puttin my boat in the salt..

[flashback]

I was invited down to dog island for a week at the end of april, and want to take my 1980,21ft chris craft scorpion.. I need some advise on preparation. all the basic stuff has been taken care of as far as new oil in the engine and out drive.. new u-joints,bellows, pump etc...I guess the best way to get the salt out of it when I get back is to run it around the lake a while and flush it out. maybe even dump a few gallons of fresh water into the bilge and then run it around... I don't know,, probably making a mountain out of a mole hill... Anyway I'm gonna have a goooood time.........

 

[Sea Six]

Re: puttin my boat in the salt..

Why don't you just buy a set of ear muffs and rinse it out with a garden hose?

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: puttin my boat in the salt..

Well, the main thing is the engine block and manifold/elbows. Running the boat on or in fresh water as soon as possible will take care of that. If your boat tends to "take on" a little water in the bilge, you might want to do a fresh water spray down in there as well. Of course salt crystals can also corrode stainless and metal, so a good exterior wash and interior wipedown including bimini frame and dash guages would also be advised. Have fun, enjoy yourself, just do some clean-up when you get home.

 

[rwidman]

Re: puttin my boat in the salt..

Many of us run in salt water all the time. Rinse it with muffs if you wish, running in a fresh water lake will be more effective and will also clean the outside.<br /><br />If you have a trailer and it's not galvanized you will want to rinse it very well. Letting it sit in the water at the lake (yes, on the ramp) or pulling it in and out would be good if possible. If the trailer has brakes, try to rinse them with a hose.

 

[Bondo]

Re: puttin my boat in the salt..

running in a fresh water lake will be more effective and will also clean the outside.<br />

No Doubt about it..........<br /><br />It's engine Heat that drives the salt Into your block,<br />And,.. A Good Hard Run is the Best Way to Clean it Out...............<br /><br />I get to play in the Salt off Maine every year or two........It's 30 miles from the Salt launch to My place on a little freshwater pond,+ a Good Flushing..............

 

[flashback]

Re: puttin my boat in the salt..

Thanks for all the info guys. I do have some muffs i was going to throw in the boat, but fresh water might be a problem to find, but i will definitly run it up the lake when I get back.. Just had another thought,, at present, I don't have a VHF, out on the lake, if I need help, I holler and wave or use a cell phone.. I wonder if it would be wise to pick-up an inexpensive hand held just to be safe??? thanks again for the input......Flash..

 

[flashback]

Re: puttin my boat in the salt..

Rwidman,, yep my trailer is a big concern, its old, not too rusty, as i sand and touch it up all the time. but it is not galvanized.. just put all new bearings and races in it last year. so i should be good there, but rinsing it off before i get home could be problem unless I can find a car wash in carabelle fla. somewhere...I do like the idea of pulling it in and out of the lake a few times,, help wash the inside of the hollow pipe in the middle.. the rest of the frame is I-beam..

 

[Solittle]

Re: puttin my boat in the salt..

On the VHF - the hand helds have a relatively short range but good to have. It is one of those things that you hope you never have to use but can be a lifesaver - literally.<br /><br />One more thing - Make sure you have an up to date nautical chart for the water you will be running in. Here in south Florida there are many places where you can be miles away from land and come upon a shallow spot in a heart beat.

 

[rwidman]

Re: puttin my boat in the salt..

A self service car wash would be an excellent idea to get most of the salt off the trailer. Concentrate on any places where moisture would collect such as bolts and brackets. And like I said, the brakes.<br /><br />I installed a brake flushing kit on mine and I also use a pressure washer on the trailer, usually the next day because it's dark when I get home. I use "Salt Away" when flushing the engine and brakes. Just to be sure.<br /><br />A VFH radio is a good idea when boating. Not just for safety, but you can ask for local information, where the fish are biting, etc. You might be able to borrow a handheld frome a friend.<br /><br />I've never boated in fresh water, only salt. I guess it's the smell or something.

 

[flashback]

Re: puttin my boat in the salt..

Solittle, thanks for the tip on the chart.. I picked one up yesterday and after seeing all the hazards in the area Im sure i would probably hit something without it ...very cheap insurance...

 

[biloxiriver]

Re: puttin my boat in the salt..

Don't know if you looked at your zincs or not, or even you have any being in freshwater. If you are going to leave your boat in the water even for just a couple of days, zincs (sacrificial annodes) are well worth the cost.

 

[flashback]

Re: puttin my boat in the salt..

biloxiriver, thanks for the tip, the only zinc I know of is the trim tab and it seems in great shape, I had it off a few months ago when I replaced the raw water pump. at that time i cleaned up the contact area and bolted it back on.....if you know of any others please let me know.. I think I have seen some drive units with zincs on the hydraulic rams, but my boat doesn't have them.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: puttin my boat in the salt..

Flash,<br /><br />The comments about trailers are good. They seem to get more of a hammering in salt than the motor, because most motors are well protected anyway.<br /><br />Maintenance is obviously the best answer, as you're already doing Here, when a trailer has a closed beam, the boys drill a hole in the top and pour in used engine oil, then screw a plug in. Dunno if that's normal practice where you come from?<br /><br />It always seems to be the joints on any galvanised trailer that go first. I paint mine anyway, just to keep the galvanobug at bay. Screwing a couple of fast-acting zincs onto the trailer also works. (zincs vary in their sacrificial rate, depending on the mix of metals they're made from).

 

[BillP]

Re: puttin my boat in the salt..

Your boat, motor and trailer won't know it was ever in salt if you rinse afterwards. One week isn't enough exposure to make it a problem.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: puttin my boat in the salt..

Use "Salt Away" when rinsing it down and flushing the motor. As BillP said one week is not a major issue.