Got a question for everyone.Are you able to use a freshwater boat motor in saltwater? I was told all you had to do was flush your motor out when your finish.Input needed…
SO FAR SO GOOD
I DO FLUSH THE MOTOR AND RINSE THE OUTSIDE EVERYTIME
1998 MERC
Rinse the boat, motor, and trailer off with fresh water after taking out and flush the engine with fresh water and you should have no problems.
EWC
You gotta love the South Carolina Lowcountry.
I always find a freshwater ramp after wards, dunk the trailer and run the motor for a couple of minutes. That has to be better than just spraying off with a hose as it gets to soak and gets more of the salt out of the nooks and crannies.
I have been using freshwater boats in saltwater for years…like everybody said…flush engine with fresh water after each use and wash/rinse all parts of boat even if you think they haven’t been exposed. Don’t forget trailer either…trailer will get him the hardest…if you are buying, make sure trailer is galvanized or aluminum. Painted trailers will take a beating quick.
one last word…you can wash and rinse religiously after each use in salt, but you will still get corrosion, but you still must to slow down process. Saltwater on vulnerable metals and wiring begins to chemically react immediately.
DON’T FORGET TO WASH RODS AND REELS WELL TOO…after washing reels, make sure to lube accordingly also…
yeah i had a 18ft center console and i sold it and now i just purchased a 14 ft boat and plan on coming to use it in charleston soon…wanted to hear other opinions about that before i tried it,thanks
what are you guys calling a freshwater boat? IMO a freshwater boat is a bass boat. Most motors now a days are all saltwater ready. The reason a bass boat is not good in saltwater is because of its hardware not being stainless steel and the trailer being painted.
From reds to marlin you got it.
2001 210 Sea Fox
2009 Yamaha F150
2010 Skeeter ZX22T
2010 Yamaha VMAX 225
TEAM BOAT
Use Salt-Away for engine flush and trailer wash. Wish I had known about this stuff years ago.
84 18 Privateer
08 Yamaha 90
I have a john boat with a non saltwater yamaha 15. That motor has been through hell and back (and that was just last weekend). Ear muffs seemed like such a hassle on such a small motor so I would just fill up a large trash can with the water hose and run the motor in that for a little while. After 10 years of this practice with absolutley no problems I finally had to replace the water pump, not to bad all things considered.
“If you had to tell someone how good you are, then you probably aren’t that good”
Years ago there was no designation between salt water and fresh water outboards. Then someone came up with the idea and a neat looking decal. At that point it was little more than marketing but it worked well in that respect. Today’s engines are far more resistant to salt corrosion than they’ve ever been no matter what the designation. Bottom line use what you’ve got where you want to use it but accept that salt water is more corrosive and will require more prevention and upkeep.
In the boating industry for over thirty years.
Great post Tom! I agree, use it, but take care of it and it will take care of you!
KNOTHEAD
How old is it?
If it is fairly recent, I agree with all above.
However, if it is older and there are plenty of old mercs still running around on the inland lakes, if you put it in salt water it will dissolve…OK, maybe not dissolve. More like corrode rapidly.
I have a '69 Merc 9.8 that I use in saltwater and the corrosion is unstoppable. I still use it. But, it is getting to be something of a Frankenstein motor as parts fall off and I scrounge something that will work to get it going again.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
1974 chrysler
1974 chrysler.the motor hardly been used.everybody cant believe the new condition look of it.the problem is i havnt put it in saltwater yet.was going to use it for shrimping in a couple more months.wanted to be sure…
Chrysler, quite possibly the finest outboard ever made.
GW 232GT Gulfstream
150Yam x 2
“3rd Day”
Gen. Chap.1 Vs.9-13
well i got a slight problem now if you see my other new post.i think i got a hold of bad gas in the motor now.its in full throttle but moving slow and then cut off…yelp thats my luck.
What Tom said.
Gotcha Covered,
Lee Strickland
Strickland Marine Insurance, Inc.
843-795-1000 / 800-446-1862