Fresh vs Salt H20???

[NAUTI84]

I asked this on the old NautiqueFan site (and kinda already know the answers I'll get) but figured I'd throw it out here:
How many of you use your Nautique in Salt Water??
Where I live in N.E. I have very few good fresh water spots that I can just pack up and hit after work or on a weekend afternoon.
However, It would be real easy for me to drop into a river off of Narragansett Bay in R.I. (Salt water) 15 mins away.
I've had the Nautique for 15 years and I've resisted the temptation to drop it in the Salt. But every year (when I only get to use it for a week's vacation and maybe one or two other times if I'm lucky) I get real itchy to find a way to use it more.
My friends with ocean boats say "you've got the same engine that our bigger boats have, your crazy not to use it in the river"
I know, I know, I'm going to hear "Don't even think!" But there must be others that dip it in the salt water?? Any comments?

[TwinTip]

Nauti84,

I personally will never put a ski boat in salt water, then again, I have the benefit of fresh water. I have owned other boats (not ski boats though) and did put them in salt water. It is true that some boats are made for salt water but I always hated the time it took me to wash the boat and trailer (that's the bad part about being picky I guess). You also have to consider the parts on the boat or trailer that are likely to rust.

I have read that some people on this site do put their boats in salt water. Depending on which boat you have and the water conditions that you plan on driving, you should also consider that some of the hulls on these boats are not necessarily designed for rough and choppy water.

I have not seen the closed cooling option installed on these boats. If I had to put my boat in salt water though, I would only do so if I had this option installed.

At the end, it is your choice but if you have stayed away from salt water for so many years, I would continue to fight the temptation.

[882001]

i dont have a choice. the nearest non salt is atleast a couple hours away. its more maintnance. lets go over every thing it will ruin. trailer, exhaust manifolds upper and lower. eventually timing chain cover and heads but not for a long time. thats about all i can come up with. i have a galvanized trailer that helps

[JMark]

Well, I am one of those who uses a Nautique in both salt and fresh water. I live 10 minutes from the intracoastal waterway and about 45-60 minues from freshwater. I ordered my SV211 with the fresh water cooling. The SV211 is pretty easy to clean up from salt water usage. I pull up the carpet and hose down the interior during cleanup. We soap the entire boat down inside and out. Of course, we flush the engine after every use. I had a SeaRay in saltwater for 7 years and we were able to keep it looking very good. I expect the Nautique will do just fine.

JMark