Difference in Saltwater Boating

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ibew1933

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Oct 7, 2007
Messages
31
Re: Difference in Saltwater Boating

Invest in a lift, Its the best money I've spent in Fl. Just upgraded to 21 ft deck boat and the Gulf is big.
 
T

tablerockboater

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 23, 2005
Messages
230
Re: Difference in Saltwater Boating

I just came back to assure those who may be considering Florida bay/canal boating who may be intimidated by some of the comments in this thread not to be.

First, take a look at this video. It is not us, but it is exactly our experience, the same places we are boating.

Englewood, FL Boat Ride and snook fishing - YouTube

We have less than $5000 in a nice, used 18-foot pontoon with 50 HP Merc, including trailer, taxes, licensing and $500 to replace the older cables, electric wiring, etc. For now we are trailering about 3 miles to a very nice, free, access ramp.

Every time we have been out, we have had dolphins playing with us. We have run the boat up on sandy beaches at the pass and small islands, and just sat and enjoyed the Florida "winter". Our dog loves going with us and our cats love the new "house" we bought for them.

Just do it.

We'll see you on the water or at the beach.
 
emilsr

emilsr

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 16, 2010
Messages
774
Re: Difference in Saltwater Boating

Get whatever kind of boat you want, and a lift to fit it. You'll love the freedom of not having to deal with a trailer and you won't have to mess with bottom paint.
 
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tablerockboater

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 23, 2005
Messages
230
Re: Difference in Saltwater Boating

emilsr said:
Get whatever kind of boat you want, and a lift to fit it. You'll love the freedom of not having to deal with a trailer and you won't have to mess with bottom paint.
Click to expand...

future

gotta upgrade the canal first, to get to the creek, to get to the bay
 
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tablerockboater

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Re: Difference in Saltwater Boating

We're going out today. We'll be at the pass, hanging out on the beach.
 
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tablerockboater

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Apr 23, 2005
Messages
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Re: Difference in Saltwater Boating

Here's something I could use some advice on. We have a good little hardware store that can direct me to the right products, but maybe some of you have a favorite product for . . .

The transom and floor joists are showing the signs of 15 years of exposure. I'm looking for a good product to coat and protect them, to retard the corrosion/rust.

TIA
 
JoLin

JoLin

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 18, 2007
Messages
5,146
Re: Difference in Saltwater Boating

tablerockboater said:
Here's something I could use some advice on. We have a good little hardware store that can direct me to the right products, but maybe some of you have a favorite product for . . .

The transom and floor joists are showing the signs of 15 years of exposure. I'm looking for a good product to coat and protect them, to retard the corrosion/rust.

TIA
Click to expand...

You should start a new thread in the 'Restoration' forum...

Take a look at the POR-15 product line. Old car guys (the cars, not the guys... well, sometimes it's the guys, too) have been using their stuff for many years. Good line of rust converters, inhibitors and undercoatings. In the 'mainstream' variety of stuff, many use Rustoleum.
 
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tablerockboater

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 23, 2005
Messages
230
Re: Difference in Saltwater Boating

JoLin said:
You should start a new thread in the 'Restoration' forum...

Take a look at the POR-15 product line. Old car guys (the cars, not the guys... well, sometimes it's the guys, too) have been using their stuff for many years. Good line of rust converters, inhibitors and undercoatings. In the 'mainstream' variety of stuff, many use Rustoleum.
Click to expand...

Since it's here already, I saw the POR-15 stuff when I did a google search. Is it available in Spray, and can you get it at Home Depot, Lowe's, or True Value?

Thanks.
 
T

tablerockboater

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 23, 2005
Messages
230
Re: Difference in Saltwater Boating

tablerockboater said:
Since it's here already, I saw the POR-15 stuff when I did a google search. Is it available in Spray, and can you get it at Home Depot, Lowe's, or True Value?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I see it's been asked on other forums, but can you get POR-15 at any retail stores?
 
M

MarkSee

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Sep 10, 2010
Messages
1,172
Re: Difference in Saltwater Boating

Don't think so but some speed shops carry it so if you have one of those locally you can try them otherwise you'll have to order it.

Mark
 
sasto

sasto

Captain
Joined
Jun 1, 2010
Messages
3,918
Re: Difference in Saltwater Boating

I've been a Captain here in Florida for almost 20 years. In your situation, I would have no problem with a "toon". I think it would be a good choice. Personally I have been in rough waters from everything from a 10' flat bottom john boat with 3 HP to a 167' Motor Yacht. Been beat up in both....but felt safe. It is all revelant to conditions.

Each body of water has critters that grow on your bottom. Some faster than others. At the marina where I live on a boat, I was nominated to do underwarer diving for cleaning and repairs. I clean each boat every month in the summer and every month and a half in the winter. These boats are bottom painted.

You appear to be safe and conscious about your surroundings. Some Are Safer Than Others.
 
T

tablerockboater

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Apr 23, 2005
Messages
230
Re: Difference in Saltwater Boating

sasto said:
critters that grow on your bottom. Some faster than others.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that happens when it is hot and humid and I spend too much time on my golf cart seat!!! Got some right now!!!

Back to POR-15, I have decided it would be "prudent" (for George The First fans) to do all of the metal supporting structure of our pontoon, the floor joists, the transom, etc. The toons already have a protective paint which appears to be doing a fine job.

So, I have found there are a few products appearing to make the same claims as POR-15 that are available through retail outlets in SW FL. But, none of them have the overwhelming backing of the marine, auto body, and auto restoration folks the POR-15 has.

So, it looks like the logical decision is to order some POR-15 online and get to work. The only question is to whether it will take a quart at about $50, or a gallon at whatever that will be.

In some things, decision is not all that hard to arrive at, and in this case there only appears to be one product for the job, and no easy way to do it, something that shoulda been done long ago.
 
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tablerockboater

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 23, 2005
Messages
230
Re: Difference in Saltwater Boating

Here's a question: How can we flush our outboard after use if there is no freshwater or garden hose available?

The situation is that we have found a slip so we can leave the boat in the water for the next month. Our outboard has a garden hose flush attachment, but if there is no freshwater available????

I'm picturing maybe a 5 gallon water container, like for camping, that would have a short garden hose attached to it. Or, a funnel with a short garden hose . . . dump the water into the funnel with the hose connected to the flush connection.

Anything like that in the camping world?

Any thoughts? How severe is it if we don't flush it every time?
 
H

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: Difference in Saltwater Boating

flushing motors is a relatively recent practice in outboard motors. I am one of the hundreds of boats I see, and thousands out there, that keep my boat in salt water and, with no fresh water on the pier, therefore never flush it. They are made for salt water.

don't get me wrong; flushing is good if you can (and only before it dries, as in at the ramp) and it's more important to get the silt out, so if you come to the dock in good water, you are fine.
 
tpenfield

tpenfield

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Staff member
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Re: Difference in Saltwater Boating

Outboards do very well with salt water. That's why most offshore fishing boats are outboards. I used to flush my outboard with fresh water . . . once a year.

Did you ever notice how people that boat in salt water regularly tend not to be as concerned about it as 'fresh water' boaters? :noidea:
 
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