Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Ok so I've heard that I don't want to put my boat in the gulf because saltwater pits the engine real bad and ivr heard its no big deal just run clean water through it when you leave and clean my outdrive well.

Ok so I'm willing to give into there not being a right or wrong black and white answer but there arr plenty of opinions and probably even a few good and bad experiences. I'm not even sure we want to burn the 5 hours of fuel each way for a 3 day weekend but I am curious

Just flush it when you take it out.

Guys here will use in on the coast and then drop in fresh water and run it around for 15 to minutes to wash the salt off the frame and toons too.

It will be fine. Lots of boats here in the saltwater. Flush it and you're fine. It's freshwater only guys giving you bad information.

Flush it good and consider using a salt removing treatment, whose trade names escape me.

Salt remover a solution for the motor or the hull and outdrive ?

Biggest issue I've seen with deckboats and pontoons is the carpet. Saltwater is definitely not like freshwater when the carpet is soaked. If that happens, flush it really good at a carwash. Saltwater and the engine, no problem; flush the engine thoroughly BEFORE you leave the coast and again when you get back to DFW. Most of the DIY carwashes down there will have attachments to flush the motor, but I would take my own flush kit, just to be sure. Handwash all of the hardware on the boat as it is probably not stainless and even if it is. Laguna Madre saltwater has a higher salt content than the East or West coasts.
Other than that, have a great time and catch a bunch. Be sure to wash the trailer well,especially if it is a painted trailer. Good advice to dunk the trailer and boat in freshwater and run it around for 15 minutes, just to be sure. You won't hurt the boat or trailer but you do have to clean it up if you want it to last. Doing it for years.

Thx for all the good advice, I guess I finally found a plus to not having a stitch of carpet not even snap in I'm always griping about the hard abrasive deck on my feet but here it will be a plus

use salt-away, to flush your engine (comes with hose attachment kit) you can also use to wash down your boat and trailer.