NOTE: I posted this thread originally at 7:45ish CST today, before the board went down. I apologize if this is a duplicate, but a search failed to turn up the origingal.
Mrs. HeyHomie and I are planning to go to Daytona Beach, FL for a weekend next summer. Some friends of the family have volunteered to loan us their boat; one of these.
[ul]
[li]This boat has been used on freshwater all its life. Could it survive being on saltwater for the weekend? Would it need some sort of cleaning or flushing after its saltwater use?[/li][li]Would the Coast Guard allow such a boat on the ocean? I don’t plan on going more than a few hundred yards from shore.[/li][li]How would I get the boat from the trailer into the water? At my local lake I’d just back it down the ramp into the water. I imagine there’s more to it than that. Would I use a marina? If so, can Joe Public just drive up to the marina, pay the fee, and get their boat into the water however it’s done?[/li][/ul]
This boat has been used on freshwater all its life. Could it survive being on saltwater for the weekend? Would it need some sort of cleaning or flushing after its saltwater use?
It will need to be rinsed well with fresh water to prevent corrosion from the salt water is all you need to do. Flush the engine(s) etc.
*
Would the Coast Guard allow such a boat on the ocean? I don’t plan on going more than a few hundred yards from shore.*
It will probably need to be registered in the state where you plan to use it. Check to see if they have temporary permits.
*
How would I get the boat from the trailer into the water? At my local lake I’d just back it down the ramp into the water. I imagine there’s more to it than that. Would I use a marina? If so, can Joe Public just drive up to the marina, pay the fee, and get their boat into the water however it’s done?*
Same deal at the marina. Look for one that has “public access” ramps or you may find that a “for a fee” ramp is your only choice, it just depends on what is available where you go.
How big is your boat? What type? What is the horsepower?
I have a 15 foot 1956 Duracraft aluminum boat with a 30 HP Evinrude that does very well on Florida lakes–Can’t seem to kill it no matter how I abuse it.
–but I would not even consider taking it out on the ocean.
Absolutely. Although I’m not too familiar with jet drive systems, I’d imagine a simple flushing with fresh water is all that would be required. Outboard motors, for example, are typically flushed out with fresh water after salt water use.
The Coast Guard really doesn’t have any say in this regard, to be honest. The only time the USCG will step in and prevent a recreational boat to travel on a certain waterway is if the voyage is “manifestly unsafe”. For example, if you built a boat out of garbage, and planned to sail it to Australia, the CG may deem that voyage manifestly unsage and stop you from trying it. These are extreme and rare events.
Yeah, that’s pretty much how it’s done near the ocean as well. Just about any marina can accomodate launching and recovering trailerable boats.
Vessels only need to be registered in the state of principal use. Even if he dragged the boat to Florida from Illinois, he can still get by with IL registration numbers for up to 90 consecutive days.
You can take that boat on the ocean but make sure to check the boating forecast and make sure the seas are going to calm. Anything over 2-3ft. and I wouldn’t go out. Most people who have small bowrider boats like your example stay in the lagoon (or river as most locals call it) which pretty much always has calm water because it’s protected by the barrier island. You can put your boat in the water the same way you would as a lake. There are both public boat ramps and private. If you want to take the boat on the ocean you would go out of the Ponce Inlet, as there are no boat ramps that lead directly to the ocean . I am two counties south of the area but if it’s anything like here, you must keep the boat within the channel markers (which mark the Intracoastal Waterway) or else you risk running aground (yes, even in a boat that uses only a foot of water). Make sure you have all the required equipment (fire extinguisher, life vests, etc.) and make sure you stay at idle speed in the manatee zones or you risk a hefty fine.