I'm going to Port A the week of June 21.

I've almost decided to leave my boat at home and
hire a guide one day and fish piers and surf the
rest of the week.

I've heard that the salt water really does a number on boats and trailer brakes.

I have a 21ft Wellcraft Deep V Fisherman with an outboard motor made for salt water but I have only used it in fresh water so far.

Am I better off leaving the boat at home??

What would I need to do after it has been exposed to salt water besides running it in fresh water and cleaning it up?

Thanks

John N.

Galvanized, Aluminum or painted trailer? If you bring it down get the Corrosin X regular and the HD (red and green can, respectively) Stray the terminal connections, the lug nuts, all bolts, nuts, anything that can rust or corrode.
Take the boat/trailer to the carwash and wash it down soap and then rinse, after each dunking. If you really want to be safe, take the trailer to the closest car wash after launching the boat(leave someone with the boat) wash off the trailer, park the truck and fish. Trailer the boat head to the carwash immediately and wash as above. Heading back home stop in town at least 50 miles from the coast and wash it again top to bottom. soap and rinse, go heavy on the quarters.
Take the CX red can, take off the cowling, spray it all over the engine, do not rinse, there will be no rust or corosion on the engine after the trip. Most car washes have a hose to flush the engine, muff it and run it. Just got to make a choice, chance it for rust and corrision or not. You will get it if you put the trailer/boat in the salt much.

Too,

It's an aluminum I-Beam trailer.

Sounds like work...fishing always is though.

Thanks

I will be down there a few days after you, but I am leaving my boat at home...I have hired guides.......plus some buddies have houses and boats down there.....I am going on vacation.....pulling my boat from Fort Worth is work.....

Some of the places we put in at POC and Seadrift have freshwater hoses in the parking lot of the ramp.

We just rinse off the trailer right after we launch it, and hose down the boat when we get back out.

I have taken my boat, and other "freshwater" boats down there for the last 10 years, and never had any problems...just rinse it off good...and then rinse again.

Does Charlies at Seadrift have freshwater hose? I cannot remember...

We would always wash at the coast and then stop on the way home for the good cleaning.......don't forget to grease your bearings when you get home.

Yep...and Shoalwater Bay is HOT!!!!!

I go out with Gary Gray out of Charlies,,,his folks own the place, but when we go in my buddies boat, we just clean it at his house in Rockport. Now, i have another buddy who bought a house in POC.......waiting for him to buy a boat!

Cannot wait to go get salty! Signed up for the star and i am ready!

I use this stuff before and after in my motor to help keep the salt build up from happening.



But always go straight to the car wash and flush your motor with hot water and spray your boat down too. Washing your rod and reels wouldn't hurt either! -DELRUS-

The springs and associated hardware are what really take a beating from the saltwater. I stop at Braunig Lake on the way home and run the boat around for a half-hour or so. Maybe even fish a little. Cleans the boat and motor, and the trailer off.