Running toon in salt water

[itechteam]

So I have had my first toon for a couple of months and have really been enjoying it. I can't imagine a better platform for cruising and family fun, and I have had lots of other boat styles.

The question is I live on salt water, and I see little white spots on the toon, I flush the boat and wash after every use. Is this normal? Do most of you that boat in salt water get the toons painted?
The boat is stored on a lift and not in the water.

Thanks,

[RcgTexas]

Two things from my perspective since I live in a salt environment as well.
No carpet on the bunk boards! Slicks only!
Keep the tunes washed with soap when done boating get the salt off asap.


viewtopic.php?f=16&t=19016

Check out my rebuild and see the pics . You will see what salt can do. Now this boat sat in a field for 3 years while I decided to rebuild or sell it for aluminum. I read the success stories the guys around here posted and decided to give her a new life. Painting is an option I guess but may open a can of worms. Try "shark hide" first. This is my

[itechteam]

I used trex on my lift bunks to separate away from the pt wood

[itechteam]

Anyone using saltaway in this situation because my middle tube is really hard to get to on the lift to wash.

[zoom650]

From having had a boat on the Gulf for 11 years, washing helps, but you live in a salty environment. Period. No way to get around that fact. You just do the best you can to protect and preserve what you have. Salt spray is in the air, and we frequently washed or rinsed off our boat. Check your electrical panel inside compartments because it will corrode also. We sprayed ours frequently with WD40 or similar product.

I'm home from having my Harris in the Gulf for a month. The Sharkhide applied to the toons looks to be very effective. They still look pretty nice. While docked, waiting on a ramp, a large boat threw a wake that rocked my boat against the dock, broke off a fender clip. The toon got against the dock and got scraped up pretty good. So the Sharkhide came off with that boo-boo. Lots of difference in how the rest of the toon looks and how the exposed aluminum looks.

I hope you added extra zinc anodes. You need at least one per toon and any other place metal on your boat comes in contact with salt water.

Here is sort of a related question I do not know the answer to:
I've had my boat 6 weeks. It was new. It has been in Florida the past month. I did notice that all the anodes, one on each toon, and four on the Verado, and especially the engine anodes, appear to have taken a good hit from the salt water. More that my two Yamaha engines did on the fibeglass center console. So, I was wondering, if aluminum pontoons speed up the galvanic corrosion of the anodes as opposed to fiberglass?

I hope everyone has a fun and safe summer.

[badmoonrising]

The only way to protect your logs in a saltwater environment is bottom paint. This comes from a ton of experience restoring aluminum boats and being involved with a quite a few marinas. The Chesapeake can be fresh (upper bay unless there's a drought) to salty as the ocean in the lower bay. All manufacturers of aluminum hulls up here say to paint.

The local Tracker dealer and Bass Pro Shops (bought 'toons from both of them) said to paint.

I had my Party Cruiser painted, had no issues with corrosion...as long as you use the correct paint. That would be NO paint containing copper and specifically made for aluminum. Copper + aluminum + saltwater = severe corrosion. We've seen users here make that mistake only too late to realize before holes develop.

If you are trailering and not leaving the boat in the water for an extended period, just wash it after use. Flush the motor with freshwater after every use.

[RcgTexas]

Salt-away OK I had never heard of it but researched it after your post. If it performs half as good as the testimonials say it does, its good stuff. If I can find some I may try it.

[itechteam]

Thanks for all of the info. How are you attaching zincs to the toons? Pics would be great also.

[itechteam]

One more point, I think salt away is basically vinegar mixed with water?