Looking for some saltwater advice

Old City Andy

New Member
Jan 25, 2020
3
Boat Info
2007 Sea Ray 270 SL-X
2017 Ford F-350 SRW
Engines
496 Mag Bravo III
Hi folks. This is my first post and looking for some guidance. I’ve owned my SL-X since new (2007) and had it in fresh water lakes in Maine until 2013 until I moved to FL - now use it on the salty intercoastal. The engine only has 225 hours on it but had to sink a ton of $ into it since getting to FL (trailer sunk it shortly after the move to FL and just recently had to replace the outdrive).

Just bought a new trailer and will trailer it going forward but will likely leave it in the water a few times this spring/summer at a local marina just for the weekend. Will leaving it in salt water for those few days at-a-time (then flushing/rinsing at the end of the weekend) cause me issues? In other words, I’m trying to decide if the convenience of leaving it in the water will be worth the damage and additional cost it may cause. Or do I bite the bullet and pull it every time after use. Thoughts?

Long term plan is to get an outboard but that’s down the line a bit.
 
Hi folks. This is my first post and looking for some guidance. I’ve owned my SL-X since new (2007) and had it in fresh water lakes in Maine until 2013 until I moved to FL - now use it on the salty intercoastal. The engine only has 225 hours on it but had to sink a ton of $ into it since getting to FL (trailer sunk it shortly after the move to FL and just recently had to replace the outdrive).

Just bought a new trailer and will trailer it going forward but will likely leave it in the water a few times this spring/summer at a local marina just for the weekend. Will leaving it in salt water for those few days at-a-time (then flushing/rinsing at the end of the weekend) cause me issues? In other words, I’m trying to decide if the convenience of leaving it in the water will be worth the damage and additional cost it may cause. Or do I bite the bullet and pull it every time after use. Thoughts?

Long term plan is to get an outboard but that’s down the line a bit.
You do know that that you're supposed to take the boat OFF the trailer once it goes in the water, right? :) Sorry, couldn't resist. With the way you worded that, it sounded like you were driving the boat around with the trailer still attached!

As far as your actual question... You'll be totally fine with what you're planning on doing. A few days here or there - even a week - is not enough time to warrant doing anything drastic. Just keep up on some simple maintenance items...

-- Replace anodes when they are half worn. Make sure you are using good quality aluminum anodes... the Merc brand is Al, by the way
-- Touch up (paint) any bare spots on the drive with primer/paint
-- Flush when you take the boat out
-- Wash the boat regularly - rinse the engine bay, too. Consider spraying engine components with something like CRC 6-56, Boeshield, or similar.

Do those simple things and have fun boating in big water!
 
If you flush with fresh water each time right after pulling it out you should have no issues. You can treat with different salt neutralizing products for extra protection as well. I would not worry about leaving it in the salt water for a few days at a time.
Carpe Diem
 
Thanks for your reply guys! I feel much more confident. I really appreciate it. And yes, I’m a dumb-a- - leaving the plug in over the off-season when my boat was on the trailer (I.e. trailer sinking it..)
 
When I would take my sterndrive to salt water I would flush it every time I used it. Most docks have fresh water available. Raise the outdrive, put the muff adapters (connected to fresh water) on the sterndrive water inlets, lower the outdrive, turn on the fresh water, and start the engine. Even though the outdrive is in salt water it will be sucking in the fresh water. It's probably overkill if its only going to be a couple of days but it definitely won't hurt anything.
 
Coming from a fresh water environment, do you have the correct anodes for salt water conditions?
https://citimarinestore.com/citiguide/when-to-use-zinc-anodes-over-aluminum-anodes-on-a-boat/
That is a great question. Since I don’t know exactly what anodes are, I have no idea. With in the last 4 months I had Marine Max replace the entire outdrive with a brand new one AND just got it back from them for an annual servicing (which wasn’t cheap). They know I use it in saltwater so would it be safe to assume they would check/advise? They did a full inspection and they suggested I replace the risers and manifolds at the end of this upcoming season. They like my money so I would like to think they’d check the anodes too. Am I being too trusting?
 
Are you too trusting? Maybe so, but that is just me. I have always done my own mechanical work, so I trust nobody in this regard. I have both seen and heard of many horror stories over the years where trusting souls such as yourself have been duped. If they have overlooked something or took a shortcut that ends up costing you big boat bucks down the road, will they be there to make it right?
 
"Most likely" they used Merc parts, which as I mentioned above, will be aluminum - so you'll be good. But, it doesn't hurt to ask them, just to be sure.
 
I always enjoy these questions. When you take your boat out, look around. You see all of those thousands of boats in the water around you? That should answer your question on whether or not its OK to leave it in the water. You are doing the right thing by asking how to maintain a boat in salt water.

Follow the steps given you here and enjoy the water, scenery and your boat.
 
You will also need to adjust your maintenance schedule for your manifolds and risers for salt water use. If you flush regularly you will extend there lives but not as much as fresh water only usage.

-Kevin
 
If the OP is really concerned the solution is pretty simple. A anode set for a B3 costs about $45.00 and takes about half an hour to self install. If you don’t know what was installed, just replace it with something you know is correct. It may be worth it in just the peace of mind.

If the Sterndrive hasn’t been coated with anti fouling in the past (as would be typical fresh water use) put a good coating of Trilux on it. Warm temperature salt water accelerates both biological growth and corrosion.

A final comment on manifolds, since this is a $5000ish job for a single 496, make sure its a case of “you need to do it”, vs “we think it’s time to do it”. Also it wasn’t clear if those recommend doing it were in Maine, or Florida. The rate of metal deterioration would be faster down south, vs Maine. So the presumption of wear based on age would be greater from someone with Florida experience.
 
I would not assume Marine Max installed the anodes. Too easy to just look and confirm. A simple oversight could cause damage. I repainted an alpha one drive on my old boat, took it to Destin and stayed one night in the water on the bay. I didn’t have any anodes since the new ones I ordered had not arrived yet. I knew it was just one night, so no big deal.

I pulled the boat the next day and saw little growths of corrosion around the edge between the prop and housing. Just 24 hours without anodes on a freshly painted drive and the corrosion had already started. No damage, but I learned a good lesson.
 
Juuuust make sure your bilge pump(s) work and that there’s a float and that it actually starts your bilge pump if water level (rain storm) goes up inside your bilge.
Make sure your battery has enough juice to run your bilges.
 

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