Freshwater boat only? What did that mean?

[john745]

I'm looking at a Catalina 22 that the person advertising indicates as a freshwater boat. What does that mean? I plan on using this boat for short trips in open ocean.

[Calif.Ted]

Just implies the boat has not been sailed in saltwater, the ocean, therefore minimal corrosion of metal parts.

[john745]

Originally Posted by Calif.Ted

Just implies the boat has not been sailed in saltwater, the ocean, therefore minimal corrosion of metal parts.

Ok. Cool.
That makes sense!

[Nicholson58]

If you like this idea, shop on the Great Lakes.

[StuM]

Check what the "zincs" are made of. If they are magnesium (common in fresh water), you should change them to aluminium or zinc for salt water.

[Joh.Ghurt]

I've been told that fresh-water only boats suffer less from osmosis.

[pcmm]

Freshwater means it hasn't been in saltwater conditions so corrosion should be less. BUT on the other hand freshwater boats often don't renew their rigging as often as saltwater boats. I know many boats at my yacht club with ORIGINAL rigging, in some cases approaching 40 years old!!!

Funny thing about zincs. Even here in Freshwater conditions most people seems use zinc zincs! Every time I've changed mine I've had to order in magnesium zincs regardless of the chandlery I've used!

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Joh.Ghurt

I've been told that fresh-water only boats suffer less from osmosis.

That’s only because they spend most of their lives out of the water.

Otherwise the osmotic pressure of fresh water is far lower than that of salt.

[sail sfbay]

Originally Posted by john745

I'm looking at a Catalina 22 that the person advertising indicates as a freshwater boat............

Ditto Calif.Ted........Freshwater boats sit in fresh water, not in corrosive salt water and not subject to salt air corrosion.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by john745

I'm looking at a Catalina 22 that the person advertising indicates as a freshwater boat. What does that mean? I plan on using this boat for short trips in open ocean.

On a Cat 22 not a heck of a lot, but metal parts are less likely to have corrosion. If it has an outboard motor, that's a big plus on the motor. On a bigger boat it may mean more as it has prop shaft, prop, rudder shaft etc affected by salt.

Fresh water is no less blister prone than salt water from my experience. I've seen a terribly blistered fresh water only racing boat. I've often wondered if fresh water is worse due to it often being much warmer than salt water...

[OS2Dude]

Originally Posted by Joh.Ghurt

I've been told that fresh-water only boats suffer less from osmosis.

Otherway around. Freshwater boats suffer from blisters more so than salt water.

"(1) Theoretically, blistering is more likely in fresh water because osmosis is the tendency of water to go from a low to high ionic concentration. Fresh water is more dilute so more apt to permeate the fiberglass membrane. In salt water, the concentration of salt is high outside the hull so less apt to permeate the fiberglass membrane." - https://www.sailnet.com/threads/freshwater-vs-saltwater

[Joh.Ghurt]

Originally Posted by OS2Dude

Otherway around. Freshwater boats suffer from blisters more so than salt water.

Thanks for clearing that up. For some reason, I was of the impression, it was the other way round. Learned another thing today.

[AKA-None]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

If you like this idea, shop on the Great Lakes.

Also remember that boats from up here spend a lot of time on the hard and not in the water due to lakes freezing