I would like to take my boat to the gulf coast a couple times per year, but I am concerned that it will affect the boat's longevity. Should I be concerned? What can you recommend?

Boat is a 21' bay type center console, 150 HP Yamaha "Saltwater" series, aluminum trim tabs, power steering, galvanized trailer w/ bearing buddies.

I know to flush the motor afterward. I have read that freshwater anodes are not effective in saltwater, but for a few days each year would it matter? I don't plan to leave the boat moored overnight. I'm concerned about all of the electronics - Lowrance fish finder, battery charger, wiring, stereo, bilge pumps, etc. Would it be safe to use the livewell?

I need to purchase a new trolling motor. My old one is a Minn Kota Terrova iPilot. I plan to purchase another one about like it, but if I'm going to do saltwater then I'm thinking of getting a Riptide model.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
JB in Fort Worth

You will be okay. Just wash it good, and flush it. Occassional exposure won't hurt it. It was made for it. I say go for it, have fun, and don't worry about it.

If your boat was rigged by a non-saltwater dealer, you'll need to do some work.

You'll need to dive into your bilge and seal all the connections to bilge pumps, livewell pumps etc. Liquid electrical tape works fine. Leave those unsealed butt connectors alone, and they'll fail in a month or so. Then do the same thing on all connections under your console, up in the front panel, wherever you can find them.

If its a Bay boat, your probably okay. As they said check electrical and seal everything up. I would go with the Riptide. Fresh water trolling motors will work, but the paint tends to fail and peal off with corrosion underneath. So your new trolling motor may look terrible in a couple of months. Get the one that will work in either. The rest of your electronics should be fine, unless you capsize, then you have bigger problems anyway. I only mention it, because I've done it, when I was young and dumb.

We've been taking our Hurricane GS211 down to Port A for the last 6 - 7 years, running all over the bays from Rockport to Corpus and even out past the jetties. We only stay at places we can leave the boat in the water, get tired of loading and unloading.

pick up a can of corrosion X, spray connectors and other exposed parts.
(or do as Pat mentions above)
Spray boat and equipment down every time you come back in, even under the deck if you have access. **be sure and run the bilge pump!!
when you get home, hook the motor up and flush or run in a lake.
take boat to carwash so you can use hot soapy water to rinse entire boat and trailer good.

Have fun! that's what the boat is all about!!

I'd just take the troll motor off and leave it at home, 99% chance you won't miss it at all.