Salt Water V. Fresh Water

ediguy.TakeThisOut@mindspring.com wrote in message news:<43o4g0p4icj01n6ajafomatfkf9oa22u0l.TakeThisOut@4ax.com>...
 > I live on salt water. If I get a new boat or one that was used in
 > fresh water, are their any changes that I need to make to it? Is it
 > true that I am supposed to flush out the drive system after each use
 > of the boat??
 >
 > Thanks!!
 > Don

I would look into the following:

- Yes flush the motor after each use, if the engine has a thermostat
make sure it opens. Follow manufacturers procedure for flushing, make
sure you dont overheat and overrev it.
- rinse the boat and all metal on it after you use it
- rinse the trailer
- frequently lube whatever there is to lube on drive and trailer
(bearings)
- lube the prop shaft
- if it was used in freshwater it may have NO or Magnesium "zincs"
replace these with zinc or aluminum "zincs" (often "zincs" arent made
from zinc ..). You can not put too many zincs on (unless you sink the
boat with it but you can have too little.
- If you have a sterndrive with a SS prop you may want to look into a
cathodic protector like a Mercathode
- make sure the motor/drive has all the zincs it should have and they
are in good shape
- make sure all motor and drive parts are grounded to each other.
there are ground wires and washers depending on your motor. make sure
they are all there and conduct
- dont have shore power attached to the boat without galvanic
protector
- you can nevber rinse too much
- you can measure the galvanic protection (have this done by someone
who knows how to do it) with the boat in the water.
- Merc has a good marine manual about corrosion its about $2 and a
must have for salt waters.

I just once ran my motor without cowling in saltwater and the
corrosion on it was quiet significant...

Matt<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Salt Water V. Fresh Water 

On Sat, 24 Jul 2004 13:14:21 GMT, ediguy.DeleteThis@mindspring.com wrote:

 >I live on salt water. If I get a new boat or one that was used in
 >fresh water, are their any changes that I need to make to it? Is it
 >true that I am supposed to flush out the drive system after each use
 >of the boat??

No real "changes" other than making sure your zincs are ok.

It's always a good idea to flush the motor every time out.

Trust me on this. :>)

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
-----------
"Angling may be said to be so
like the mathematics that it
can never be fully learnt..."

Izaak Walton "The Compleat Angler", 1653<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Salt Water V. Fresh Water 

You will need bottom paint or davits unless it will spend its off hours on a
trailer.

You absolutely should flush the engine after each use. It is also important to
rinse the rest of the boat - particularly the stainless, aluminum, or other
metal parts such as the bow rail and cleats. Stainless steel will rust in a
saltwater environment.

If you are trailering, you should thoroughly rinse the trailer paying particular
attention to the brakes (if equipped), the springs, axle(s), and any other
non-aluminum or galvanized parts. A fresh water boat likely came with a painted
trailer so budget for a new one in a few years!

Dan

ediguy.RemoveThis@mindspring.com wrote:
 > I live on salt water. If I get a new boat or one that was used in
 > fresh water, are their any changes that I need to make to it? Is it
 > true that I am supposed to flush out the drive system after each use
 > of the boat??
 >
 > Thanks!!
 > Don
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Salt Water V. Fresh Water 

In article <7dyMc.13669$Qu5.11383@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
dankrueger.TakeThisOut@xxxmindspring.com says...
 > You will need bottom paint or davits unless it will spend its off hours on a
 > trailer.
 >
 > You absolutely should flush the engine after each use. It is also important to
 > rinse the rest of the boat - particularly the stainless, aluminum, or other
 > metal parts such as the bow rail and cleats. Stainless steel will rust in a
 > saltwater environment.
 >
 > If you are trailering, you should thoroughly rinse the trailer paying particular
 > attention to the brakes (if equipped), the springs, axle(s), and any other
 > non-aluminum or galvanized parts. A fresh water boat likely came with a painted
 > trailer so budget for a new one in a few years!
 >
 > Dan
 >
 > ediguy.TakeThisOut@mindspring.com wrote:
  > > I live on salt water. If I get a new boat or one that was used in
  > > fresh water, are their any changes that I need to make to it? Is it
  > > true that I am supposed to flush out the drive system after each use
  > > of the boat??
  > >
  > > Thanks!!
  > > Don
  > >
 >
 >


And if the boat is kept at a salt water mooring for the season?

That's a serious question. I plan on getting reacquainted with small
boats this year or next and the boat will be kept on a mooring for the
season.

Thanks
--
MikeG
Heirloom Woods
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.heirloom-woods.net" target="_blank">www.heirloom-woods.net</a>
mikeg.TakeThisOut@heirloom-woods.net<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Salt Water V. Fresh Water 

 > And if the boat is kept at a salt water mooring for the season?
 >
 > That's a serious question. I plan on getting reacquainted with small
 > boats this year or next and the boat will be kept on a mooring for the
 > season.

Well, that's a different situation isn't it. Once every couple of weeks,
pull up to a water dock do a flush on the motor to try to flush out any salt
buildups and give the boat a good wash down and waxing. Make sure that the
bottom paint you are using is proper for the water and conditions you are
in. You'll probably need to dive or haul out and clean the bottom once a
month even with new paint.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Salt Water V. Fresh Water 

In article <dvyMc.11799$iK.11787@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net>,
caphenning.DeleteThis@RMyahoo.com says...
 >
  > > And if the boat is kept at a salt water mooring for the season?
  > >
  > > That's a serious question. I plan on getting reacquainted with small
  > > boats this year or next and the boat will be kept on a mooring for the
  > > season.
 >
 > Well, that's a different situation isn't it. Once every couple of weeks,
 > pull up to a water dock do a flush on the motor to try to flush out any salt
 > buildups and give the boat a good wash down and waxing. Make sure that the
 > bottom paint you are using is proper for the water and conditions you are
 > in. You'll probably need to dive or haul out and clean the bottom once a
 > month even with new paint.
 >
 >
 >


Thank you. It's been thirty years since I've been close up and personal
with a small, well, relatively small, boat. I appreciate any and all
good advice.

Take care
--
MikeG
Heirloom Woods
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.heirloom-woods.net" target="_blank">www.heirloom-woods.net</a>
mikeg.DeleteThis@heirloom-woods.net<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Salt Water V. Fresh Water 

<ediguy RemoveThis @mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:43o4g0p4icj01n6ajafomatfkf9oa22u0l@4ax.com...
 > I live on salt water. If I get a new boat or one that was used in
 > fresh water, are their any changes that I need to make to it? Is it
 > true that I am supposed to flush out the drive system after each use
 > of the boat??
 >
 > Thanks!!
 > Don


If you trailer the boat...for sure!
I asked my buddy who works in the boating field in the BVI. He says the big
companies flush their fleet outboard motors once a week as part of a regular
maintenance.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Salt Water V. Fresh Water 

On 24 Jul 2004 13:32:48 -0700, web1000 DeleteThis @shaw.ca (Matt Lang) wrote:

 >ediguy@mindspring.com wrote in message news:<43o4g0p4icj01n6ajafomatfkf9oa22u0l DeleteThis @4ax.com>...
  >> I live on salt water. If I get a new boat or one that was used in
  >> fresh water, are their any changes that I need to make to it? Is it
  >> true that I am supposed to flush out the drive system after each use
  >> of the boat??
  >>
  >> Thanks!!
  >> Don
 >
 >I would look into the following:
 >
 >- Yes flush the motor after each use, if the engine has a thermostat

~~ snippity do da ~~

Great advice and very complete.

 >I just once ran my motor without cowling in saltwater and the
 >corrosion on it was quiet significant...

Hah - I know somebody who once rinsed his inboard off with salt water.

Heh, heh, heh..... :>)

Later,

Tom<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Salt Water V. Fresh Water 

  > >I just once ran my motor without cowling in saltwater and the
  > >corrosion on it was quiet significant...
 >
 > Hah - I know somebody who once rinsed his inboard off with salt water.

hehe ... yeah thats about the effect I had on mine from the spray ...

The motor looked (and still looks) like it was moldy

Matt<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Salt Water V. Fresh Water 

One more thing:

Make sure the paint on your drive is tip top... paint any scratches
with paint that does NOT contain copper or such ...

Any exposed aluminum from the drive allows galvanic corrosion...

Keep all metal painted

Short Wave Sportfishing <tomf123removethis.DeleteThis@earthlink.net> wrote in message news:<ill5g0pp3vsh5q9341qjr9onp6smfck4h8.DeleteThis@4ax.com>...
 > On 24 Jul 2004 13:32:48 -0700, web1000.DeleteThis@shaw.ca (Matt Lang) wrote:
 >
  > >ediguy@mindspring.com wrote in message news:<43o4g0p4icj01n6ajafomatfkf9oa22u0l.DeleteThis@4ax.com>...
   > >> I live on salt water. If I get a new boat or one that was used in
   > >> fresh water, are their any changes that I need to make to it? Is it
   > >> true that I am supposed to flush out the drive system after each use
   > >> of the boat??
   > >>
   > >> Thanks!!
   > >> Don
  > >
  > >I would look into the following:
  > >
  > >- Yes flush the motor after each use, if the engine has a thermostat
 >
 > ~~ snippity do da ~~
 >
 > Great advice and very complete.
 >
  > >I just once ran my motor without cowling in saltwater and the
  > >corrosion on it was quiet significant...
 >
 > Hah - I know somebody who once rinsed his inboard off with salt water.
 >
 > Heh, heh, heh..... :>)
 >
 > Later,
 >
 > Tom<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Salt Water V. Fresh Water 

MikeG <mikeg RemoveThis @heirloom-woods.ent> wrote in
news:MPG.1b6c7b95f27d867c9896a1@news.comcast.giganews.com:

 > In article <7dyMc.13669$Qu5.11383@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
 > dankrueger RemoveThis @xxxmindspring.com says...
  >> You will need bottom paint or davits unless it will spend its off
  >> hours on a trailer.
  >>
  >> You absolutely should flush the engine after each use. It is also
  >> important to rinse the rest of the boat - particularly the stainless,
  >> aluminum, or other metal parts such as the bow rail and cleats.
  >> Stainless steel will rust in a saltwater environment.
  >>
  >> If you are trailering, you should thoroughly rinse the trailer paying
  >> particular attention to the brakes (if equipped), the springs,
  >> axle(s), and any other non-aluminum or galvanized parts. A fresh
  >> water boat likely came with a painted trailer so budget for a new one
  >> in a few years!
  >>
  >> Dan
  >>
  >> ediguy RemoveThis @mindspring.com wrote:
   >> > I live on salt water. If I get a new boat or one that was used in
   >> > fresh water, are their any changes that I need to make to it? Is
it
   >> > true that I am supposed to flush out the drive system after each
use
   >> > of the boat??
   >> >
   >> > Thanks!!
   >> > Don
   >> >
  >>
  >>
 >
 >
 > And if the boat is kept at a salt water mooring for the season?
 >
 > That's a serious question. I plan on getting reacquainted with small
 > boats this year or next and the boat will be kept on a mooring for the
 > season.
 >
 > Thanks

Paint the boat.

And make sure the paint goes up the actual waterline of where the boat
sits in the water, instead of the "Manufactures" water line. Paint it up
to where the boat actually sits in the water and add an inch on top of
that. Otherwise you'll spend a good part of the fall scraping barnicles
off the hull above the painted line.

It might not look as good, but after you haul it for the season, you
will be very happy not to have to scrub your boat as much.

Cheers<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Salt Water V. Fresh Water