HELP..! Concerns About Buying A Saltwater Boat

[DennisBadame]

I am considering buying a 1999 Sea Ray 210 with a 5.7L Merc EFI on it. It has been a saltwater boat slipped for 3-4 months each year for about 7-8 of the last 10 years (Atlantic Ocean/New Jersey). Approximately 450 hours. Boat is immaculate other than some pitting on the Bimini struts. Boat appears to have been well maintained with the bottom and outdrive painted etc. I am a freshwater boater (Great Lakes). What are the things I need to do to overhaul such a motor & outdrive to ensure the negative effects of the saltwater (if any) are fixed and the IO is restored? What items would you check, what would you look for and what would you just routinely replace regardless? What are the approximate costs involved both for parts and for labor to do the work? Want to know before I decide to buy it.
Thanks, Dennis (Buffalo, NY)

 

[Hampton]

Have it inspected by a qualified surveyor for both hull and drive train. Probably BIII stern drive - not great for salt water - have a certified Merc mechanic check it out. There aren't any hidden issues - check for exhaust manifold corrosion. Check for water flow using a heat sensor for even flow (surveyor). Just have it checked out, then go boating. Change the raw water pump impeller right away unless you have a receipt saying it's been done in the last 2 years or 100 hours or so. Surveyors could cost $500 (wag), but could save THOUSANDS.

 

[Bill Z]

I have several friends who have purchased salt water boats and brought them to fresh water. Nothing but issues. It's like taking a woman from Hawaii to Alaska to raise a family ! Check into grey water system. If is not in place it will cost you some money.

 

[capecodcruiser]

I have several friends who have purchased salt water boats and brought them to fresh water. Nothing but issues. It's like taking a woman from Hawaii to Alaska to raise a family ! Check into grey water system. If is not in place it will cost you some money.

I always find these type of responses to this question interesting. So the thousands of SeaRays/boats that are in saltwater have 'constant issues"?? I dont' think so. Yes, it has a different set of challenges, but by no means anything to worry about. Just get the boat, whether salt or not, checked out and make a informed decision. Don't let the saltwater issue sway you.

 

[stuckinforward]

from the past, 2002 chris, 5.7, from florida, brought to Ohio. with flush kits im told used religously...paper thin manifolds and block, water leaked past the joints and down in, replaced engine, manifolds

 

[midway]

from the past, 2002 chris, 5.7, from florida, brought to Ohio. with flush kits im told used religously...paper thin manifolds and block, water leaked past the joints and down in, replaced engine, manifolds

Sounds like it was not flushed at all. My first boat, saltwater only use, in on most Fridays and out on Sunday, flushed when it came out, still running fine when I bought my current boat, manifold was not changed untill about 15 years old.

 

[Fishnut]

With that many hours hopefully the manifolds have been changed out at least once maybe twice. Run a compression test. Do what Hampton said.

Really, there are alot of maintenance issues in saltwater that you don't have in freshwater. I would think in this market you could find a good price on a freshwater boat and save yourself some grief.

 

[Larry&Leisa]

My '94 370 has been a saltwater boat for the majority of its life. 800 hours on the engines and I'm approaching 1000 now. No different issues than what my slip neighbors have that have been strictly freshwater. As the others said, do your due diligence.

 

[Presentation]

...I would think in this market you could find a good price on a freshwater boat and save yourself some grief....

Excellent point.

 

[Nehalennia]

Real men have boats that are or have been in saltwater, just have it surveyed including mechanically.

 

[HUMPH]

All areas have maintenance concerns. I boat mostly in the Scaramento Delta and have lots of silt to deal with. It's like sandpaper in the water pumps. It actually wears the impellers faster than salt water so I hear. If properly maintained and NO OUTDRIVES a salt water boat should be fine, just more rust spots to deal with and scrubbing to do.

 

[Bill Z]

Good Luck !
Stuckinforward raises some issues but I have heard a host of others. I am not saying that staying in salt water is an issue but for some reason crossing to fresh is problematic. Personally if you will be in fresh buy in fresh and normally I would say if you will be in salt buy in salt but it does't work that way. Inspect and survey and survey more.

 

[tdappleman]

It has been said here before but I think it bears repeating. A properly maintained salt water boat will require more maintenance than a fresh water boat. If that maintenance has been performed then you will most likely end up with a fantastic boat to enjoy. A fresh water boat can require less maintenance and as a result some owners will neglect basic things and the end result will be a boat is worse overall condition than the salt water boat. If the boat looks good cosmetically - with the exception of some minor corrosion on the bimini poles then you probably have a good candidate to get surveyed and consider for purchase. Good luck!

 

[370Dancer]

Fresh water rots wood, and salt water rots steel. figure out which one the boat has more of that was exposed to those elements, and let your surveyor be your guide.

My salt water boat has had many more rain water issues than salt water issues after 7 years of round the clock in the slip.

The biggest salt water issues creep up when you find a boat that hardly ever got used.