Question about Factory Installed freshwater cooling

[fiveaboard]

Hi, I am so happy to be posting my first post here. I have been following along as a visitor for months but now I finally have a Sea Ray under agreement. We are planning to purchase a 2008 barely used 280 Sundancer. It has twin 4.3 mercs with Alpha 1 drives. When I went to sign up for our slip a man at the marina told me to make sure it isn't affected by the Sea Ray - Mercruiser discrepancy over the fresh water cooling system. There is a probelm with some * (he didn[t know which year and models)the 2 companies are pointing fingers at each other leaving the consumer in left field. Because my boat is so young, I was given the original sales slip which lists a C530 option: Freshwater cooling Twin Stern Drive $4833.00. Does anyone know if this is the problem option? My boat was surveyed with favorable results but there was some crystalized salt in the bilge room. Now I am wondering if this finding is related. The boat has only been in the water since July, 09 and has 30 hours on it.:smt101

 

[JV II]

I'm not sure I've ever heard of any problem. If you have a fresh water cooling system on your invoice, then there is no problem. Just make sure its on the engines. Maybe the discrepancy he speaks about is between a stock Mercruiser FWC and an add-on FWC. Either one is fine in a Sea Ray. I had the option on my 290. The salt in the ER is not unusual in that salt is everywhere on a boat. When you back flush the strainers, salt water goes into your bilge.

 

[skibum]

The salt probably got in there from wet swimmers getting back on board and dripping all over the deck. My table mount was leaking. It allowed sea water to drip down on top of the engine whenever we were swiming. Check the rubber seal around the hatch lid to make sure that it seals properly, and make sure that the drains for the channel around the hatch are clear.