You may or may not know, but you will need different types of boats when it comes to freshwater and saltwater. Have you ever wondered why? Or have you ever thought about why you can’t use your freshwater boats in saltwater or vice versa?

If you have any of these questions in mind, then you are in the right place. In this article, we mention the primary difference between both types of boats, and help you understand how you can use your freshwater boat for saltwater and vice versa. Let’s dig in.

Freshwater vs. Saltwater Boats: What’s the Difference

Freshwater and saltwater boats are greatly different from each other. The composition of saltwater has more salt elements, which can damage your boat if you don’t take certain precautions. Here are some key differences between these two boats that you need to know.

Corrosion Resistance

Saltwater boats are typically designed while keeping the corrosion factor in mind. You can say that they are almost resistant to rust or corrosion because of obvious reasons. Manufacturers incorporate several features such as closed cooling systems to make a boat corrosion resistant. This system helps boaters to manually flush their engines whenever they use their boat.

Mercathode Systems

This is another major difference between freshwater and saltwater boats. Saltwater boats have a system known as mercathode system. This cathodic protection feature runs electric currents throughout the engine. It helps the engine to avoid galvanic corrosion. Hence, you get a boat with a long life span.

Hull Fouling

Freshwater boats also have chances of getting affected by marine life. Conversely, saltwater watercraft are susceptible to the growth of marine life near the hull –for instance, barnacles can cut open bellows. Not to mention, you also need more time and effort to maintain and remove your hull because of the marine life.

Hull Construction

The type of water that will be best for your boat depends on your boat’s design. Most freshwater watercrafts come with a hull designed to be close to the shore. This means that you have to carefully choose the water condition if you are using a freshwater vessel.

Can I Use Freshwater Boat in Saltwater?

As we have already discussed, there are many differences between saltwater and freshwater boats. This is because both waters have different requirements. You can easily use your freshwater watercraft in the saltwater if you have upgraded it for saltwater use. However, if you have not incorporated some features into your boat for saltwater use, you have to keep a few things in your mind to prevent corrosion. You need to consider the following things.

• Make sure to flush your engine with some freshwater after you use your boat.
• Hose down the watercraft with freshwater. Any salt resting on the parts of the boat or hull can cause significant damages.

So, you decide to take out your boat from saltwater just after a day on the water. For this reason, you hoist your boat into your trailer. You might think that this is a good idea, but there is a drawback. Salt is extremely aggressive on iron, and it can reach the places that you can’t clean. This is why it can start damaging your trailer too. So, hose down your trailer after every trip to avoid any inconvenience.

How to Deal With Saltwater Corrosion?

To avoid struggling with saltwater corrosion, there are plenty of ways to deal with or prevent this problem. Generally, when you use a boat in saltwater, you need to do extra maintenance. So, if you do the cleaning and maintenance correctly, you can easily increase the lifespan of your boat.

The first thing you need to do is to upgrade your system. You need to install a closed cooling system, freshwater flush system, and mercathode system. In addition to that, for the solution of the bottom fouling of saltwater, you have to cover the hull with a layer of anti-fouling paint. This paint aims to protect your hull from corrosion. If you want to leave your boat in the water throughout the season, whether in saltwater or freshwater, then this is an ideal option for you.

Can I Use Saltwater Boat in Freshwater?

You already know that a freshwater boat needs a lot of upgrades to use in the saltwater. But when it comes to a saltwater boat, you don’t need to worry about much when taking it into freshwater. This is because saltwater boats have the design, shape, construction, and features that can withstand every type of harsh condition. Wondering why? The answer is obvious. This is because they have to get into the saltwater that has so many impurities and salt that can damage any boat easily.

So, if you have a saltwater boat, all you need to do is to regularly maintain and clean your boat and you can easily use this it for freshwater purposes without worrying about corrosion or other damages.

Bottom Line

Freshwater and saltwater boats have different requirements. This is because both types of water have different compositions and marine life. We have mentioned some methods that you can use to make your boat suitable for both water environments. However, still, it’s better to use a freshwater boat for freshwater and a saltwater boat for saltwater.

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