Fresh Water to Salt Water

[Yzfspike]

The boat is on the hard tucked away from the weather for the next few months. Time to start thinking about upgrades and general maintenance that can be done.

The plan is eventually to head south one day inevitably ending somewhere in a salt water environment. All my boats have only seen a freshwater environment. Given this, what are some of the things to think about from a maintenance standpoint? Is there something I could do now? Additions that would make things easier to maintain both mechanically and visually?

A few simple things like zincs come to mind. Replacement at least every 6 months seems to be the correct interval. Cleaning heat exchangers / fuel coolers would likely be required more often. Would that be a sound assumption?

How about exterior? Canvass? Stainless? Bottom anti fouling system?

Probably a long list of items to ponder, but I have about 5 months until I splash again!

 

[Alex F]

IMO, if you're doing all regular maintenance by the book, then your list should be short. When I moved from brackish water to salt, I didn't have to change much at all.

You've mentioned the obvious items, so I'll add one or two:

Zincs - Yes, you'll see them last much less. But, monitoring closely will get you on a new and easy schedule. Some will last 1yr, some 6 months and some around 3 months.

Bottom paint - This of course very much depends on what you're using now. If something special geared toward fresh water, then expect this to be your greatest expanse.

SS - just more frequent polish and wax will take care of it.

Gelcoat - salt will affect it to a degree, but mostly extra exposure to the sun. So, having more frequent polishing and waxing will be needed.

Canvas - I'd say that zippers will be mostly the things to worry about, as they will develop rust quicker than what you're used to seeing.

Engine room environment - keeping it as dry and moisture free as possible is the ultimate goal. This thread will help as well: http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/19896-Engine-Room-Condensation

 

[fwebster]

You will find the freshwater slime/algae kills the ability of bottom paint to repel hard growt like barnacles, sea potatoes, worms, etc. YOu might pressure wash before your trip south, but within a few days of arriving, you probably need to haul out and do a full bottom job.

Sun is far harder on the boat......i.e. gelcoat, canvas, & vinyl....than salt exposure. Your wax/polish routine will need to be accelerated. I'm in NW Fla and we wax the boat 3-4 times per year and I am under a covered slip. Most zippers these days are nylon, so as long as you don't let salt accumulate, they shouldn't be an issue. The thread on the canvas is the real issuefor the top/curtains. The sun/UV tend to accelerate the threads natual weathering and rotting. Most southern boaters who get a normal life out of their canvas usually remove the tips and side panels and have them restitched every 2-3 years.

With Cummins engines, plan on having your cooling systems and after coolers cleaned every other year.

Other than that, wash the boat down (hull and topsides) after every use and have fun in the sun...........