Moving to saltwater

M

mtnandy

Member
Nov 24, 2008
125
Smith Mountain Lake VA.
Boat Info
400da sundancer
Engines
Cat 3116 Diesel
I am going to be moving my 400 da with diesels from fresh water to salt water. What are the new maintenance issuses
I should be doing. I know nothing about a boat in saltwater.
 
Nothing really. Just change your magnesium to zinc or aluminium.
 
I am not familiar with the 400 engine cooling system but if it works with raw sea water as cooling directly to the block then you need to adapt a fresh water flush system. I have to do this operation right after a trip so the engine sleeps with fresh water inside.
 
You will need antifouling bottom paint to prevent marine growth. Also as stated, zinc anodes. You probably already have closed cooling on diesels, so a flush is probably not needed.
 
If you do not have anodes (Zinc) on the drive shafts be sure to add some.
 
I do have a closed cooling system.
1. How do you easily flush out the salt water from the complete cooling system so it is not sitting in the pump, heat exchanger and exhaust components.
2. How often do you have to scrap the bottom to keep the barnicals off.
3. Do you pull the boat every year for hull and zinc maintenance.
4. How do you easily flush the HVAC.
 
Thinking of the area around little river a.c..

UOTE=bahamabreisus;922279]Where you moving to. It was the best decision we made.[/QUOTE]
 
Myrtle Beach Yacht Club is in Little River, stayed there a few times. That area is getting to be brackish water, so by the time you get back to the dock you should be fairly well flushed out. We have to have the bottom cleaned every month, but we are in true salt water. I think you will be happy at the coast, so many places to go from there. Southport NC, downtown Wilmington, Bald Head Island, one of our favorites. To the south Charleston etc. Keep us posted.
 
The marina is 3 miles to the open water and right off the waterway. I was thinking it would be more saltwater than brackish but the fact is I know nothing about it . Anyway to find out for sure?


bahamabreisus said:
Myrtle Beach Yacht Club is in Little River, stayed there a few times. That area is getting to be brackish water, so by the time you get back to the dock you should be fairly well flushed out. We have to have the bottom cleaned every month, but we are in true salt water. I think you will be happy at the coast, so many places to go from there. Southport NC, downtown Wilmington, Bald Head Island, one of our favorites. To the south Charleston etc. Keep us posted.
Click to expand...
 
Mtn, you have anodes in your heat exchanger, fuel cooler, tranny cooler. Change these to zinc. External, change your transom diver plate, trim tab, and shaft (if you have them) to zinc anodes as well. You need not worry about salt water sitting in your heat exchanger. Diesel engines are far more designed for saltwater and the components are more thick than gassers. I do not flush my engine and the boat is 17years old and many are older. Enjoy and welcome to the beach.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I would call the marina directly, they should be able tell you. When Larry bought that boat, it came from Florida, may already have all the proper zincs, but would not hurt to change them anyway. What boat did you have before the 400
 
I changed all the anodes for fresh water so I will have to replace them all when it is pulled out . I had a 390 rd and then a 370 that belonged to Bob Sutton. Then I bought Larry's 400.
Chuck still has your 420 but does not take it out much.



bahamabreisus said:
I would call the marina directly, they should be able tell you. When Larry bought that boat, it came from Florida, may already have all the proper zincs, but would not hurt to change them anyway. What boat did you have before the 400[/QUO
Click to expand...
 
I thought you had a 390, did not realize you bought Bobs boat also. That was a beautiful boat too. I still wish I had that 420, it was a great boat, but the boss wanted a 2nd head. Keep us posted if you make the move. We are north of Wrightsville Beach, maybe we can meet up in the middle somewhere. If you need any assistance in the move let me know, I work as a boat broker in Wrightsville, but we have an office at Myrtle Beach YC, transport or good mechanic recommendations.
 
Will do thanks


bahamabreisus said:
I thought you had a 390, did not realize you bought Bobs boat also. That was a beautiful boat too. I still wish I had that 420, it was a great boat, but the boss wanted a 2nd head. Keep us posted if you make the move. We are north of Wrightsville Beach, maybe we can meet up in the middle somewhere. If you need any assistance in the move let me know, I work as a boat broker in Wrightsville, but we have an office at Myrtle Beach YC, transport or good mechanic recommendations.
Click to expand...
 
BUMP - So this is an older thread and just curious if the move was made? If so, what did you wind up having to do to go from fresh to salt? We are contemplating this move....maybe putting the cart before the horse, but would like to get an idea of what we'd be in-store for
 
Not really a big deal. Change your anodes to zinc, bottom paint with an ablative paint to limit marine growth. Flush cooling system on the fall haul.
 
Haven't made the move yet. Keep thinking about all the additional maintenance. Just cleaning the bottom every 3 weeks and the salt air , humidity and corrosion .
 
Swap out all of the anodes to zinc, paint the bottom with ablative paint, use the boat to prevent growth, take 10 minutes to rinse the salt spray off as soon as you get back to the dock every time you go out, and keep up with washing and waxing and you’ll be hard pressed to tell the difference between your boat and a freshwater boat in a few years.
Saltwater and salt air equal a harsher environment and require you to stay a bit more on top of things to keep them in tip top shape, but it is absolutely doable.
 
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