Fresh water ski boat to salt water

[chinanelson]

I found a great deal on an older 25? Mastercraft cuddy (1990 inboard 454 cubic inch) runabout/ski boat built for normal fresh water use. I would like to use it in the northeast Atlantic (Long Island Sound) for wake surfing and fishing and cruising?I just have to have a boat here. What would I need to do to the motor, drive, and hull to prepare it for salt water use? Is it even possible to do? What things really even matter, as it is an older boat anyway. What are the most important steps that can?t be overlooked? I would like to leave it in a slip all summer, use it at least twice a week, and then store it dry on a trailer for the other 7 months out of the year.
Please advise. Thanks - Shawn

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Fresh water ski boat to salt water

put it in the water and start the engine. there really is no difference in a boat that runs in salt or fresh. there are options on new boats (closed cooling) but to retrofit a 18 year old with it is not worth it. until you repower the boat. when thru for the day washdown and cover. have a back up bilge pump if slipping the boat.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Fresh water ski boat to salt water

I have got to see a picture of that boat. I have never before seen an inboard mastercraft with a cuddy. Please post a pic.


Edit:
Scratch that -- I found an example for sale right here on Iboats with a ton of pics.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Fresh water ski boat to salt water

that should do nicely as a wakeboard boat also.
http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/marine_classifieds/view_photos.cgi?ad_id=301769&img=

 

[Lou C]

Re: Fresh water ski boat to salt water

Actually as far as salt water goes, the straight inboard or v-drive will need less maintenance than an I/O in salt water. Many people around here (LI Sound) run raw water cooled I/Os for 10-15+ years without major problems provided you do the maintenance.That is, checking the manifolds and risers every 3 years, replace 4-5 years, depending on condition. The water in LI Sound is salt, but not as salty as Fla or the Gulf Coast. As far as leaving it in the water, you will have to bottom paint if you don't want to pull it out every couple of weeks and get it cleaned off. Make sure you have a good bilge pump and strong battery. You need to check on it often, esp after big rain storms. The only issue I could see with using a ski boat in LI Sound is the issue of deadrise, if you have a shallow deadrise like many ski boats you will get a rough ride in LI Sound, even on calm days there can be a good chop out there. And lastly get towing insurance for sure. Are you on the Conn side or the LI side. If LI Tow Boat US comes out of Northport near the Eatons Neck Coast Guard station. Also be aware, if running in the Sound, you must have all the required CG equipment not required on lakes, like VHF radio, PDFs, throwable PDF, flares, distress flag, fire estinguishers, etc. They do stop you and check, the thing most people get cited on is expired flares!

 

[tommays]

Re: Fresh water ski boat to salt water

I google one up and it looks just like any CUDDY CABIN but with a shaftdrive

Tommays

 

[Lou C]

Re: Fresh water ski boat to salt water

Great lookin boat there but you can see how shallow the deadrise is, so you want calmer days for sure, in the summer the Sound is often calm in the mornings and kicks up in the afternoon, and the inlets leading from the Sound to the inner harbors (like going from Huntington Bay around Sand City to Northport Bay) can be REALLY rough, esp wind against tide.
If you are going to to this check out
www.mysound.uconn.edu/index.html
It is a webstite maintained by the Univ of Conn, there are monitoring stations all across the Sound that give wind, weather, air and water temp info. I'd check it anytime going out in the Sound.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Fresh water ski boat to salt water

Any hinges, handles, etc, made from Zomak are going to bite the dust in short order and anything plated doesn’t stand much of a chance either.

That deadrise is going to make things interesting in that chop.

 

[chinanelson]

Re: FROM ME...Fresh water ski boat to salt water

Re: FROM ME...Fresh water ski boat to salt water

What about all this talk of the increased possibility of "blowing up," due to the gas-powered engine's electrical components? How much of a real threat is that on the LI sound? Or do I just need a good blower, and flame arrestor, and don't sweat it??? Please advise. Thanks.

 

[tommays]

Re: Fresh water ski boat to salt water

There are a LOT of DIY repiars were people install auto starters and other auto electric and fuel system parts



If the motor was kept in orginal condition and still has marine electric and fuel parts than it is just a matter of good matiance ,like checking the condition of fuel lines ect








Tommays

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: Fresh water ski boat to salt water

Put a new set of zinc anodes on before taking it in salt water.