwed, I missed that in the owner's manual too, but I never have. Mine's in dry storage, and mine and the several thousand other boats they have there go right from the water to the rack.

What's this about needing to flush them out?

Now I'm worried I'm not taking care of my boat properly.

 

[jakebrake]

Re: Should I buy a boat that has been in salt water?

if it was cared for, (and you should be able to tell) i'd go for it. warts will always need to be replaced sooner or later, so why live in fear?


big keepers, why did wxrk go top 40s??? with out the bbbboys in the morning, my north jersey run SUUUUUUUCKS! and i don't have a way to hook up xm in the truck!

 

[lprizman]

Re: Should I buy a boat that has been in salt water?

Mine has always been in saltwater and washed and flushed after,,no worries here, hull 1987, motor 1995, trailer 1992.
Due diligence and a survey prior to purchase,,,