saltproofing?

[foamlover]

Hi! I have a cain on the puget sound and would love to be able to run some boats there when it is really calm. Does anyone know easy ways to get a boat saltwater and corrosion proof? :confused: I could just stick to lakes when i am at home, but having a boat with me on vacation would make me very happy! :D Any help would be greatly appresiated. Thanks
Foamlover

[ooby]

Hey, another local...Puget Sound. The active members of our local model yacht club, sailing EC12s and ODOMs are divided on this issue, about .6 will and do, and .4 won't sail in saltwater. I don't, and also limit my power boat to fresh water. I'll say this, the guys that do, don't seem to be bothered by it. They just pull the rudder shaft annually, clean and grease, and that's about it.

[Boatfox]

Use Stainless fasteners and rinse the boat off. Assuming no water gets inside you should have an ok time. If youre boat leaks, or splashes water all about....expect some maintenance issues and electronic failures.

[smart_racer]

A friend has a old Ron Burchett fiberglass tug and only runs it in saltwater (he lives on the oceanfront) I have only seen a can of WD-40 used on his boat, he does not seem to have any problems.He loves to run it when the 1:1 tugs and tows pass his house.

[Ray Farina]

Make sure that your shaft is stainless steel and make sure that you relubricate it often when used in salt water. The same thing with your rudders, make sure that they are brass and not steel tubing as I have found that steel tubing used in fresh water will rust and corride.

[Ghost 2501]

Make sure that your shaft is stainless steel and make sure that you relubricate it often when used in salt water. The same thing with your rudders, make sure that they are brass and not steel tubing as I have found that steel tubing used in fresh water will rust and corride.

on the "relubricate regularly", id recomend after every time you get back home, also get some silicone tubes and adapt to fit down the stern tube, then for 15 to 20 mins (for example) flush fresh water down the tube, this will clean any salt out.

once that has dried, a pipe cleaner, (from any tobacanist) to push down the shaft, then once that is clear, re-grease and reinstall the shaft. yes it sounds a lot, however it is better than having to rip apart a model because the shaft has corroded up and jammed solid.

also a good gentle shower from a hose with a fine mist to do the outside, this will clean any salt off the body work

[Ray Farina]

Salt will also leave like a smear, i also reccomend that you wash the hull and bottom with something like Dawn Dishing Det. every once in a while.

[LtDoc]

Foamlover,
As you've seen so far, the 'secret' of running boats in salt water is to keep the salt from touching stuff that can be affected by salt. Or, to use things that are not affected by salt to start with. What to use? That's sort of one of those "waht'cha got?" thingys. As long as it doesn't do as much damage as salt does, almost anything will 'work', sort of. In general, washing the salt off/out of the boat is probably the easiest way. There is no absolutely sure way of salt proofing a boat, so paying attention to the care of the boat is always good. When something starts to 'go bad', replace it (just like on the full sized boats).
- 'Doc

[No salt water around here but there are 'other' things that have the same affect, depending on their consentration. 'Ducky-doo' for one thing! Lord knows what else is in some of the ponds around here...]