Brackish water boats

[buzzardmountain]

Anyone willing to talk about their opinion/experience thoughts??? Looking at a Coastal Edition G23 with 50 hrs used in brackish water?

[nautiques4life]

Brackish or even full salt is kinda the norm where I'm at... Being coastal edition certainly helps, I think it really depends on how well the owner was willing to maintain it. I've seen some saltwater (non coastal edition) boats in better shape than freshwater ones of similar year, but when considering resale there are plenty of people so frightened of the word salt they'd never consider a previous salt or brackish water boat... Just something to keep in mind

[wakerider107]

Take a look at the engine mounts and vdrive for rust or blisters forming underneath the blue engine paint.- anything in the bilge area. Even though its considered brackish, just a little bit of salt can be damaging and the motor still requires a flush every time.
Are the zinc anodes still in good shape?
What year boat? Coastal Editions come with a shorter warranty.
I assume it's a galvanized trailer?

[t.franscioni]

There are plenty of inboard ocean boats that live their entire life in salt water 15+ years... 50 hours in brackish water in a boat that’s made for salt water with it being a coastal edition doesn’t seem like anything to worry about in itself. Now if it’s rusted through sure think twice but just the fact that it’s seen salt water doesn’t mean anything negative. But like mentioned above I would worry about resale becauae there are people that can’t get past the idea that a boat touched salt water even if it’s designed to do so. .

[Tallredrider]

A guy who flips boats a lot once told me that it is a cardinal rule never to bring a salt water boat to a non-salt water area. You cannot pay people to take it.

People who live and routinely boat in salt water understand it is not a big deal if maintained properly.

[charlesml3]

People who live and routinely boat in salt water understand it is not a big deal if maintained properly.

Yep. It's all about the maintenance. In salt/brackish water, you just have to be more diligent about staying ahead of it. If a boat has been well maintained, there's nothing inherently worse about salt/brackish water.

-Charles

[scottb7]

50 saltwater/brackish hours is very little, and hopefully would not scare people off. but I would just add that you should make sure you but it "right" and assume you will have to give up whatever savings you get buying it, when you sell.

If seller is not willing to discount you are probably taking a risk, because as people said it could be hard/harder to sell.

[buzzardmountain]

My biggest issue is that i’m In TX and the boat is 8 hrs away. It’s not like I can just run over and check the boat out. Would it be worth to have a survey done? I’m trying to put together a list of things to be on the look out for when/if I take a look at it. wakerider107 ...what would I be looking for as to the condition of the zinc anodes???

[charlesml3]

Ask on here if anybody is close to the boat and can go check it out for you. I bet someone will. When I was into Porsches, we'd do that kind of thing all the time on Rennlist.

-Charles

[wakerider107]

My biggest issue is that i’m In TX and the boat is 8 hrs away. It’s not like I can just run over and check the boat out. Would it be worth to have a survey done? I’m trying to put together a list of things to be on the look out for when/if I take a look at it. wakerider107 ...what would I be looking for as to the condition of the zinc anodes???

i would say it is worth having a survey done on any boat that you are not able to see in person. Maybe the boat is close to a reputable dealership and you can have them do an inspection.
with lower hours, the zincs are probably in good shape, but you never know. zinc anodes dissolve and look like they have been eaten away at after lots of salt exposure. if they were completely gone, i would be worried, otherwise it is normal for them to look damaged as that shows they are doing their job.