Salted or UnSalted?

scoflaw said:
So your going to buy a new boat and run it in salt water. Wouldn't that make it a used salt water boat after the first trip?
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I understand you’re limited reading comprehension and avoidance of the context of the OP. So I’ll put it in a 4th grade level for ya.

Used boats. ( read not new)
From salt water use.
No bueno. ( that means no good)

In context of the OP, I would not buy a used salt water boat.

I would buy a new boat and use it in salt.

The reason is because it’s not “ used”.

Making sense to you?
Comprende?
Capisce?

Try not being such a d@&$ all the time. I know that’s a challenge for you but this is a boat forum, you can at least try a little.
 
Steve in Minneapolis said:
I haven't decided, but wanted to get some opinions. My concerns were about corrosion you can't see causing issues, like someone mentioned on wiring, and corrosion you can see, which will appear when I have a survey done. Rust that comes from salt would be visible later, so when I eventually sell, it will be known, if that's the case.

If that truly affects value, and it will be obvious later, then I need to negotiate the right way up front. I have seen the boat, and it looks and runs as expected. What I still need to do is ask him about it, and look a little more closely to see if there are any obvious signs. I'll report back when that happens in a day or two.
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Corrosion in wiring? Unless the boat has been sunk, or someone has had twenty years to Mickey Mouse repair, that’s not even a remote concern. A 2018 with one winter season in FL is nothing serious unless the boat has been visibly abused.

Look you’re finding monsters under the bed
 
Steve in Minneapolis said:
My dealer told me that if the boat has been run in salt water, it decreases the value by at least 20%, even if the boat is clean. It sounds like you all are agreeing... so if the boat has been run in salt water, I think I'm running away from the deal, no matter how good. I am not into boating for the hassles... there are enough of those with a good boat!
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I don’t think anyone can put a blanket deprecated value on all boats like that but I know that boats from salt are lower valued.

The reason is obvious. Yes, boats are all over the place and running fine in salt water. But, everything corrodes much faster.

Risers and manifolds average 4-5 years till replacement even when flushed. Oh, btw, in freshwater I never had to flush my engines. In salt it’s done as normal maintenance each time you run it.
Hardware, finish, canvas, vinyl, all metals, electronics, electrical connections. They all will corrode much faster.
I just sold a 1970 SR. It was 100% freshwater. Original engine, drive, riser, instruments, Gelcoat like new. No rust.

The maintenance required w saltwater boats is much more costly especially IO’s.

I’ve done both. No comparison.

One season or vacation in salt when otherwise freshwater shouldn’t be a problem but I’d check everything.

Lastly, most people that get offended or cop an attitude when this topic arises are projecting their own frustrations because they know it’s true and it threatens their superiority complex.
 
Your out there El Cap. Your right my superiority has been threatened. Bud, do what you do best, make up some bed time stories about Covid for us. Ha
 
Thanks, El Capitan! Well thought out response, and I think you're right about the attitudes. I'm not stupid... but some of these answers are pretty condescending.

I appreciate everyone's input.
 
I would never buy a boat from way up north if it was not in heated storage and fresh water boats have electrical corrosion.
 
Steve in Minneapolis said:
Thanks, El Capitan! Well thought out response, and I think you're right about the attitudes. I'm not stupid... but some of these answers are pretty condescending.

I appreciate everyone's input.
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No one other than captain clown has been condescending. I would say though you appear less interested in our help and more interested in having your own preconceived notion validated.
 
Henry, I don’t have a preconceived notion about it. I came here to ask opinions and learn. I have not decided up what I’m doing yet until I can talk to the owner and look more closely. I was hoping to know something more before I have the conversation with him.

I think “look at the monsters under the bed” is kind of condescending. You are trying to say I’m stupid.
 
Steve in Minneapolis said:
Henry, I don’t have a preconceived notion about it. I came here to ask opinions and learn. I have not decided up what I’m doing yet until I can talk to the owner and look more closely. I was hoping to know something more before I have the conversation with him.

I think “look at the monsters under the bed” is kind of condescending. You are trying to say I’m stupid.
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No, I was saying you were using a nonsensical condition as part of the basis in making a multi thousand dollar decision. That was in part no doubt because you were relying on the advice of people whose ocean boating experience and experience maintaining ocean going boats is mostly hearsay, or an occasional holiday trip to the islands.

Is what they are saying wrong? Not completely, because over a long time salt water use is hard on a boat. Is a few weeks in the winter in Florida going to cause any significant problems? Unless the boat shows signs of obvious abuse, no. If the boat shows signs of abuse, that was probably going to happen regardless of location and that boat you should walk away from regardless of where it spent last winter.
 
Steve, it's a very common argument that people that live and boat on inland lakes and rivers think that boats that have been used in the oceans are shit. I'll give you this argument. Boat manufacturers, as well as the manufacturers of the components that make up the boats, mostly build for the harshest environment. If they didn't they would have to build a fresh water model and a salt water model. Yes, some manufacturers of boats and components are better than others. Are freshwater boats better valued that boats in an ocean environment? Unfortunately, yes. However....

I've owned a lot of boats over my 55 years of boating and I've seen some pretty rough, poorly maintained fresh water boats that I wouldn't buy at any price. And conversely I've seen some very nice, very well maintained salt water boats....as all of mine have been. Sure, the environment has some effect on the condition of a boat but how said boat was maintained is much more important. Boats don't just dissolve in the ocean. My last boat was a 1984 52' Cockpit Motor Yacht that was built in Taiwan, and lived it's entire life on the west coast....in the ocean The Cat diesels were in excellent condition as was the boat when I purchased it. The heat exchangers needed attention on all 3 motors but that was to be expected on a 25 year old (when I bought it) boat and that was the most serious issue. None of the other issues found in survey were a result of living in a salt water environment.

You said the boat you're looking at did not have bottom paint. If that is the case the boat, and more importantly, the drives, did not sit in the water. If you've ever seen a boat that sat in salt water for just a month without bottom paint you would understand what I'm talking about. You said you were having the boat surveyed which is very smart. But make sure the surveyor is reputable. Ask for references and contact them. Make sure his experience is in surveying boats in a salt environment. I didn't see anywhere the number of hours on the engine(s). That is also important as to the amount of time actually spent in the ocean.

As you can see this is, and always has been, a heated debate. There are those misguided souls like the good Captain that feel every boat operated in the ocean is disintegrating before his eyes and that is his opinion and doubtful it will ever change. But there are just as many, or maybe more of us that feel a properly maintained salt water boat will be fine and last for many more years assuming the great maintenance is continued. Personally, I've always felt lake boating to be boring. I mean really, all you can do is go around in a circle, right? Sure some circles are bigger than others. But us ocean boaters can go anywhere we want limited only by fuel range and there is usually another fuel stop up ahead.

Go look at the boat. If you like what you see visually, have it surveyed. If all is well buy the boat and go around in your circles. I feel you are over-thinking this and you are probably going to talk yourself out of a good boat....for the wrong reason. Best of luck.
Shawn
 
NorCal Boater said:
Steve, it's a very common argument that people that live and boat on inland lakes and rivers think that boats that have been used in the oceans are shit. I'll give you this argument. Boat manufacturers, as well as the manufacturers of the components that make up the boats, mostly build for the harshest environment. If they didn't they would have to build a fresh water model and a salt water model. Yes, some manufacturers of boats and components are better than others. Are freshwater boats better valued that boats in an ocean environment? Unfortunately, yes. However....

I've owned a lot of boats over my 55 years of boating and I've seen some pretty rough, poorly maintained fresh water boats that I wouldn't buy at any price. And conversely I've seen some very nice, very well maintained salt water boats....as all of mine have been. Sure, the environment has some effect on the condition of a boat but how said boat was maintained is much more important. Boats don't just dissolve in the ocean. My last boat was a 1984 52' Cockpit Motor Yacht that was built in Taiwan, and lived it's entire life on the west coast....in the ocean The Cat diesels were in excellent condition as was the boat when I purchased it. The heat exchangers needed attention on all 3 motors but that was to be expected on a 25 year old (when I bought it) boat and that was the most serious issue. None of the other issues found in survey were a result of living in a salt water environment.

You said the boat you're looking at did not have bottom paint. If that is the case the boat, and more importantly, the drives, did not sit in the water. If you've ever seen a boat that sat in salt water for just a month without bottom paint you would understand what I'm talking about. You said you were having the boat surveyed which is very smart. But make sure the surveyor is reputable. Ask for references and contact them. Make sure his experience is in surveying boats in a salt environment. I didn't see anywhere the number of hours on the engine(s). That is also important as to the amount of time actually spent in the ocean.

As you can see this is, and always has been, a heated debate. There are those misguided souls like the good Captain that feel every boat operated in the ocean is disintegrating before his eyes and that is his opinion and doubtful it will ever change. But there are just as many, or maybe more of us that feel a properly maintained salt water boat will be fine and last for many more years assuming the great maintenance is continued. Personally, I've always felt lake boating to be boring. I mean really, all you can do is go around in a circle, right? Sure some circles are bigger than others. But us ocean boaters can go anywhere we want limited only by fuel range and there is usually another fuel stop up ahead.

Go look at the boat. If you like what you see visually, have it surveyed. If all is well buy the boat and go around in your circles. I feel you are over-thinking this and you are probably going to talk yourself out of a good boat....for the wrong reason. Best of luck.
Shawn
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very well said. Agree 100%
 
The fact the salesman told you that ..says there is a stigma with salt boats when coming from freshwater people. How it was maintained is irrelevant...it still has salt water stigma ...any boat poorly maintained don’t buy it or pay what it’s worth to you
The problem I see all the time with guys bringing up saltwater boats into the Great Lakes is when it comes time to sell people shy away from salt boats just based on that... right or wrong you lose a portion of your potential buyers..... not unlike you right now.
Just be aware of that when it comes time to sell
 
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Blueone said:
The fact the salesman told you that ..says there is a stigma with salt boats when coming from freshwater people. How it was maintained is irrelevant...it still has salt water stigma ...any boat poorly maintained don’t buy it or pay what it’s worth to you
The problem I see all the time with guys bringing up saltwater boats into the Great Lakes is when it comes time to sell people shy away from salt boats just based on that... right or wrong you lose a portion of your potential buyers..... not unlike you right now.
Just be aware of that when it comes time to sell
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Picture 004.jpg

This is precisely the situation we encountered when selling our 32 Open. There were about 6 of them for sale in the US when ours hit the market, just 2 in Michigan. Both were priced comparably. The buyer of our boat had looked at the one that was for sale in northern Michigan and wanted to have a look at ours before he made the decision. He spent two hours going through our boat boat and put a deposit down and signed a contract. His reason was the northern Michigan boat had spent a brief period of time in the Atlantic ocean. The telltale signs of light blue bronze in the bilge was enough to steer him our way. The salt water boat remained on the market for months and ours sold at a premium (higher than salt water diesel powered 32 opens) to the first prospect who looked at it while it was still laid up. I just spoke with the buyer the other day. Loves the boat and all the original equipment still works and looks like new. Pretty good for a 2004 boat.
 
sbw1 said:
View attachment 89014
This is precisely the situation we encountered when selling our 32 Open. There were about 6 of them for sale in the US when ours hit the market, just 2 in Michigan. Both were priced comparably. The buyer of our boat had looked at the one that was for sale in northern Michigan and wanted to have a look at ours before he made the decision. He spent two hours going through our boat boat and put a deposit down and signed a contract. His reason was the northern Michigan boat had spent a brief period of time in the Atlantic ocean. The telltale signs of light blue bronze in the bilge was enough to steer him our way. The salt water boat remained on the market for months and ours sold at a premium (higher than salt water diesel powered 32 opens) to the first prospect who looked at it while it was still laid up. I just spoke with the buyer the other day. Loves the boat and all the original equipment still works and looks like new. Pretty good for a 2004 boat.
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None of us are debating boats used in salt water for a significant period of their lives show more wear. However, to automatically sight unseen condemn a boat because it spent a winter in Florida is kind of over the top.

As for your example, having read your posts over the years, my money on your 32 selling at a premium had more to do with how you kept it up than where you kept it. Likewise, patina on the bronze is hardly the sign of excessive wear and corrosion.
 
Henry Boyd said:
None of us are debating boats used in salt water for a significant period of their lives show more wear. However, to automatically sight unseen condemn a boat because it spent a winter in Florida is kind of over the top.

As for your example, having read your posts over the years, my money on your 32 selling at a premium had more to do with how you kept it up than where you kept it. Likewise, patina on the bronze is hardly the sign of excessive wear and corrosion.
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I think you missed the point.... freshwater people inherently think salt water boats are bad no matter the duration they spent in salt. you are trying to convince that group other wise.... You won’t succeed
 
Henry Boyd said:
None of us are debating boats used in salt water for a significant period of their lives show more wear. However, to automatically sight unseen condemn a boat because it spent a winter in Florida is kind of over the top.

As for your example, having read your posts over the years, my money on your 32 selling at a premium had more to do with how you kept it up than where you kept it. Likewise, patina on the bronze is hardly the sign of excessive wear and corrosion.
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keywest200406.jpg

i was speaking to the stigma issue raised by Blueone. Excessive wear and corrosion were not mentioned nor implied, and I agree blue bronze does not mean the boat has these issues. It does indicate the boat has been operated in salt water.
BTW, i had a 23 foot Thunderbird (Now Formula) years ago that was a salt water boat formerly owned by a friend who was meticulous with maintenance. I ran it when it was just two years old. It was that experience that has me steering clear of salt water boats. The issues were mostly cosmetic with pitting of rails and the like. However, the panel experienced corrosion of the terminals that required expensive repairs. The shifting linkages had problems as well. The salt air was reportedly the cause and I'm sure builds have improved since 1977 so maybe corrosion is less of an issue today. Was a great boat in terms of performance, but correcting the issues related to two years in Ft. Lauderdale was an expensive hassle. The friend who had extensive experience with boats told me the first thing he wants to know when buying a boat was whether or not it had been run in salt water. He kept his fresh water boats and his salt water boats separate, each in their own environments.
 
Blueone said:
I think you missed the point.... freshwater people inherently think salt water boats are bad no matter the duration they spent in salt. you are trying to convince that group other wise.... You won’t succeed
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I won't argue that, and I'm not. The point that you're missing is that a winter vacation of rack, or trailer storage, does not make a boat a "salt water boat". In fact one could argue that a winter of outside storage with a poor winterization and shrink wrap job in Minnesota could do more permanent damage.

The OP did not even know this until the broker told him. As related in the post the broker did not even state the boat had wintered in FL, just that he "thinks it did". Personally, reading all the reactions makes me think no salesman in his right mind would tank a sale as throughly as this guy is doing. Makes me wonder if the broker has a higher offer from somebody else, or has another boat he'd rather the OP buy.

Well I'm off to spend the rest of the day on my throughly ocean going boat. Better get a move on, its evaporating as we speak.
 
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