Freshwater boat in salt water

[ctb1010]

I've got a boat with a 4.3l mercruiser inboard/outboard engine that I use weekly in the local lakes to take my family tubing. Some friends got a house on the Rappahannock River (saltwater) and want an extra boat to haul people around in. I would drop my boat in the water on Friday and pull it out on Sunday. How big of a deal is it if I use my boat in salt water? If I take it out on the lake the next week afterward will that basically flush out the engine? Will I have to take it to a marina to have it professionally flushed? This boat is my baby and I don't want any issues! Thanks for any tips or advice!

 

[RGrew176]

If I were going to do what you are tentatively planning I would buy myself a set of muffs and flush the engine after each days use if you are trailering the boat to the salt water site. A good flush immediately after usage in salt water would be the best plan IMO.

 

[JoLin]

Muffs, definitely. Flush it when it comes out on Sunday or as soon as possible afterward. Rinse the rest of the boat down with fresh water at the same time. As long as you get rid of the salt soon after it comes out, it'll last as long as any fresh water boat.

 

[shrew]

My has been in saltwater its entire life (1997). Just flush the engine on muffs and hose down the boat and trailer every time you haul it out.

 

[minuteman62-64]

My has been in saltwater its entire life (1997). Just flush the engine on muffs and hose down the boat and trailer every time you haul it out.

Yup, that's the drill. Mine since '82. If you follow that procedure, for that limited time, your boat will never know it has been in salt water.

 

[dingbat]

You have nothing to worry about. The Rappahannock is not saltwater, it's brackish at best. Less than 1/2 the salinity of the ocean