Thread: Running Freshwater outboard in Saltwater

Hey all,

I recently purchased my father-in-laws 1985 Charger bass boat with 1983 140 hp Envinrude outboard after his death in June. The boat was registered in Arkansas and has always been run in the large, deep reservoirs of NW Arkansas and NE Oklahoma. Several people up there and other friends have told me to NEVER run the outboard in saltwater. Others have told me that it would be OK as long as I flush the motor each time. What do you do with your outboard and what are your opinions?

The reason I am asking is that I live in Northern Tangipahoa Parish and could put the boat in at North Pass to run through Ponchartrain and Manchac to fish Bedico, Tangipahoa, I-55 canals and others as well as the saltwater in Ponchartrain and Manchac. I am also worried about the new Motorguide (non-saltwater) trolling motor in this brackish/saltwater situation. Is there anything I could do to protect it?

Thanks in advance for your responses!

Kevin Smith

I'm telling you this. Saltwater takes no prisioners. Friends of mine go below Houma fishing and when they come back through Thibodaux they relaunch in Bayou Lafourche to flush boat, trailer, trolling motor...the works in the fresh water. Salt water is hazardous to a boat and trailers health. The less "gadgets" in the boat the better. Some stop at the carwash on the way home. Also a good idea.

Okay, kjsmith, I'm going to tell you what I know, not what I believe.
I lived in Buras in the Mississippi River Delta from 1968 to 2005. That area is almost entirely surrounded by saltwater, and I fished a lot - like several hundred times a year. I have never - spell that N-E-V-E-R - had any problems with corrosion other than battery terminals. Sure, my stuff died, but more from fair wear and tear than anything else.
Louisiana's "inshore" (And even "nearshore") saltwater is low salinity compared to Florida and especially south Texas. It's good to run your outboard through freshwater after a trip to the salt, and a good rinsing at a car-wash - or in the rain - never hurt a thing. But don't get paranoid about corrosion hereabouts. 'Course, if you head straight out and back from Grand Isle, you might want to take better precautions.
Incidentally, the area you mention is so low-salinity that "fresh" would better describe it - okay, "slightly brackish", but fresh enough to hold freshwater species.
Okay?
Pete

Saltwater will takes its toll on your equipment but with proper maintenance you will be fine. If your trailer is not galvanized you would be looking at loads of trouble later. If it is galvanized spray all nut and bolt connections with Corosion X. Take lug nuts off and before reapplying, coat threads with some type of antiseize lubricant. Flush motor after every salt water trip, spray trailer leaf springs and hubs well with fresh water each time also. Been putting my "fresh water" trolling motor in salt water for years and no problems thus far. To recap--my boat,motor, trolling motor have been fine in salt water with proper maintenance but your trailer will suffer probably more than anything else IMHO.

I agree with some of what every one has said, but I would have to agree with gasdad the most about the trailer being the biggest problem. If I didn't fish salt water, I would only be able to fish a few times a year. I do flush my motor after running in salt water. The biggest problem I have had would be the leaf springs and the "U" bolts holding them so you may want to make sure you go with galvanized on these but you will still need to spray your trailer with fresh water when you are done. Just my opinion.

Hay gasdad are you in aviation because i don't know many people that use Corosion X except aircraft mecs. But I will tell you that it works real well to prevent corosion on any metal its good stuff I use it all the time. As far as fresh water boats in salty water I can show you plenty of them that run in bothand have no problem just keep up the maintance and give it a good flush you will not have any problem as for as the trolling motor it will work fine just wash it off and keep the metal parts lubed with a protective oil.

No, I'm in the medical field but been around boats for a long time and have talked to alot of boat people as well as aviation people. Another product that works well is a spray lubricant called LPS rust inhibitor. I think it's just as good as Corrosion X. Neither is very cheap but both provide good protection.