Saltwater vs Aluminum

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mariner36

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I purchased a waterfront property in Florida, Charlotte Harbor to be exact. I plan on eventually going with a two boat solution when I move south, but for now I plan to keep my 36' Carver on Lake Ontario as I will only be in Florida at most 6 weeks a year.

With that in mind, I am interested in picking up a small, affordable boat to fish and cruise the harbor when I am in town.

I looked at a pontoon boat yesterday at my home marina, as well as a used bass boat.

I have not had a boat with a single engine, or a boat under 30' in more than 20 years, other than my pwcs.

I like the stability of the pontoon boat over the bass boat, but I am very concerned about the effects of the saltwater on the Aluminum pontoon boat. How much of a concern is it?

The pontoon boat is around 40k and I would hate to see it rust/ corrode away over the course of a few years.

So, what do we think of aluminum in saltwater applications?
 
Darn near everything on a pontoon is Al. You're going to get corrosion regardless. If you are only concerned with the toons themselves, consider a spray on bed liner as a protectant.

http://www.xtremeliners.com/marine.html

As for the price, that seems high to me. I see them everyday for under $20K here. Not perfect by any means but for tooling around for six weeks, who needs perfect.

My 2 centavos.
 
Thanks, KiDa, I appreciate the reponse. Yes, pretty much the whole boiat is aluminum.

I was looking at a new boat, which explains the price. It is a Soutbay 500 series, fishing model.

I don't mind spending a bit, but I don't want something that will be severly degraded by exposure to salt.
 
Personally, I would recommend a 19'-20' center console open boat. A pontoon boats don't handle waves and chop very well at all and the waters around Charlotte Harbor can get pretty snotty.

A CC will handle the conditions on salt water much better and make a very nice fishing platform. With Boca Grande Pass right there you will have access to some of the best fishing in Florida.

Either way, though, if you're going to be leaving the boat unattended for those long periods of time you really want to get the boat out of the water either on a lift or on a trailer.

Bob
 
It's your money but I'm not sure I'd be buying a new boat that I'm only going to be using for 6 weeks a year. There are still a lot of good used boats out there for sale at good prices. You could always by new once you move down more full time.

As to whether you should get a pontoon boat or not, how will you be using your boat? Just tooling around the canals and coast line in nice weather? Or would you be doing some longer trips out towards the Gulf?
 
Most people down here keep small boats on lifts. Not only is there dissolving of aluminum, there is wave action, wind and marine growth.

As I look around my neighborhood...across the river from Charlotte Harbor...I see not a single small boat in the water without a lift.
 
Thank you for the replies. I will mostly be just tooling around, familiarizing myself with the area. I also hope to do some inshore fishing.

I am reluctant to head out to the gulf until I have a larger boat down there. I was considering he pontoon as it looks safe and stable for putting around.

When I move down full time I will then explore the gulf, and plan some extended trips with a proper twin engine.

This is just a play boat. The center consoles are very popular, but look uncomfortable for just cruising around. Not much seating, not much sun cover, no trolling motor, etc.

You are right about not buying new. I only considered it because I hadn't found any used boats up north that fit the bill in decent shape, and I was afraid of buying used if it had been in salt water.

It has been along time since I have looked for a small, single engine outboard boat.

The bass boat is a bargain, I know the owner, low hours, spotless, and priced to sell, but I have no experience on one. I am concerned that either myself or a guest are going to be taking a swim if hit by a wave, or just get a bit careless.
 
I will put lifts in when I am down more often. I plan on taking 3, 2 week trips a year for fishing and exploring the are.

I was just going to pull the boat out and leave it at a farm I own nearby when I am not in Florida.
 
I 2nd Bob's advise. Charlotte Harbor is not the venue for a pontoon boat. The normal 10 knot wind can make it choppy on the best of days. Higher winds which are quite common....can make the water downright ugly in the open parts. If you are wanting a boat similar to a pontoon, consider a deck boat. Fiberglass will hold up much better than aluminum-the deeper the V hull...the better. Just my two cents.
 
i have one up here in nj as long as you paint the bottom they hold up good allso i use shark skin on the unpainted parts holds up great
 
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