Salt Water Use

[rekrab201]

I was recently offered a 2000 Malibu Response LX that had 135hrs. It was used in salt water 50% of the time. What kind of damage can salt water do to a boat and what should someone look for as far as damage is concerned?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Jon

[reggie]

I certainly would not call what you are looking for as damage.....The salt water has the ability to wear your boat earlier then you may expect!!

You should be looking for excessive corosion on and around the engine, electrical system, all grease nipples, steering system and is the trailer painted or galvenized?

Good luck and share pics if you have them!

Reggie

[D-GOOSE]

As we all know check the wedge bolts, have the empeller changed and check for any places that were repaired or replaced because of corosion.

[Greg_S]

I had a 253 Cobalt before my first Bu. The boat was easy to keep clean, just took time, so there weren't any problems with the ocean water. My problem was with the painted trailer. No matter what I did, it would just rust. You should have the trailer in mind as well, unless it has a galinized unit.

You may also want to take it to a dealer and have them do a marine survey on it. May be worth the few hundred dollars.

Greg

[rekrab201]

Thanks for the posts.

We'll see how it goes; I’m not jumping on this offer... I would prefer a boat only used in fresh water. The boat it located in MD. That’s a hike from where I’m located in MA, I'm not sure it’s worth the trip to get it checked out. I know for a fact the painted trailer is not doing so great.

Thanks again,

Jon