please help the new guy!1st time in salt water

[ss boxfish]

1st day aboard and 1st time in saltwater.I have a 1960 cruiser from C.C. with a 283 marine engine.I want to put her in the waterways and canals of south Florida.I was thinking to put a fresh water conversion on,but I,ve been told a moter with 1000 hours even though previously used in fresh water will be in trouble with antifreeze pumping thru it.Apparently it will react with any present corrosion to swell and start blowing gaskets.Any ideas or experiance on how to handle this? Off the top of my head I thought I would just cycle fresh water thru the motor at the end of each use,but I would really prefer to have it set up right.Please help the new guy....

[dimitarp]

You can use two cycle, one for fresh water and one for sea water

[ss boxfish]

Thanks for the quick response!Maybe since I,am new at this I dont understand.The boat will remain in saltwater.What is the two cycles you are refering to mean exactly?

[bilgeboy]

Just another thought, that should be more than adequate...

Install a "T" on the pickup side of the engine raw water, and pump fresh water through after every use.

Easy installation
Protects the whole system (vs just the engine)
Cheap


Mike

[ss boxfish]

Thanks,Mike.Yea I heard about these but some guy at Dolphin marine says I wont be cleaning the salt water out of the block,just parts of the motor.Does that make sense?or is he trying to sell me a new engine...The engine itself has 1000 hours on it (freshwater use)so I suppose it,s life is limited even though she runs great at present.Also she will be docked on the water,so can I still flush her engines while she,s still in the water.I,am preety green at this....Thanks,John

[Corpus Skipper]

I wont be cleaning the salt water out of the block,just parts of the motor

The fresh water will go everywhere the salt water goes!

can I still flush her engines while she,s still in the water

Yes. Install the T that was mentioned between the seacock and the engine. I would also install a valve so you can control the flush water without having to run to the faucet. Close the seacock, screw a garden hose into the T, turn on the water, and fire her up. (Don't wait too long to start or you'll fill the whole engine with water, that's the reason for the valve I mentioned) Let the engine run until the thermostat opens (normal operating temp) and viola, you're flushing the entire engine. Let it run for 5 or 10 minutes, then shut her down, and shut off the water. No fuss, cheap and easy.