I am going to look at a 30ft Islander Bahama on in Seabrook, TX. I know this lake opens to the gulf and eventially into the bay. I have to assume the boat has been in salt water. I am going to keep what ever boat I buy in an inland lake near Dallas. My question: Do I need to be concerned with taking a boat that has been in saltwater to a fresh water lake? I hope this is not a stupid question. I just want to ensure system will be fine. Thank you for any advise, even if it is to say don't worry. RG
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RG salt to fresh won't be a problem. It
happens all of the time on the Chesapeake Bay. We are on the Susquehanna River which is drinkable fresh water, twenty miles south it is very brackish and by the time you get to Warren's Herrington harbor it is very salt. Folks regularly sail from here to there or from there to here. Comming into fresh water kills the barnicles and going into salt water kills the zebra mussels.
happens all of the time on the Chesapeake Bay. We are on the Susquehanna River which is drinkable fresh water, twenty miles south it is very brackish and by the time you get to Warren's Herrington harbor it is very salt. Folks regularly sail from here to there or from there to here. Comming into fresh water kills the barnicles and going into salt water kills the zebra mussels.
No Problem
Bought an Oday 28 in Conn. on the sound and sailed it up to lake Champlain via the Hudson. The fresh water actually flushes out the cooling system, not only is it not a problem, it is a benefit. Although I no longer own her, the boat is sill at my marina, running great.
Bought an Oday 28 in Conn. on the sound and sailed it up to lake Champlain via the Hudson. The fresh water actually flushes out the cooling system, not only is it not a problem, it is a benefit. Although I no longer own her, the boat is sill at my marina, running great.
What I think
I kept a boat in Seabrook for a little while and, yes, it is salt water. When I shipped the boat back to L. Michigan I was surprised that a lot of my stainless - turnbuckles most notabley, showed the signs of the salt water. The salt will be harder on rigging. It will also be harder on the engines cooling system, as deposits can build up if you are cooling directly from raw water. From my understanding, the heat of the engine casues the salt to deposit inside the water jacket - which is why the old A4s were designed to run at 160 degrees. I did not do anything special to my boat after bringing it up from Seabrook other than clean it real well. she was, though, only down there about 9 months.
I kept a boat in Seabrook for a little while and, yes, it is salt water. When I shipped the boat back to L. Michigan I was surprised that a lot of my stainless - turnbuckles most notabley, showed the signs of the salt water. The salt will be harder on rigging. It will also be harder on the engines cooling system, as deposits can build up if you are cooling directly from raw water. From my understanding, the heat of the engine casues the salt to deposit inside the water jacket - which is why the old A4s were designed to run at 160 degrees. I did not do anything special to my boat after bringing it up from Seabrook other than clean it real well. she was, though, only down there about 9 months.
Higgs
Thanks for the info. My concern was about rigging, bottom, and engine. I know salt water and air is corrosive. I also know things, like people, do not always do well with change. I was afraid taking a boat from salt to fresh may impact the systems. I will have to pay attention to rigging etc, when I look at the boat. Of course, I will get a survey if I am considering an offer.
Thanks for the info. My concern was about rigging, bottom, and engine. I know salt water and air is corrosive. I also know things, like people, do not always do well with change. I was afraid taking a boat from salt to fresh may impact the systems. I will have to pay attention to rigging etc, when I look at the boat. Of course, I will get a survey if I am considering an offer.
Fresh water has some advantages, RG ...
We moved our 27' Starwind from salt water to fresh 3 years ago when we bought her. We have no need for bottom painting yet, what little scum accumulates over the old paint has been easily brushed off. We have no need for zincs. The water that is pumped into the holding tank doesn't stink. The engine loves fresh water intake for cooling. We have no need to wash the salt off at the end of every sail. Fresh water in the bilge is much more pleasant to deal with. I haven't seen a sign of any corrosion in 3 years. We don't feel an urge to shower after going swimming. We can swim without thinking about the man in the grey suit (except that the muskys are getting pretty big from the picture I saw in our marina!). Now if only we didn't have to change directions while sailing every five minutes or so, and if only the wind would be a little more consistent!
We moved our 27' Starwind from salt water to fresh 3 years ago when we bought her. We have no need for bottom painting yet, what little scum accumulates over the old paint has been easily brushed off. We have no need for zincs. The water that is pumped into the holding tank doesn't stink. The engine loves fresh water intake for cooling. We have no need to wash the salt off at the end of every sail. Fresh water in the bilge is much more pleasant to deal with. I haven't seen a sign of any corrosion in 3 years. We don't feel an urge to shower after going swimming. We can swim without thinking about the man in the grey suit (except that the muskys are getting pretty big from the picture I saw in our marina!). Now if only we didn't have to change directions while sailing every five minutes or so, and if only the wind would be a little more consistent!
No Sharks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Besides all that was mentioned here, just think; when you jump off your boat or your dock nothing is going to get you in fresh water besides knocking a carp or bluegill in the head when you touch the water!! I would still have zincs on my propr shaft and engine exchanger in brackish/fresh water. Electrolysis can and will occur. The real negative of fresh water is the prevalence of osmotic blistering due to density variation between the salt and fresh water. A bottom painting is recommended to help seal the bottom, but spending a fortune on certain paints to ward off barnacle growth is not that important. enjoy Bob Catalina 30
Besides all that was mentioned here, just think; when you jump off your boat or your dock nothing is going to get you in fresh water besides knocking a carp or bluegill in the head when you touch the water!! I would still have zincs on my propr shaft and engine exchanger in brackish/fresh water. Electrolysis can and will occur. The real negative of fresh water is the prevalence of osmotic blistering due to density variation between the salt and fresh water. A bottom painting is recommended to help seal the bottom, but spending a fortune on certain paints to ward off barnacle growth is not that important. enjoy Bob Catalina 30
Fresh water is better for the hardware
salt water is better for the hull. The boat will be more likely to get hull blister in warm fresh water than salt. I would check the hull every couple of years for blister. If you start getting any you might want to fix them and barrier coat the bottom with epoxy paint before they get bad.
salt water is better for the hull. The boat will be more likely to get hull blister in warm fresh water than salt. I would check the hull every couple of years for blister. If you start getting any you might want to fix them and barrier coat the bottom with epoxy paint before they get bad.
Not a problem in Texas, but since
it's a bit of a general discussion; Fresh water freezes at a higher temperature and harder than salt water. At near but below freezing, salt water is mushy and won't break things like exhaust manifolds. Fresh water will. You need to drain your systems and pay more attention to freezing in fresh water.
it's a bit of a general discussion; Fresh water freezes at a higher temperature and harder than salt water. At near but below freezing, salt water is mushy and won't break things like exhaust manifolds. Fresh water will. You need to drain your systems and pay more attention to freezing in fresh water.
Fred makes a good point
If you truck the boat north and it will move into freezing climates, the marina down there may not do a good job preparing water systems for the trip - I base this on experience. this time of year it would not be a problem as temps up north will probably not go cold enough now to cause damage from freezing.
If you truck the boat north and it will move into freezing climates, the marina down there may not do a good job preparing water systems for the trip - I base this on experience. this time of year it would not be a problem as temps up north will probably not go cold enough now to cause damage from freezing.
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