One week in a wet slip?

[Bob Fluck]

Hi everyone,

I am wondering what everyone thought was an appropriate timeframe for leaving my new to me Ar192 in salt water. We have a vacation home at the beach we use every summer. Although we don’t have a dock at our house, friends of ours do and said we may use it at anytime. So, the question is... is one week a problem to leave it wet slipped? I can pull it everyday, but I would rather have it tied up at the dock for quick access without having to use the ramp. I plan on washing and flushing the engine after the week in salt. I will also drop it in the lake when we get back home and run it a couple hours to ensure that I have removed all salt. What does everyone think? When I had my center console we just raised the engine and left it in the water for the week, but this is my first jet and just want to be sure I properly taking care of it. Thanks guys and gals.

 

[Gym]

Hi @Bob Fluck. I've had my jet boat in the salt water for a week at a time with no I'll effects at all. The only differrnce is I have tow (isolation) valves installed. This allowes me to flush with fresh water while sitting in the salt. If you don't have these installed you can use clamps to clamp off the water intake line to flush after each use. Personally, I wouldn't go a week in salt without flushing. Once salt hardens inside your cooling system Salt Away will not remove it.

 

[Bob Fluck]

Great, thank you for the information. Are those tow valves a DIY or do I need to have dealer install? I am pretty handy and do all my own work.

 

[Bluewater272]

Definitely DIY - check the FAQ.

 

[Bob Fluck]

Thanks again guys will do.

 

[Gym]

Great, thank you for the information. Are those tow valves a DIY or do I need to have dealer install? I am pretty handy and do all my own work.

Bob. If this salt water trip is just an occasional thing I would just buy a flat jawed clamp to make it easier. If you will be doing this often you may want to install them permanently. I'm not sure a dealer would do this as it is counter intuitive for them to close off a cooling line. I actually mentioned my set up to a Yamaha service manager at a dealer in RI two summers ago and all he did was shake his head. He just didn't understand the concept.

 

[Gray]

So are these boats not made for salt water use. (Asking because I really do not know, not a troll type question.)

One of our intended uses is inshore/coastal leisurely cruising along the New England coast. (Reading about the Bimini trips encouraged that premise.)

 

[Matt Phillips]

These boats will run fine in salt water. The basic issue is that they should not be stored long-term in salt water as it's really hard on them.

That being said, I'd say as a general rule, if you're going on a trip for a week or two, it won't hurt them to be in the water for that long.

You should flush and wash them throughly once they come out...and also if you have a painted trailer, rinse it the best you can as well.

 

[Gray]

Thank you sir.

Regarding the flushing, is it advisable to use the Salt Away in the engine flushing process, and not just as an external rinse agent?

In regard to the trailer, it would be nice if Yamaha allowed a trailer delete or an option for an aluminum trailer.

 

[seadude]

After a week in the brine you will have slime and the beginnings of barnicles growing on the hull which can be scrubbed off "relatively" easily. I try to limit my boat to 3 days in to avoid this extra cleaning. Also, IMO just wait until you haul it and flush it well with saltaway.

 

[Gym]

Thank you sir.

Regarding the flushing, is it advisable to use the Salt Away in the engine flushing process, and not just as an external rinse agent?

In regard to the trailer, it would be nice if Yamaha allowed a trailer delete or an option for an aluminum trailer.

YES, definitely use Salt Away in your flush procedure. You can get a dispenser with a container of Salt Away or buy it separately @ West Marine. It is more important to flush with it than to wash your boat with it. Also use it to rinse your trailer when you launch & retrieve your boat.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Keep an eye on recesses like where the pumps are or any protected areas that are not exposed to water flow when the boat is stationary, this is where the barnacles will attach first and usually the more difficult places to clean.
Spray a lot of furniture polish in those areas to help keep them from forming as quickly But be sure to remove the boat and rinse it every 3 days if possible.

 

[Gray]

Spray a lot of furniture polish in those areas to help keep them from forming as quickly

Interesting.

What kind of furniture polish?

 

[Gray]

After a week in the brine you will have slime and the beginnings of barnicles growing on the hull which can be scrubbed off "relatively" easily. I try to limit my boat to 3 days in to avoid this extra cleaning. Also, IMO just wait until you haul it and flush it well with saltaway.

Scrubbing? How abrasive is safe with a gelcoat surface (where "scrubbing" for me might be different than what you mean)? Also, do barnacles also attach/grow inside the cooling system?

Re. above with the furniture polish...will that prevent the "slime" also?

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

I just soak it with pledge or similar product and rinse the boat hull every few days but water temp also plays a roll in how quickly things make your boat their home. In Florida it happens pretty quickly. Up inside the intake tunnel is another spot.

 

[Gray]

I just soak it with pledge or similar product and rinse the boat hull every few days but water temp also plays a roll in how quickly things make your boat their home. In Florida it happens pretty quickly. Up inside the intake tunnel is another spot.

This will be mid-coast Maine. Do barnacles also attach/grow inside the cooling system?

 

[rkgdmd]

I've been leaving my boat in salt water for up to two weeks at a time for years. Yes, I have a bit more cleaning to do, but nothing a little elbow grease and a power washer couldn't solve. If you are using the boat daily, I don't see how the cooling passages are going to get clogged with salt deposits to the point that they couldn't be removed with normal flushing. Bottom line is....put your boat in the water and go Have some fun!

 

[Gym]

This will be mid-coast Maine. Do barnacles also attach/grow inside the cooling system?

It's so cold in the Maine waters even the barnacles get shrinkage.

 

[Gray]

It's so cold in the Maine waters even the barnacles get shrinkage.

I am a barnacle.

I laughed so hard that I was p̶r̶o̶s̶t̶a̶t̶e̶ prostrate.

 

[Scoop]

I intend to leave my boat in a rental for a week and am curious about something- will the salt harden in one week if the boat is in the water the whole week? I understand when you pull it out it must be thoroughly rinsed with fresh water and salt away because the water will evaporate and leave a salt residue but does salt harden while it is wet/in the water/underwater for a week?

I might pull it out mid-week for a wash rinse to make the end of trip clean up easier.

Any thoughts on any of this?

Thanks Scoop