Help with buying - Sea Trial

[tflradio]

I'm about the purchase a 2007 SV-211 and am arranging a survey and sea trial. The only problem is the boat is about 1.5 hrs (a bit far for all involved). from the nearest full fresh water. It's located about 40 minutes from a river/basin that has 80% fresh and 20% brackish. Would you willingly place it in brackish water for the sea trial or forego the sea trial as part of the survey? I'm all ears - this is my first time in. thanks.

[tflradio]

I was told by a surveyor that we could have a mechanic do a compression test on the engine apart from a sea trial - is this advisable?

[Paxdad]

I would not worry about a brackish water sea trial. Compression test is always a good idea.


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[tflradio]

I would not worry about a brackish water sea trial. Compression test is always a good idea.


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When you say, don't worry about it - do you mean, don't do it? or if we do it, it's not a big deal?

[nukemustang]

Using the boat one time, in pretty much fresh water will not kill it. Some people live on the intercoastal and wakeskated there quite often. I think it was Harf that had a nautique super sport with the new aviator tower and he wakeskated on the IC all the time.

personally I would not store a boat, or use one full time in salt water, but if you take care of things, you will be okay...

[azeus17]

Agreed, do the trial in brackish water. Not going to hurt anything to be in there for an hour.

[swatguy]

Brackish for a test run is something I would do. Take it for a spin, and get the compression check for piece of mind.

[shag]

Sea trial by all means.... Brackish isn't a big deal... I would, rinse the trailer well anyway, after the dip. Compression check and see what, if any maintenance records are avail.

[Tallredrider]

Doesn't it stand to reason that if brackish water is close and fresh water is so far away that the previous owner almost certainly took it to the brackish water? At least on a few occasions? He is probably just feeding you a line to say that he never used it there in the first place. A good rinse and I would not worry at all about it.

[BoardSkier]

Did the owner use in brackish water? If I owned the boat I would say no brackish trial run. Its more than rinsing the boat. The trailer is far more susceptible to corrosion than the boat. No good way to rinse the inside of the trailer frame, where corrosion starts. Personally I would have the survey look for repeated brackish use. If the previous owner trailered it to fresh water for use, shouldnt have a problem with the trial.


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[tflradio]

Doesn't it stand to reason that if brackish water is close and fresh water is so far away that the previous owner almost certainly took it to the brackish water? At least on a few occasions? He is probably just feeding you a line to say that he never used it there in the first place. A good rinse and I would not worry at all about it.

The owner lived in Valdosta, GA and was moved to Pensacola by the military, that's why they are selling the boat - because there is no fresh water around. The person has no problem with a survey of the boat, just sea trial in salt water, but thanks for the thoughts on a good rinse - helpful.

[nukemustang]

I have a 211 and there is a hose connection on the port side step to run the boat off the hose. I don't know if he has that or if it was an option, but if he has it I would just bring it back to the house and connect the hose and run it for a few min to make sure the block and exhaust manifolds are flushed out and not having brackish water sit in them.

[wakerider107]

Compression check BEFORE the sea trial. Low compression tends to come back up after it has been driven for a while.

[tflradio]

Thanks for all the input. I've moved away from this boat since it's too much of a challenge to coordinate with all these nuances. I'm sure someone in Florida or Alabama will buy it.