Boats 101 – Page 2 – Pirateering

As we examine the discussion of a saltwater boat versus a freshwater boat, we cover topics like boat design, hulling fouling, corrosion, and if a saltwater boat is usable in freshwater (or vice versa). Some boats can go in saltwater and freshwater. Boats made for saltwater can go in freshwater, but the reverse may not be true. Saltwater is more hazardous for a vessel than freshwater, so boats that were not intended for saltwater usually need to first the outfitted with protective coverings to aid the transition. Whether you are thinking about buying a new craft or simply curious if you can use your current boat for freshwater and saltwater, it is essential to understand the differences between saltwater boats and freshwater boats. A boat may be used for freshwater and saltwater; a saltwater boat may be used in both saltwater and freshwater; similarly, a freshwater boat may be used for both freshwater and saltwater. If you are thinking about using your boat in both freshwaters (such as lakes, ponds, or rivers) and saltwater (such as the sea or the ocean; not in lakes or saltwater ponds), then you would better opt for a saltwater boat since saltwater boats are more adept at handling the rougher seas or oceans than freshwater boats. Differences Between Freshwater and Saltwater Boats The two significant differences between freshwater boats and saltwater boats are that saltwater boats are designed to be more resistant to corrosive conditions than freshwater boats, and hulls are designed better to withstand lousy weather (mainly when used in saltwater, such as in seas or oceans, rather than lakes or ponds). Saltwater boats are designed to withstand more severe conditions and are familiar with salt water; therefore,e they should handle freshwater just fine. If you are forced to use your freshwater boat in saltwater, make sure you do the required maintenance and cleaning so that your ship does not get damaged. Before taking your freshwater boat into the ocean, ensure the hull has enough sturdiness to handle a saltwater environment. Most boats, particularly those typically used in freshwater, have a hull strength designed for nearshore operation. While freshwater boats will float on saltwater, their flat-hull design makes them vulnerable to waves, and highly saline waters deteriorate hulls and drive systems. Saltwater boats encounter more turbulent conditions and rocky coastlines, so their hull shapes are designed to handle the rougher waters. This does not mean saltwater boats are immune from corrosion--they still need periodic cleaning and maintenance, but they are more equipped to handle the rigors of saltwater. This is important because saltwater causes corrosion more quickly than freshwater. In freshwater, the paint takes some extra time to erode off your boat's hull or to wear away than it does in saltwater. On the Hazard of Corrosion Corrosion can be devastating, so staying on top of your maintenance routines and washing your boat with fresh water regularly is essential. Your boat should not need upgrades since fresh water will be less corrosive than salt water. Especially if your boat is at sea, washing the ship after the saltwater is used will take off the salt and limit corrosion damage. If a freshwater boat, which has never been in salt water, is not given sufficient attention and maintenance, it is sure to be in much worse shape than a saltwater boat. Both salt and fresh water can undoubtedly harm your boat; using your boat in saltwater can damage your ship more quickly than using a freshwater one because of the more significant amount of salt. You are not dealing with saltwater corrosion and destructive properties when having your boat in northern freshwater hemisphere lakes. The storing process will be slightly different when moving your boat from freshwater to saltwater, depending on which part of the world you are talking about. Knowing the differences is essential if you are planning to use your boat in either water since you may have heard some engines are specifically designed to work in saltwater. You must understand the differences between Saltwater Motors and Freshwater Motors, no matter what kind of water you are boating in. Now we will look at some effects when using your boat in Saltwater vs. Freshwater to get the main differences out in detail. In this post, we will go over those differences to better understand what kind of boat is best suited to your needs. Freshwater Boats Struggle More Easily than Saltwater Ones Avoid using a freshwater-rated boat when large waves are present because not only will the ride be rough, but it could also be extremely hazardous. When using the boat in salt and freshwater, it is also necessary to wash down every part of your trailer to avoid corrosion. Boats intended for freshwater will require additional maintenance after every use in saltwater to avoid severe damage in the future. Saltwater boats also require a more frequent maintenance schedule than freshwater lake boats. Boats that take periodic trips into salt water, or even boats anchored long-term in salty waters, can be just as well, if not better, maintained as boats stored in freshwater. By flushing systems and washing boats after saltwater trips, ships may not have suffered from an occasional trip to saltwater at all. Remember, this certainly does not mean freshwater boats are not maintained, and while less frequent, they too will experience the corrosion problems and hull-bottom fouling just as saltwater boats will. Freshwater Boats Are Easier to Maintain It is no secret that boats used, or even stored, in freshwater are typically far more accessible to maintain than ships spending most of their time in saltwater; that, of course, does not stop thousands of saltwater boaters from continuing to return to coastal waterways season after season. Because saltwater is denser than freshwater, boats will hover lower in freshwater than saltwater, no matter how deep the water is. A freshwater hull is designed for operations near the coastline, while a saltwater hull can handle deep waters and rocky sea conditions. It does not matter what powers your boat -- inboard, outboard, in/out, a motorized boat - anything on your vessel that comes into contact with salt water is not safe from its corrosion powers. If you have been boating for any time, you are likely no stranger to how water damages metal. If you live in a saltwater area or are familiar with how saltwater can affect metal, you might be hesitating about having a pontoon boat. Knowing what we know about how corrosive and damaging saltwater is on metal, pontoon boats start pitting and breaking down in just a couple of years.