sunk in salt water question

[Phantom17]

May seem like a silly question, but what can you expect from a boat that sank in salt water. The engine is seized anyway, but I am more concerned with the electrical system. If the battery was underwater, the system would fry, right? Would I be replacing the entire electrical system, guages, lights, etc, or would only those components that may have been "on" in this situation be fried? Don't know, and can't find out how long and how far under it was. Pardon my lack of knowledge on this, considering an insurance salvage that sank. I have a good engine, would only need exhaust/intake and riser of the one that sank. Appreciate your input.-Jeff

 

[tommays]

Re: sunk in salt water question

any boat with foam is never going to get dry which means riping apart the boat<br /><br />wires might make it but anything else is done<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[Boomyal]

Re: sunk in salt water question

For starters I'll bet it is soaked below decks and there would be no way to dry it out. You know what that means. Any guages and wiring that were immersed would be toast at somepoint.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: sunk in salt water question

Every boat I know of that truly sunk in salt was considered a total loss. I wouldn't trust the electrical system after a sinking. Even if it worked after I dried it out, I'd be too afraid saltwater wicked up inside the conductors and any non-tinned wire would eventually corrode and probably start off by failing intermittently which would mean you'd always be chasing ghosts.

 

[Phantom17]

Re: sunk in salt water question

Hey Boomer, good to hear from you! I have my entire old boat, so I "could" use the gauges, wiring etc from that, along with my gas tank, starter, alternator, carb, motor and the drive (supposedly fine on the "new" boat). It would end up a winter project, but I was wondering. What else you think?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: sunk in salt water question

Originally posted by jh19:<br /> Hey Boomer, good to hear from you! I have my entire old boat, so I "could" use the gauges, wiring etc from that, along with my gas tank, starter, alternator, carb, motor and the drive (supposedly fine on the "new" boat). It would end up a winter project, but I was wondering. What else you think?

Anytime a boat has been flooded, water is going to get into places it most likely will never be gotten out, even if you are aware of it. If it is a nice boat and they are going to give it you you then maybe you could tear off the floor, dig out the foam, coat the gas tank, let all dry out then put it back together. Otherwise I'd let some other unsuspecting buyer take it on.<br /><br />The truth is, that before I stumbled on iboats, it never occured to me about trapped moisture under the floor. Once I became aprissed of the issue, it sure explained why I did not have much floor left.

 

[Phantom17]

Re: sunk in salt water question

Thanks Boomer, I think I'll pass, now that you mention the floor. Now that you mention the floor, I remember reading that one here before and how impossible it is to dry out. Thanks.-Jeff