6 replies to this topic

[PHI_JAMMA]

Hi Guys and Gals....just a newbie....

I am getting a used Challenger 1800 and wondering if this boat has to be taken in and out of salt water after every use?

Or can it be left in the water for extended periods? ..weeks/days?

Do the effects of salt water only occur once it is taken out of salt water and thus it should be immediately flushed and so forth??

[dzpmantis]

It is suggested that you flush your motors every day when in salt water. These engines use water from outside to directly cool the engine. This means that you will have salt water running through the inside of your engine. Any left over salt speed up corrosion.

With that said, it can be left in salt water for extended periods, but will affect the overall life of your engines. As often as you can, pull the boat out, flush it with fresh water and clean the hull and jet pump.

[Kevin Leclair]

I would recommend if you are going to leave it in salt water to get the bottom painted, this will help protect the hull.

[keviseeb]

I would recommend if you are going to leave it in salt water to get the bottom painted, this will help protect the hull.

Any Sea Doo sport boat prior to 2006 does not have Vinylester resin in the hull. Therefore the fiberglass is more apt to blister if left in the water for any length of time. Obviously in salt water you will get barnacle strikes within days unless the hull has anti fouling paint. For boats prior to 2006 some type of barrier coat is essential as well. From a dealer standpoint we basically will not resell a boat that has had bottom paint installed simply because it makes the boat unsellable particularly if it is a 2 stroke boat. If you do keep ANY boat in the water the same rules apply. The engines need to be flushed out daily, the bilges and engines cleasned, the trailer washed, and the final drive sprayed with Sea Doo lube or any other silicone based anti-corrosive lubricant. This procedure is the ideal for any open loop cooled engine not just Sea Doo. Again, this is the ideal....

Kevin Seeber
Kingsland Marine

[PHI_JAMMA]

hey..

Thanks everyone....good tips....I will most likely pull it out most times after use or if I drop it in on a Friday after work and leave in until Sunday...Most likely should be fine?

[Kevin Leclair]

Yeah I believe that should be fine, I just would not leave it in there for an extended period of time such as the off-season when you are not using it.

[capecoddoo]

Practically speaking, it is impossible to do all those things if you keep the boat in a marina like I do. It's 5 years old now, in salt water, and no problems related to it. Plenty of others, but nothing wrong with motor...