Saltwater Use

[TMQRMB]

I am considering updating to a model year 2001 Ski Nautique that has 125
hours on it. The only issue for me is that is has been used exclusively in
saltwater so I am concerned about maintenance issues. Anybody having any experience with saltwater use and the effect its had (if any) I'd like to hear from you. Thanks

[dwsa]

RE: Saltwater Use

We operate a 2001 SN club boat in salt water here in Dubai, I assume that you have the enclosed fresh water cooling system, in which case the only thing to be concerned about are the exhaust manifolds that suffer badly in saltwater, we gat about 2 or years use out of ours before they clog with rust and start overheating the engine. I would think yours with 125 hours are fine, you can remove the hoses to inspect for corrosion. Replace if bad or pay big time.

[redelf75]

RE: Saltwater Use

I'm not a mechanic, but I think that age, not engine hours, would be more telling as to its condition. I had a jet ski with only 100 hours on it and the engine blew from rust (I think) in fresh water.

Don't you have to flush the engine completely every day it's used, if you want it to last?

[Brad_K]

RE: Saltwater Use

As long as you flush after evey use you will be fine for atleast 5-8 seasons on the manifolds and alot longer on the engine.

[erniea15]

RE: Saltwater Use

I have a '94 Ski Nautique that I’ve run just about every weekend, year round in Mission Bay (San Diego salt water) for the past 2 years. No fresh water cooling kit installed here and I pull pull directly from the ocean. I religiously flush the engine (for around as long as it takes me to have a beer), rinse, and wipe it down thoroughly after each use and haven't had any abnormal maintenance issues at all.

Honestly, the biggest problem I'm having is the corrosion on the trailer... Think about it, you plunk it in the water at the beginning of the day and then it just soaks in the sun the rest of the day. I've heard about people running around with bug sprayer canisters full of water and salt-be-gone solution but that's a little much for me. I'm just bracing to replace the trailer sooner than other people would normally. The trailer that came with the boat is a 2000 and looked fantastic when I bought it. After 2 years of salt water use, I can definitely see if wearing down.

If the choice is between driving 3 hours for fresh water or 15 min for salt, I’d go for the salt. It’s not as bad as people make it out to be. Just don’t get lazy, plan for an additional 1 hour of cleanup, and religiously clean after each use.

Now if you’re talking about leaving in salt water full time…. I got nothing….

Good Luck and have fun,
Ernie

[Roslyn]

I grew up around salt water fishing boats in my family all my life and my brother is a salt water boat mechanic. I now reside in a lakes area and have owned 2 fresh water ski boats for about seven years now. The one is a 1976 mercury 175 h.p. outboard on an 18 foot marlin with the original ungalvinized trailer (never used in salt water)..... the other a 1996 s.n. (also never in salt) Let me just say that if that 1976 mercury had been used in salt it wouldn't be around today. The trailer and engine are rust free. If given the choice I would never put a boat in salt. There is a huge difference between the life expectancy of a salt boat versus fresh boat.

[ag4ever]

I agree 100% with Roslyn. My dad's boat is a '79 Invader with an '80 evenrude 115. He never put it in saltwater untill the mid 90's, and it was in almost shoroom condition till then. Now all the aluminum is corroded, and the paint is flaking on the engine, the seat seams are tearing etc... The salt just eats the boat away. And that is with him washing the heck out of it after every salt outting. That is why I just won't put mine in saltwater.

If I want to go in saltwater, it will be in a basic bay boat with little to be affected, not a tricked out ski boat with under water gear that can be torn apart by all the unknow obsticles in a typical bay. (I wonder what a oyster reef would do to the tracking fins, prop and shaft, and rudder?)

[ZachR]

Unfortunately, some people don't really have the choice about fresh vs. salt water. In San Diego you either ride in Mission Bay, or haul up to San Vincente, which is about to be closed. As long as you take care of the boat, it can work. I've been riding in Mission Bay for the last couple years, almost every weekend over the summer, and as long as you clean the boat religiously, it will last. Erniea15, do you ever ride in the slalom course? I ride behind the all grey 2001 SAN, with the grey tower.

[Brad_K]

I agree, if i had the choice of an identical location with either salt or fresh water there would be no reason to choose the salt, but unfortunately i don't and it either salt or nothing most of the time and the only thing worse than putting the boat in salt and the hours washing after is having the boat sat on the drive on a nice sunny day and not using it at all.

[882001]

im exclusive salt{ no choice}. run, have fun, rinse, repeat. exhaust, timing chain cover{on ford}, trailer are the only ill effects in 1600 hrs. so flush it and have fun. salt away is supposed to be awsome{never tried it- im cheap lol}

[ZachR]

Salt Away is a great investment. I use it, and as far as I can tell it works.

Brad, yes, no question, given the choice of equal driving distance and effort required for salt or freshwater, fresh would win everytime. However, saltwater is much more available to me, seeing as the only real freshwater lake is closing soon.

[dabigkahuna]

I live in Hawaii, so I don't have much of a choice Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

After every use, I do the following:

1. Fresh water rinse the **** out of everything (and I mean everything) and start flusing the engine with freshwater
2. Salt-Away rinse the **** out of everything (and I mean everything)
3. Fresh water rinse the **** out of everything (and I mean everything)
4. Spray 303 Aerospace Protectant on all vinyl surfaces (about 4 oz.)
5. Use microfiber to wipe everything down, thereby drying and protecting all surfaces with 303
6. Flush engine with Salt-Away for 30 Seconds and turn off engine before the Salt-Away runs out (this will leave anti-corrosive residual in engine and manifolds).
7. Finish my 4th beer!

My 2005 SV-211 has 260 hours on it and still looks great (better than some of the newer boats I have seen with less hours and only freshwater exposure).

Riding in Saltwater takes a lot of attention to detail, but hey, riding 365 days a year in Paradise is worth it! PDT_002

Aloha,

Alan

[radmaster]

Yere my grandad has a 1976 Evinrude 75hp outboard that has had its fair share of work, all in salt water, prolly got about 10 years worth of work 3 days a week then the rest of the time maybe once a week, once a fortnight. All he does is flush with fresh water ie no salt away or anythin and service every 100 hours. That includes a total of 1 impellor change. The motor still starts easy and runs really well. I dont think salt is as bad as people make out. Ohhh yeah same 30 year old galvanized trailer aswell.

[ZachR]

6. Flush engine with Salt-Away for 30 Seconds and turn off engine before the Salt-Away runs out (this will leave anti-corrosive residual in engine and manifolds).

I never thought about doing that, it sounds like a good idea.

[erniea15]

ZachR - I've been meaning to get in the course. My speedos are all f-ed up and I need to get a paddlewheel (perfectpass) installed. Plus I haven't quite figured out what clubs I need to be a member of. We should try to meet up out there. Hit me up off the message board ernie@outlampish.com