I am looking at buying my first boat. Can you use a boat motor in fresh and salt water both. If you can what special care is needed?I am looking at a boat with a 25 hp 4 stroke Yamaha.

ALWAYS flush your motor after use. Wash it off good and keep a coat of wax on it. I use Nu-Finish. Protects from salt and sun.

These newer motors are built for salt water and the need to flush not much anymore if you use your boat often. I flush my motor if I'm not going to use it in the next few days. But most of the time I know the boat is going to be used the next day and I don't flush it.

I flush mine. Some had problems with the steering freezing up, but that could happen in fresh water.

I flus and wash it off every time

Any motor is designed for salt water use. Boats and trailers not so much.

Galvanized or aluminum trailer is a must for Texas bays, no matter how hard you try, you can't wash a painted trailer enough to prevent cancer.

Saltwater boats will have stainless hardware, pre-tinned wiring, no carpet that all allow for corrosion resistance and ease of cleaning.

Mine gets flushed with the water muffs, rinsed off. I also remove the cowling and spray everything with Corrosion-X.

Had a 1971 40 Hp Johnson which was strictly used in saltwater. It belonged to my Grandpa and after each use it got flushed. The motor outlasted the boat, and I believe it had to do with never skipping that step when storing the boat.

thanks to all who responded very helpfull