What needs to be done once I take my boat and trailer out of saltwater?

Question

flushing engine, washing and the trailer bearings ? is saltwater harmful to my boat it's only been in freshwater?

Answer 1

You've answered your own question and hit everything right on the head. The key is to remove the salt residue from the trailer, boat and internal components of the engine as soon as you possibly can.

Our boat is operated mainly in freshwater but excursions into saltwater happen frequently. As long as you give her a really good cleaning and solid flushing you'll be good to go. If you don't though the price to pay will be high. We had a friend who bought a boat that had been on the Chesapeake Bay that had not been properly cared for. At issue was pitting of anything metal, spark plugs that were rusted solid into the block, etc and all from the saltwater and air. Cost for engine repairs ran into the thousands.

Just remember...wash her down and you'll spare the grief down the road!

Answer 2

also remember the trailer gets a good wash. salt is a killer on any metal. if your auto wheels got in saltwater wash em!.