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I’m looking at a boat with 180 hours in Florida. It has the Volvo 380 with ocean x outdrive. As a Michigan guy, I’m really nervous about buying a salt water boat. My more experienced boating buddies say it’s not worth the risk and get a used fresh water ride. Checking the crew for thoughts.

Spine Guy wrote: Tue Feb 12, 2019 5:25 pm I’m looking at a boat with 180 hours in Florida. It has the Volvo 380 with ocean x outdrive. As a Michigan guy, I’m really nervous about buying a salt water boat. My more experienced boating buddies say it’s not worth the risk and get a used fresh water ride. Checking the crew for thoughts.

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I’m sure there are some great saltwater deals out there, but as a strictly freshwater boater, I personally stay away from saltwater boats—unless it’s my dads or my brother’s.....And those I only drive but would never buy.
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SALT

Being a fresh water boater... I wouldn't even consider it!

The OceanX package is a different paint, and electronic sensors detecting water intrusion. Other than that, the drives are the same, with no real mechanical/seal advantage to the OX.
I wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole.

I’d never buy a salt water boat either. The 380 is probably closed cooled so it would be protected from the salt. But the drive and heat exchanger has not. Either way pass

The other thing to consider is what the salt has done to the interior.....if anything. Depends on how meticulous the previous owner(s) were.

Yeah, the local cobalt dealer just sold a brand new A36 and took a 28-30 footer of something on trade. I think I’ll stick Midwest for my used boat search and see what this is all above it tomorrow.

The guy died and his wife dumped the boat for something smaller. I couldn’t track down service records so that’s another flag. It’s. Its not worth it unless I get a 50% discount hahaha!

Spine Guy wrote: Tue Feb 12, 2019 6:48 pm Yeah, the local cobalt dealer just sold a brand new A36 and took a 28-30 footer of something on trade. I think I’ll stick Midwest for my used boat search and see what this is all above it tomorrow.

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I think that’s best SG.
That being said, there are a few meticulous owner’s on this site who take incredible care of their saltwater Cobalts. Always an option to consider down the road.

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Out of curiosity what model where you looking at?

Just happened to find a pic of the previous owner rinsing the boat after a sun filled day of salt air and spray.

See no worries. .

There’s a reason Salt water boats are always advertised “New exhaust and risers replaced” and the boats only 4 years old.

Hey you may be able to score a well taken care of saltwater boat. One that used a true flush every time. Wiped the interior every time out or weekly when not in use.
But the risk may not way out the lower price. I vote keep shopping .!

STAY AWAY! I got burned on a salt water boat years ago. Ill NEVER buy one again. There are just too many fresh water boats available for sale to even think about it.

I love salt. On tomatoes. Not so much on my boat. Keep looking.

I would never buy a used salt water boat. Salt water is exactly why we bought our Cobalt in Illinois. Living in So. Cal near the beach, I see what salt water has done to my bought-new jet-skis, trailers and rear brakes on my truck. I am obsessed with cleaning and flushing after use with salt-away and my trailer still looks terrible. It's not just the salt water, but the whole environment that is so hard on everything.

Nope

As a former saltwater (sail)boater owner of a boat built and designed for offshore sailing..don’t do it. As said, the riser and manifolds will go eventually and the lower unit will have a much shorter life. Our cobalts are built to a great standard but they are not built to saltwater standards. Salt is an evil thing thT coats everything even just sitting in a marina.