Making The Big Leap

[CaptShaun]

After spending the last 7 years stalking this forum for every ponderable question, the lady and I are headed from fresh water to salt in a couple weeks. Any last minute bits of advice? Grazie

[GILow]

Originally Posted by CaptShaun

After spending the last 7 years stalking this forum for every ponderable question, the lady and I are headed from fresh water to salt in a couple weeks. Any last minute bits of advice? Grazie

Things rust more in salt water.

[sail sfbay]

Originally Posted by CaptShaun

After spending the last 7 years stalking this forum for every ponderable question, the lady and I are headed from fresh water to salt in a couple weeks. Any last minute bits of advice? Grazie

Clean the bottom regularly (we do every 3 months in the San Francisco, California Bay), maintain zincs, wash the boat after sailing to remove the salt, periodically check the engine seawater strainer for fouling, engine pump for corrosion and engine heat exchanger for fouling due to salt disposition, watch out for sea lions that might board your dock or even your boat and be prepared to clean up after the seagulls.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Shaun.

[dennismenace111]

Originally Posted by GILow

Things rust more in salt water.

Including people!

[Hardhead]

Keep the bottom side down. Wear a hat if it's sunny.

Enjoy every day. Have fun. It's what life is all about.

[anacapaisland42]

Originally Posted by Hardhead

Keep the bottom side down. Wear a hat if it's sunny.



Enjoy every day. Have fun. It's what life is all about.

AND SUN GLASSES

[a64pilot]

Don’t drink it.
I used to be one that was overly concerned with salt water, would never own a boat that wasn’t hauled out daily and washed, engine flushed and put away etc.
Now I find that those fears maybe were a little excessive, it’s not as bad as I thought. Just keep up with the anodes etc.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by CaptShaun

After spending the last 7 years stalking this forum for every ponderable question, the lady and I are headed from fresh water to salt in a couple weeks. Any last minute bits of advice? Grazie

Enjoy your selves!

[dennismenace111]

And the pointy end goes in front!

[desodave]

Yes - welcome aboard Capt. Whereabouts are you headed, and from whereabouts did you come?


Lots of differences on what to expect and how often some of those maintenance jobs need to be done. Hull cleaning much less of an issue here in the PNW than in Florida, but we have a lot more current to contend with. I'm winterizing my boat now but nothing like the job to be done in Maine.


I suspect our boats look very similar below decks - good livability.

[picklesandjesse]

Try to keep salt from going below. If you sit below when wet the cushions will absorb the salt and they will feel damp in certain conditions. This is very important. Leave salty gear at the companionway but no further.

[wrwakefield]

Make sure all of the anodes are compatible with salt water- and are all the same alloy... [engine cooling system(s), running gear, etc.]

Since your [fiberglass] boat has been in fresh water it is likely fitted with magnesium or aluminum anodes [since zinc anodes are inadequate in fresh...]

Aluminum alloy anodes perform well in fresh and saltwater [our choice in salt water since they also seem to last longer for us, and we transit brackish waters routinely...]; Magnesium alloy only in fresh because they disappear too rapidly in salt water. Zinc only works in salt water...

Further reading...

Wishing you fun adventures.

Cheers! Bill

[GILow]

Originally Posted by dennismenace111

And the pointy end goes in front!

But my boat has two pointy ends.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by GILow

But my boat has two pointy ends.

Aim the aft one at the following sea.