Saltwater with inboard

G

Gail

New Member
Jul 29, 2019
6
Boat Info
sea ray 2004 185 sport
Engines
4.3l
I have a 2004 Searay 185 sport. I run it in fresh water and saltwater. My question is what are the effects of the saltwater. I flush after every use with salt away and wash the boat. The engine has about 50 hours on the lower but all the comp. were transfer because the last owner cracked the block because he did not winterize it and had to change the lower.
 
If you are flushing with Salt Away each time you run in salt then the "effects" of the salt water will be near zero. Don't over think it. Use the boat and maintain it. You sound like a responsible owner and the type that most of us would like to buy a used boat from.
 
Gail said:
I have a 2004 Searay 185 sport. I run it in fresh water and saltwater. My question is what are the effects of the saltwater. I flush after every use with salt away and wash the boat. The engine has about 50 hours on the lower but all the comp. were transfer because the last owner cracked the block because he did not winterize it and had to change the lower.
Click to expand...
Title is saltwater with inboard.
The previous owner cracked block from bad winterize, on an inboard and had to change the lower? What is this ‘lower’ you speak of?
 
Pirate Lady said:
Title is saltwater with inboard.
The previous owner cracked block from bad winterize, on an inboard and had to change the lower? What is this ‘lower’ you speak of?
Click to expand...

I am guessing the OP is referring to a I/O. The Sport 185 came in two configs that year I/O and O/B.

-Kevin
 
Gail said:
I have a 2004 Searay 185 sport. I run it in fresh water and saltwater. My question is what are the effects of the saltwater. I flush after every use with salt away and wash the boat. The engine has about 50 hours on the lower but all the comp. were transfer because the last owner cracked the block because he did not winterize it and had to change the lower.
Click to expand...

Is this on a trailer or wet slip? If kept in a slip the anodes will need to be spec'd for the type of water (fresh or salt) where you keep it. Since your flushing each time it will help to reduce the affects of the salt but it will not completely negate it.

Depending upon the amount of time you spend in the salt you may want to accelerate the inspection and maintenance of you manifolds, risers and elbows compared to fresh water only.

-Kevin
 
Gail said:
I have a 2004 Searay 185 sport. I run it in fresh water and saltwater. My question is what are the effects of the saltwater. I flush after every use with salt away and wash the boat. The engine has about 50 hours on the lower but all the comp. were transfer because the last owner cracked the block because he did not winterize it and had to change the lower.
Click to expand...
Well cared for saltwater boats last as long as you do the things you are doing. However, the salt eventually creates corrosion issues with the stainless, the wiring, linkages and you just have to replace things that corrode. These are mostly appearance items, but eventually linkages get sticky, wires short out manifolds rust and need attention.
 
Thank you for the inputs. I will inspect everything more.

gail
 
KevinC said:
Is this on a trailer or wet slip? If kept in a slip the anodes will need to be spec'd for the type of water (fresh or salt) where you keep it. Since your flushing each time it will help to reduce the affects of the salt but it will not completely negate it.

Depending upon the amount of time you spend in the salt you may want to accelerate the inspection and maintenance of you manifolds, risers and elbows compared to fresh water only.

-Kevin
Click to expand...
Kevin

Thank you for the ideas . I will increase my inspections.

Gail
 
Gail, might i make a suggestion. If you have an outdrive, every 2 years at least, have a professional pull it to check all the parts you cant see and prolly don’t know if they are looking bad.
 
Gail said:
Thank you for the inputs. I will inspect everything more.

gail
Click to expand...

Youll be changing your riser and manifold more often in salt for sure.

Do not underestimate salt corrosion. It’s not only in the water you run in, it’s in the air, humidity, beach sand.

Coat the entire engine and connections with a quality anti-corrosive.

Coat all your metals, bow rail etc w wax or your preferred product.

Make sure you don’t spring a leak in the outdrive as salt will destroy the internals eventually.

You have to be far more diligent.
 
Pirate Lady said:
Title is saltwater with inboard.
The previous owner cracked block from bad winterize, on an inboard and had to change the lower? What is this ‘lower’ you speak of?
Click to expand...
Hello
The lower is the block only all the other item IE heads ,manifold etc was the same

Gail
 
KevinC said:
Is this on a trailer or wet slip? If kept in a slip the anodes will need to be spec'd for the type of water (fresh or salt) where you keep it. Since your flushing each time it will help to reduce the affects of the salt but it will not completely negate it.

Depending upon the amount of time you spend in the salt you may want to accelerate the inspection and maintenance of you manifolds, risers and elbows compared to fresh water only.

-Kevin
Click to expand...
Sorry for late reply the boat is trailered in the sale for 4 hours 2 times monthly
 
This was a very informative thread as I'm planning on getting salty with my 2014 190 this summer. Sterndrive obviously. Merc 4.3 MPI. 160 hours, all freshwater.

Not to hijack the thread, but is there anything I should be doing beyond flush/wash if I am putting her in the ocean for 2 weeks (moored for the duration, then back to our slip at the lake)...?

I understand simply putting it in some salty water will mean a hit to resale value on a boat like this (when I sell in a few years), but... whatever. I live 100m from the ocean and the PNW coast is pretty rad in the summer, why wouldn't I?

My 'boat guy' will meet me at the ramp when we take it out of the ocean to help with the flush this first time (it's also my 1st boat), but I hope to take on more of the maintenance/upkeep myself (or at least know what needs doing so I can pay to have it done haha).

Thanks in advance for any tips/suggestions
 
burgleshams said:
This was a very informative thread as I'm planning on getting salty with my 2014 190 this summer. Sterndrive obviously. Merc 4.3 MPI. 160 hours, all freshwater.

Not to hijack the thread, but is there anything I should be doing beyond flush/wash if I am putting her in the ocean for 2 weeks (moored for the duration, then back to our slip at the lake)...?

I understand simply putting it in some salty water will mean a hit to resale value on a boat like this (when I sell in a few years), but... whatever. I live 100m from the ocean and the PNW coast is pretty rad in the summer, why wouldn't I?

My 'boat guy' will meet me at the ramp when we take it out of the ocean to help with the flush this first time (it's also my 1st boat), but I hope to take on more of the maintenance/upkeep myself (or at least know what needs doing so I can pay to have it done haha).

Thanks in advance for any tips/suggestions
Click to expand...

Do you have bottom paint on that hull? 2 weeks could allow growth on the Hull and the outdrive. Also make sure you have proper anodes in all places.
Check bilge pump(s), make sure your batteries are fully charged in case of rain and bilge pumps killing batteries then sinking the boat. Good water proof cover.

I wouldn’t do it.
 
You’ll be fine, don’t worry about it.
82727121-5C33-448B-B3CD-44D6C149E4EB.jpeg
 
burgleshams said:
This was a very informative thread as I'm planning on getting salty with my 2014 190 this summer. Sterndrive obviously. Merc 4.3 MPI. 160 hours, all freshwater.

Not to hijack the thread, but is there anything I should be doing beyond flush/wash if I am putting her in the ocean for 2 weeks (moored for the duration, then back to our slip at the lake)...?

I understand simply putting it in some salty water will mean a hit to resale value on a boat like this (when I sell in a few years), but... whatever. I live 100m from the ocean and the PNW coast is pretty rad in the summer, why wouldn't I?

My 'boat guy' will meet me at the ramp when we take it out of the ocean to help with the flush this first time (it's also my 1st boat), but I hope to take on more of the maintenance/upkeep myself (or at least know what needs doing so I can pay to have it done haha).

Thanks in advance for any tips/suggestions
Click to expand...
There's a number of reasons why this won't be a problem for you, even without bottom paint, to use it in salt for a couple weeks.

1) The colder the water is, the less active it is in terms of how fast things grow.
2) It's not just going to be "sitting" in the water - you'll be using it - which means less growth
3) I routinely put bare-bottomed boats in salt water up on the coast of Maine for 2 or 3 weeks at a time. The worst I've ever seen after a few weeks is a bit of a scum line.
4) Any growth you "might" get would a tiny, tiny amount of soft growth - easily comes off.

Go for it and have fun! Rinse well when you're done, that's all.
 
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