Fresh To Salt Water - Maxum Boat Owners Club

jpaukstys · 01-27-2011, 02:42 AM

I have a 1999 Maxun scr3000 with twin 305's that has only been used on the Great lakes. I may be moving to Florida and was wondering if there is anything speacial that would need to be done to use the boat in saltwater. Thanks.

ss3964spd · 01-27-2011, 01:21 PM

Nope, nothing special to do really. Just make certain all the zincs are present and accounted for. If they appear to be significantly deteriorated just replace them.

Also make sure the bottom paint is in good shape.

Dan

biggerseagar · 01-27-2011, 01:43 PM

Just curious here ...........how are you getting it down there? Doing the loop? Do you have a trailer for this move? Will you slip it or have it up on a sling? I do apologize for so many questions.

I would look into a engine flush kit myself.........

Roger

shrew · 01-27-2011, 04:01 PM

Are your 305's Raw Water Cooled (RWC) or Fresh Water Cooled (FWC)? In other words, do you have a coouple of heat exchangers? With closed cooling FWC, The engine is cooled with antifreeze which is run through a heat exchanger. Raw is also run through the heat exchange to cool the AF. So salt water only comes in contact with the heat exchanger, not hte engine. If the engines don't have heat exchangers, and has run i fresh water it's entire life, then I'd slap a FWC system on it. Typically people go with a 1/2 cooling system, so raw water runs through the manifolds and risers as well. You could get a larger exchanger and a Full Closed System that runs AF through the entire system. Then you only worry about the heat exchanger, but it a larger and more costly exchanger.

If the boat isn't bottom paint it, then I would do so. I'd also make sure the tabs, rams and drives are painted as well.

seapuppy · 01-27-2011, 04:22 PM

I wouldn't paint the tabs, rams and drives....but do make sure the mercathode system is operating properly....a tech can check this out with an ohm meter....
bottom painting is a good idea....but mainly ensure you have fwc installed on each engine....boating in salt water isn't simple and fancy free...maintenance goes up a factor of 10....as mentioned...zinc's need to be kept up...mercathode operational....bottom paint in good shape...all your fittings need to check ..more waxing...more washing....(get the salt off) .....more cleaning...god more cleaning...
but it's all good!!!..

SP

dronthelake · 01-27-2011, 07:40 PM

Fresh water boats typically have magnesium anodes, not truly zinc. Zinc is for salt & brackish water only. Most people I know that boat in salt water actually use aluminum anodes. A magnesium anode will decay rapidly is used in salt water.

shrew · 01-27-2011, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seapuppy

I wouldn't paint the tabs, rams and drives....

SP

That's what I was lead to believe too. I've had huge barnacle growth on them when run bare. The barnacles eat into the aluminum. Maintenance has been easier when I paint them. I used a couple coats of primacon and a few coats of Trilux 33.

seapuppy · 01-27-2011, 08:37 PM

hmmm....interesting...never had that one...

SP

biggerseagar · 01-27-2011, 09:27 PM

Merc puts aluminum anodes out of the factory............Magnesium is almost three times more expensive and depending make and model just plain hard to find.

Still curious how he is getting the boat to florida

jpaukstys · 01-29-2011, 03:01 AM

I was going to hire someone to haul it down to Florida.....A proffesional company of course!!!!! Thanks for all the heads up.....my motors are cooled by the lower unit intake,i dont have any secondary cooling set up as of now. thanks again Maxum Family!!!!!

jpaukstys · 01-29-2011, 03:36 AM

Thanks for the heads up !!!!

jpaukstys · 01-29-2011, 03:36 AM

Going to hire someone to haul it to Florida.

biggerseagar · 01-29-2011, 04:00 AM

Good Luck on your adventure!

Roger

seapuppy · 01-29-2011, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpaukstys

I was going to hire someone to haul it down to Florida.....A proffesional company of course!!!!! Thanks for all the heads up.....my motors are cooled by the lower unit intake,i dont have any secondary cooling set up as of now. thanks again Maxum Family!!!!!

then your going to want to install a full fresh water cooling system on each engine.....it will keep the salt from eating away at your engines from the inside out...

good luck and take tons of pic's....we wanna share in your adventure!!

SP