Considering a used saltwater boat for fresh water use

There could be a lot or a little, depending on design, age, and maintenance records. Given the vastness of the great lakes and other freshwater rivers nearby, were you able to find a freshwater-run version of the same boat? Is this decision only based on price or availability?

Anyhow, year, make, model, engine, transmission would probably elicit better answers from folks on the forum. Also specify if the boat is raw water cooled (cooled by the water it runs in) or fresh water cooled (with a heat exchanger and coolant tank).

Corrosion can be a serious issue, and it usually affects engines in their cooling and exhaust systems most. Some owners stay on top of this with inspections and replacements of risers, gaskets, manifolds, anodes, flushing coolers... and many don't. Thorough maintenance records and a professional survey can help a layperson get a handle on the condition "below the surface". Best wishes in your search!
 
Thanks for your response, Terminaldegree. It is a repo and offered at a great low price. There are freshwater versions available but at higher prices.
 
Woody said:
So, are you going to give up any info or not?
Click to expand...

Well, slightly hesitant because it's not a SeaRay, but it's a
2003 Chris Craft 328 Express Cruiser with Twin Volvo Penta 5.7L Gi Inboards/SX Outdrives.
378 hours.

Has a clean Boat History report, a couple of minor cosmetic dings on the exterior.
 
I've been a saltwater boater my whole life and the main thing is was the boat taken care of? Did the owner flush the motors after each use, use a lot of fresh water to rinse off the boat and mechaincs after each use. It's a little more work to boat in saltwater but if the owner took pride in his ride and did his preventive maintanece then all should be fine. Corrosion is the one big thing that will hurt you wither by breaking odwn or the repairs costs. I enjoy saltwater becasue the water always smells fresher compared to more stagnant fresh water ponds. Just my thoughts.
 
Personally I would never consider a saltwater boat unless very new. An 8 year old boat has had plenty of time to get corrosion started in all the wrong places, and electrical connections. And generally speaking most repos are not in great shape for a reason, no money to pay for them, or take care of them.

I have seen some saltwater boats come to our lake, prices where incredible, but they ended up spending way too much time and money on them in the long run.

Are you mechanically inclined, can you do most of the work yourself? There will always be a few things to fix at the age regardless of history but a negleted saltwater boat could be a nightmare.

Good luck.
 
Closed cooling system or raw water cooling? If it were raw water cooled, I probably wouldn't bother (but I'm not a saltwater boater, so pay more attention to what the other folks say who have more experience with this). Did you sea trial the boat yet?

Since it's a repo, I assume no maintenance history is available. When I think of someone who isn't making payments on a boat, the last thing that pops into my mind is "meticulously maintained", but I could be wrong. You really should get the boat and engines surveyed so you know what you're dealing with and what repairs are going to cost you/the dealer (could be anywhere from hundreds to tens upon tens of thousands of dollars if they have to start tearing into the engines/outdrives/hull).

I don't mean to be negative here...in the grand scheme of things, the number of running hours on the engines is pretty low on the list of importance, though. Is this one of the "newly"-retro styled Chris Crafts? I think they're beautiful, but I've only seen the smaller runabout models at boat shows.
 
Just found this boat. Have not sea tested it. Pretty sure I will not pursue after reading everyone's comments. The fact it's a repo does raise serious questions and a "good" deal can turn out to be bad.
 
We recently had 3 repo boats show up at our dock this year. 1 from a bank and it is in remarkable condition and did not require a lot of work.

Both the other 2 from the same broker who specializes in repos, they where in pretty rough shape. They both got a great deal on them, but the summer is not over yet.

Sometime you win, sometimes you.................
 
Whitenights!!! My first day on club sea ray and the first thread I read is from an old dock mate. I was 2-3 down from you for a couple of years at Grider- 28' Apache. I remember Whitenights leading to a foggy morning on many a weekend. I have owned several salt water powerboats with mixed results. Do your homework...
 
In my opinion, if it has raw water cooled engines, I would stay away. Salt water will raise H#@% with the cooling system eventually. I am a salt water boater and just purchased a new to me 22 year old boat off lake Erie. Everything in my area was a salt encrusted mess with raw water cooled motors. Just my 2.5 cents worth.
 
If I where you I would not hesitate to buy a FWC boat with inboards that was in salt water, but the boat you are looking at has outdrives and I most likely raw water cooled... So, if you can get it a very good price, and have a survey, it still could be a good deal... It probably will neet new exhausts, so add $5K; new rubber add $4K; new trim senders add $400; new water pumps add $500, plus any other neglected maintenance items... Get a compression test done on the engines and generator...
 
I may be in the minority but...

I purchased a former saltwater boat (1999 model) that I use in a lake.

Yes, the boat does have salt based impact to metal. It also shows cosmetically that a Southern boat gets to enjoy more time in the sun.

But, when we were shopping and comparing the overall condition of our boat to its freshwater counterparts of the same year, we did find that several of the freshwater boats were in worse shape mechanically and had cosmetic issues as well.

The bottom line for our decision was that the seller accepted our (low) offer. The boat got a clean bill of health physically from the surveyor, mechanically it passed compression and drive tests performed by a Merc certified technican, the boat was already equipped with the parts to run in saltwater, and we got a three year old aluminum tri-axle trailer included for nearly $10,000 less than most of the same year freshwater boats. Because of what we paid, we have the room to spend a couple thousand on the boat to get it in the shape we want or pay for mechanical repair and still be ahead of where we would have been on a freshwater boat purchase.

That said, if we could have found a similar freshwater example that checked out physically and mechanically and included a trailer at the same price, we most likely would have bought it. But, conversely because of the boats saltwater past, we won't hesitate to move it to Sarasota to enjoy with our family.

The deals are out there on boats with all types of previous use. You can save a good deal of money if you are willing to look past former saltwater use.

Good luck!
 
I bought a repo boat from a brokerage in the Detroit (Lake St. Clair) area. The boat had always been a fresh water boat, but my comments are more directed to the repo part of the deal, and the brokerage itself.

The boat was/is in good shape. Yes, there are some relatively minor issues that I'm having taken care of, but they are not related to the boat being a repo.

I would caution anyone thinking about buying ANY boat from Water's Edge Marine. If you are, and dealing with a salesman with the initials SH, be prepared to be lied to. I would not trust this person any further than I could throw the whole dealership.

I was able to protect myself by having a very thorough hull/equipment survey done as well as a thorough mechanical survey.

Use caution in dealing with them/him.
 
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weekender12 said:
Whitenights!!! My first day on club sea ray and the first thread I read is from an old dock mate. I was 2-3 down from you for a couple of years at Grider- 28' Apache. I remember Whitenights leading to a foggy morning on many a weekend. I have owned several salt water powerboats with mixed results. Do your homework...
Click to expand...

Hi Jon,

I sent you a email, we need to catch up and talk about old times. And no I still have not figured out what is causing all these foggy mornings :)
 
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