saltwater conversion

newguy · Post by **newguy** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:20 pm

I'm considering relocating my father's 1973 express cruiser from Lake Erie to the Carolina Coast . Motors are twin gas 225 . What is needed for the conversion to saltwater ?

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:55 pm

Nothing...other than flushing real well after hard use...got keep up on keeping the corrosion factor down.

I have flushers on my strainers which make for flushing the cooling system, a breeze.

newguy · Post by **newguy** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 7:08 pm

Can you flush it out while it's on the trailer ?

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:41 pm

newguy wrote:Can you flush it out while it's on the trailer ?

Yes is the answer...however, you must install a flusher to your existing strainer, if you have one.

Or, install a simple device such as this inline with your water pick-up hose from your seacock to your raw water pump. You can then flush in or out of the water.

http://www.boatmartusa.com/marinemall/p ... -1078.html

newguy · Post by **newguy** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 2:36 pm

Thanks, I was concerned that the engine might require water faster than the garden hose could supply . How long do you run yours to flush out the saltwater ?

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 2:50 pm

Not long, just a few minutes if that...

At idle, there shouldn't be any problem, just enough time to run fresh water through the pump, engine, manifolds and risers.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 3:02 pm

You need to run it long enough to get it up to operating temperature so that the thermostat opens and gets the salt weter out of the block and heads.