East Coast Boat to Great Lakes?

Escapade

Well-Known Member
SILVER Sponsor
Jan 10, 2007
1,231
Lake Michigan
Boat Info
44 Sundancer
Engines
QSC500
If you have purchased a East Coast Boat and delivered to Great Lakes. Was it a clean maintained vessel? Over time did you regret due to salt water issues? Not looking for opinions from members who have not done this but, captains who have this experience. We found two very clean boats with obvious maintenance and TLC. They are an 06 and an 07 stored 1/2 year on the hard under wrap. Thanks in advance, Mike
 
I guess you would have to define "saltwater issues". "Salt water issues" in my mind are a lack of maintenance at a level that keeps the boat looking and running great. In salt it is a lot of rinsing, cleaning, salt away, corrosion inhibitor, bottom scraping, waxing, barnacle busting, raw water system maintenance etc. It's work, and a lot of people don't want or have the means to do it. Our 360 DA was an east coast boat. It spent the first 6 seasons of it's life in CT on the sound. It was by far in the cleanest condition at time of purchase of any previously owned boat I have ever bought on the great lakes. The owner was very conscientious and wrote checks to the yacht yard to do the things he couldn't. We loved the boat and sold it only because we were retiring and the admiral said we had to have a boat that let in more light and no cave for spending long periods of time on.
If you've found a couple good ones that have been kept after, there is no reason to be afraid of them.
 
My boat was a West Coast Boat(Pacific) and now is in the Great Lakes. It had 300 hours when I picked it up and shipped here. Those 300 hours where 100% salt water. However it was always trailered and flushed. At 600 hours I am just now replacing the manifolds and risers. It had Bravoitis early on.
I would have no issue purchasing a low hour well maintained salt water boat.
 
I bought a boat that spent 18+ year in SW FL/Tampa, and brought it to a fresh water lake. It was fairly well maintained, but it still took a lot of work and effort and $$$ to get it into the shape I'm happy with. I got a lot of boat for my $$ and significantly more boat/$ than others on the lake. Boats on this lake command a premium. It does come down to the shape a particular boat is in.

The larger Sea Rays are fairly well built and equipped to operate in salt, and once you get them back in fresh water, the MX issues normalize back to what you are used to. A good friend and sage boater once told me "if it ain't broke, you ain't boating!! Names withheld to protect the semi innocent...

I would not hesitate to buy a "salt" boat again.
 
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My current boat was purchased 2001 in New Jersey, was moved to Florida a couple of years later, then was purchased by a wholesaler in Canada's Great Lakes in 2008. When I purchased it there were some initial "salt water issues".

One shaft seal overheated and melted due to lack of water supply to the seal housing. Shortage of water was caused by a buildup of muscles within the hose. Further inspection found that the exhaust manifolds were corroded internally with one corroded through to the outside of the manifold. One rubber exhaust tube just aft of the riser had burned through in one spot due to a lack of cooling water flow. Cooling water was adequate enough to protect the engines from overheating. Electrical gremlin would sporadically show with one engine starter failing to engage (at the worst times).

The entire cooling system from the water inlets to the exhaust was then inspected, but the other parts of the system seemed clear of any obstructions. New shaft seal and cooling hose to manifold, all 4 manifolds replaced (overdue given that they appeared to be original), exhaust rubber hose replaced. Electrical gremlin took time, but was finally diagnosed as a bad ground connection to the engine block (easy fix, just remove clean and reinstall).

I've had the boat since 2008 (12 seasons) and have not had any other "salt water issues" since. I did get a very good deal on the boat and the seller did end up paying for about half of the repairs. A little frustrating yes, but I put it behind me and decided to enjoy the boat.
 
3 years in Lake Michigan after the boat had spent 17 in Florida, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I had been looking in the midwest for two years, and had a really good feel for this generation boat. I ended up getting a 400 instead of a 370, and couldnt be happier that I did. The surveyor I used had been in the industry for a long time, and right after the survey we had lunch and he said that I'd be crazy not to buy this boat.

The repairs I've done were about age rather than salt. The only issue I would attribute to lower latitudes was that the fuel needed to be polished, but I knew than from the survey. I had that done as soon as the boat was up north, so I was starting from a known good place.

I'm not knocking midwest boats at all - many are well cared for and some aren't. It takes more work to maintain a saltwater boat, but my boat was previously owned by a commercial pilot and you know how most of them are with their gear.

I could point you to a 370 that was sold this summer from my dock and I dont think the owner even changed the oil in the 3 years he owned the boat, except maybe right before he put the boat on the market. Its all about the condition of an individual boat.
 
Much thanks for all the honest replies. Our hunt continues. I would like to think we could spot a neglected vessel and run from it. We have 33 years on this pond they call Lake Michigan and in the fiberglass business for 40 years. I have recently learned some brokers are full of expletives and clearly have no shame or liability for their words. Your time and input is a great value to us. Mike
 
Survey is tomorrow. Hi of 34 degrees. A good test of the Cockpit Heat/AC. Hope we dont bring the wind with us.
 
5 Searays across 30 years all mild salt in the Chesapeake. Don’t understand the aversion to east coast boats, ya I just replaced manifolds and risers in mine, it’s an item you just do ever 8 years or so, $2k. I hear your zebra mussels cause a lot more damage than our salt.
 
Survey is tomorrow. Hi of 34 degrees. A good test of the Cockpit Heat/AC. Hope we dont bring the wind with us.
What are you surveying Mike?
 
@Escapade I didn't catch it so I'll ask, what size/style are you looking at? larger or smaller than your current 44?

I think several have mentioned if smaller, many more are trailer-ed or lift stored then in the past for marine growth reasons and for less worry in general. No out drive corrosion etc. So most of this size gets flushed out and sit.

Inboard, particularly diesels like yours, they're built for saltwater as long as the coolers got serviced properly.
 
Bought a 2007 44DB from Pensacola Beach and a 2003 420DA from Jacksonville. The 44 was in much better condition than the 420, but got fantastic deals on both. The 44 needed little and the 420 needed a lot, but it has great “bones.” We are having fun redoing it all and making it ours. Mechanically both surveyed well and fluid analysis came back perfect. The big SRs were built for saltwater. The sun takes the biggest toll......

Bennett
 
We surveyed and sea trialed the 06 44 Sundancer yesterday. All went well. The Cummins QSC500's were peppy. I ran like I did in our 390 and the captain pointed out I was going 10 MPH over the speed I felt I was going. So much smoother. We ran up to 40 MPH and that felt fast to me. Looking forward to seeing the report from Survey and Cummins. Next to finish paperwork, Payment, permits for hauling, and off to lake Michigan she goes.SPRING CAN NOT COME FAST ENOUGH!
 
Mine was in saltwater for the first 3 years and freshwater since. I replaced all dash switches, manifolds and canvas (primarily sun damage). Zebra muscles in my generator was more of an issue than salt. SR does a great job. I would do it again with the right boat
 

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