Saltwater Boat

[Phoneman1031]

Hey Guys,
Well, I thought I found the absolutely perfect used ski boat for me, until the dealer told me that 75% of it's 550 hours (2006) have been in saltwater. The dealer assured me that it was flushed daily and never sat overnight in saltwater. When I say that it is the perfect boat for me, I mean it. From paint scheme to engine to actual model.
I guess my question is, should i completely forget about this boat? Everyone I talk to says to walk away, saltwater boats are nothing but problems. I just can't seem to get this boat out of my head. Please Help!

[swc5150]

You may get answers that vary on this one, but I'd walk away. I would not risk my hard earned money on somebody's word that it was flushed after each use. Plus, salt just has a nasty way of finding it's way into all things electrical.

[Sell]

It's salt not sulphuric acid.
IMO if the boat is perfect for you, buy it.
If the boat looks well looked after, it probably is - plus aren't there full disclosure laws in the USA?

[LR3w8kbrdr]

I wouldnt walk away...id run away imho. Living near the saltwater myself Ive seen what the damage can do by just the salt n the air and the spray. Even if it was flushed out, what about all the accessory pieces on the boat that would have had to been wiped down every single time and inside the engine w/ corrosion/buildups of any sort. Even the saltwater series xstars My friends have look worn and theyre maintained very well and only 2 yrs old.

[gride]

If you won't be in salt I'd stay away. Mine is used in brackish. So is my buddy's. Both closed cooled. His has almost 700 hours. No issues from salt. IMO salt boats are for salt buyers, but if if u test drive it and check all electronics, have a compression test, and what not and all is good I wouldn't shy away. Where r u located? Salt use should give u good leverage.

[NautiDave07]

I have a friend who purchased a salty out of florida. It is a 00 Super Air. Boat has been nothing but problems for him with corroded fasteners and engine components. If you buy it I wouldn't pay top dollar for it. Probably at least 15-20% less than a non salt boat. You will have to put money in it over the next few years.

[Chexi]

...plus aren't there full disclosure laws in the USA?

Seriously?

[gride]

You have to put $ in any boat. 20% less is laughable. While fresh water use is ideal it's not perfect. All you lake only folks drive me nuts. My friends 10 year old 210 w/o closed cooling had no issues when he sold it.

[swc5150]

[QUOTE=Phoneman1031;164574]The dealer assured me that it was flushed daily and never sat overnight in saltwater.QUOTE]

LOL!!

Gride makes a great point. If you're going to use it in salt, go for it, but I'd use the salt factor for pricing leverage. Is it a closed cooling system? That would ease my mind a touch.

[NautiDave07]

Yea gride in ky a salty will bring 15-20% less on a 30k boat that is only 4-6k difference. My buddy bought an 00 210 that was a salty and he has had problem after problem. It was prob your buddies old boat that fell apart not long after he sold it. I am not trying to bash but attitude and value on Salty boats changes drastically when you get away from the Salt water. To people that use their boats or are used to it it seems like no big deal. Seeing the few boats I have that have come from salt, buying one that had been in salt for a number of hours would scare me to death. If I couldn't get a very significant discount for that then I wouldn't even look at it. The newer salt series boats and closed cooling would ease my mind a little. Back in the early 2000's to mid 2000's nothing on these boats in the form of fasteners and such was made for that environment.

[hyparks]

My 2001 super air 210 was a salt water boat. Had been on salt water all its life before I brought it. 600 hours worth. They tell me it was flushed every day. Now I own it its a fresh water boat. Got it for 2k below normal cost. Have had a couple of minor problems but nothing major. Had our local dealer test it out for me and they said it all was good and one of the better examples of a 01 210. I love it and use it every weekend and it never misses a beat. My friend also had an 04 mastercraft x2 that had 1100 hours on it. It was used on the sea by a ski school. My friend brought it in 07 and sold it last year with over 2000 hours on it. Never had a problem. Not saying that salt does not cause any problems at all but the ones o have come accross have been fine. What about other inboard boats with 3.0 litre mercruisers etc. They run in salt fine as most speed/ski boats do.

At the end of the day it is totally up to you. You could buy a 4 year old boat that has been on fresh water and have lots of trouble.

Good luck on buying a boat.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

[migs]

Run!!!!!

[Sell]

Seriously?

Mate, I've never been to the states, in Australia it is strictly buyer beware. You buy it, you own it, problems & all.
I was under the impression that that was not the case in the States. I am happy to stand corrected.
I still stand by the fact that salt water shouldn't be a reason to avoid a boat like the plague.

[swc5150]

Try trading in a Wisconsin car in Arizona, and watch the dealer laugh at you (from experience!). It's pretty much the same deal with the fresh water group and a salty. I have no doubt a WI car would last quite a while in AZ too...

[intrlaz]

You should definitely pay less than the market for a salt boat. I would say around 3k for that year. I can tell you from experience that salt boats can be trouble. I bought mine knowing that since I would be using in salt as well. At a minimum, I would get a compression test done, and if I had done mine over I would have pulled the valve covers and exhaust manifolds. I'm sure my situation was an anomaly since I had to scrap the engine completely, but just beware.

The engine mounts will give you a good indication of the condition of the engine, IMO. They are ungodly tough to keep rust-free in salt, and if this boats still look half way decent I think you could have a winner. Also, look at the bottom of the exhaust manifold where it meets the block. If this is falling apart you will need to replace the manifolds at a minimum.