2007 Malibu VLX - Rust?

[MexTex]

I am purchasing a 2007 Malibu VLX. I am going to run the boat in brackish water. Is there any items on the boat that I need to be aware of that may rust?

Thanks

[MalibuTime]

I am purchasing a 2007 Malibu VLX. I am going to run the boat in brackish water. Is there any items on the boat that I need to be aware of that may rust?

Thanks

The engine. I'd be adding fresh water cooling to that boat. It will cost way less than the alternative that you will eventually have to deal with.

[MexTex]

I am purchasing a 2007 Malibu VLX. I am going to run the boat in brackish water. Is there any items on the boat that I need to be aware of that may rust?

Thanks

The engine. I'd be adding fresh water cooling to that boat. It will cost way less than the alternative that you will eventually have to deal with.

Do you know what it would cost to have fresh water cooling added? Roundabout figure.

[MexTex]

Is closed cooling really necessary if I plan to flush out the engine with "Salt Away" after every use. I am a clean fanatic so this boat will be thoroughly washed and waxed after each use.

[WakingMeHappy]

The only parts you have to worry about are those that get wet

Other than that, keep an eye on your manifolds, starter, alternator and anything with a hinge point. My Bu hits salt water once or twice a year and like you I clean like crazy. Even then a “less than one-year-old” starter rusted out. The manufacture replaced it with very little argument. When they said it was because it got wet I said, “well duh, it’s a boat”.

[oceanbu]

I am purchasing a 2007 Malibu VLX. I am going to run the boat in brackish water. Is there any items on the boat that I need to be aware of that may rust?

Thanks

my family has an 07vlx that we have only run on the ocean in the pacific northwest for 3 seasons now. The malibu stainless steel emblems on the sides and back of the boat will get little rust spots on them, however, the rust is just surface and can be buffed off with a little steel wool and will look like new again. other than that not much to worry about. Definately get the closed cooling system. We got the dealer to install it...I think it was around $1500 to $2000 to have it installed. You can coat your engine with boeshield t-9 to resist corrosion. Our engine looks brand new and never had any problems with it. Basically at the end of the season after I have cleaned and detailed our boat it looks brand new.

I have a whole list of products I use on the boat and maintenance stuff to keep it looking new and would be more than happy to share with you if you are interested. My dealer, who probably has the biggest salt water market of any malibu dealer in north america, told me if I took care of the boat it would last for 25 years. 3 seasons now and so far so good.

[MexTex]

I am purchasing a 2007 Malibu VLX. I am going to run the boat in brackish water. Is there any items on the boat that I need to be aware of that may rust?

Thanks

my family has an 07vlx that we have only run on the ocean in the pacific northwest for 3 seasons now. The malibu stainless steel emblems on the sides and back of the boat will get little rust spots on them, however, the rust is just surface and can be buffed off with a little steel wool and will look like new again. other than that not much to worry about. Definately get the closed cooling system. We got the dealer to install it...I think it was around $1500 to $2000 to have it installed. You can coat your engine with boeshield t-9 to resist corrosion. Our engine looks brand new and never had any problems with it. Basically at the end of the season after I have cleaned and detailed our boat it looks brand new.

I have a whole list of products I use on the boat and maintenance stuff to keep it looking new and would be more than happy to share with you if you are interested. My dealer, who probably has the biggest salt water market of any malibu dealer in north america, told me if I took care of the boat it would last for 25 years. 3 seasons now and so far so good.

Great! I guess closed cooling is the way to go. I will get some Boeshield t-9 as well. I am also very interested in what you use for the rest of the boat...please let me know what you get a chance. Thanks

[oceanbu]

I am purchasing a 2007 Malibu VLX. I am going to run the boat in brackish water. Is there any items on the boat that I need to be aware of that may rust?

Thanks

my family has an 07vlx that we have only run on the ocean in the pacific northwest for 3 seasons now. The malibu stainless steel emblems on the sides and back of the boat will get little rust spots on them, however, the rust is just surface and can be buffed off with a little steel wool and will look like new again. other than that not much to worry about. Definately get the closed cooling system. We got the dealer to install it...I think it was around $1500 to $2000 to have it installed. You can coat your engine with boeshield t-9 to resist corrosion. Our engine looks brand new and never had any problems with it. Basically at the end of the season after I have cleaned and detailed our boat it looks brand new.

I have a whole list of products I use on the boat and maintenance stuff to keep it looking new and would be more than happy to share with you if you are interested. My dealer, who probably has the biggest salt water market of any malibu dealer in north america, told me if I took care of the boat it would last for 25 years. 3 seasons now and so far so good.

Great! I guess closed cooling is the way to go. I will get some Boeshield t-9 as well. I am also very interested in what you use for the rest of the boat...please let me know what you get a chance. Thanks

good luck with new boat!

At the beginning of the season and many times throughout the season I apply Starbrite marine polish with teflon everywhere. I mean everywhere...the hull, the tower, the billet inserts in the dash, glovebox, the power wedge, the exhaust tips, board racks...you get the idea. I really like that stuff as it's really slippery and makes it hard for salt to stick to your boat. A nice thing too is that waterspots just wipe off nice and easy.

We had a zinc package added to our boat also as a precausionary measure. Zinced the shaft, rudder and swim grid brackets. If you are not keeping your boat in the water all summer as we are you probably don't need to do this. Another thing of note I seem to recall when we had the closed cooling installed is the dealer zinced the exhaust manifold. I am pretty sure of this but I would have to go look at the bill again.

We only did the half loop cooling system which means raw water still in the exhaust manifolds. The dealer said the full loop system you can get didn't work as the cats boiled the coolant and caused it to overflow making a mess of the back of the boat so they wouldn't even install that for us. We flush out the cooling system and exhaust manifolds with salt away.

I would recommend after each use is to just douse the boat with fresh water everywhere...inside the boat outside the boat. Everything is made for marine use so it can get wet.

If I had to do it over again I would actually spray the board rack with the boeshield or some similar product just to coat it from the elements.

At any rate, there will always be something that you will notice pitting on or something. For instance the brackets for the board racks and speakers on my tower are showing some pitting and flaking of chrome but you have to look close. I figure those can always be replaced. If I had to do it over again I would spray those with boeshield right away. I have the polished titan III tower and it is still like new since I believe it is aluminum.

I think if you just keep on it you should be fine. Seems like most malibu owners are pretty anal about maintenance and cleaning anyways. There are a few other good threads on Bu's in the salt on here if you search.

Hope some of this helps!

[nbeihl]

Flush with Saltaway and hose everything down after use. I also have a film of grease around the entire oil pan. Salt water gets into the bilge and the grease creates a barrier between the salt water and the oil pan. Also spray down the engine with some sort of corrosion protection.