Flushing Boat after a run in Salt

[Redhawk-Driver]

I am planning on taking my boat out around the mouth of the Columbia, around the Cathlamet area, and want to know if I should flush the engine after running. How high up in the Columbia River system does the salt water mix with fresh? The tides sure affect the river system, but not sure how high up the salt/fresh water mixing occurs? Any ideas and should I flush the boat if used around the islands just down river of the Cathlamet area? Thanks

[No Reservations]

Only guessing but anywhere the river is effected by the tides the water is probably brackish I would flush.

[Hookeyman]

I really doubt you would ever find any salt up at Cathlamet. The tide backs the water upcoming down the river but the ocean doesn't actually come up that far. Heck the tide affects the Columbia clear up to Bonneville but that doesn't mean you need to flush you motor in Portland,

[Finscent]

If you are worried about it, get a flusher and use it every time you get back , it only takes five minutes when your done. Not a bad habit to get into.:twocents:

[Slugranch]

I've always flushed my engines, even when I fished the Willy. Had my boat moored at Brown's landing 15 years ago, and used to fish springers out of there. After being moored there for 3 months, I pulled the boat and took it home. I had painted the bottom of the boat with anti-fouling paint before mooring and it was basically clean. But,,,the two Mercury engines and the props had some kind of growth on em that looked like little worms adhered to the parts. Scraped them off and tried bleach and numerous chemicals to remove the marks and the rough spots they left on the parts. They were still there when I sold the boat. I'd rinse the engines after every use.

[Redhawk-Driver]

Thanks to all who responded. Put in a Knappa, OR and ran the boat up to the islands just east of Knappa. Great day, my son played non stop on the island. Very interesting how the current changes with the tide change, very rough water in the afternoon as high tide started in.

I washed down the boat last night, ran down to Vancouver Marina and backed the boat in to run the pump for about 10 minutes. I have a Hamilton pump so I can't run the engine without the boat in the water.

Does anyone have any advise as to what soap/cleaning agent to use on the rest of the boat if it was run in salt?

Thanks again to all you great IFisher's. I appreciate it!!

[Raining_Kings]

Thanks to all who responded. Put in a Knappa, OR and ran the boat up to the islands just east of Knappa. Great day, my son played non stop on the island. Very interesting how the current changes with the tide change, very rough water in the afternoon as high tide started in.

I washed down the boat last night, ran down to Vancouver Marina and backed the boat in to run the pump for about 10 minutes. I have a Hamilton pump so I can't run the engine without the boat in the water.

Does anyone have any advise as to what soap/cleaning agent to use on the rest of the boat if it was run in salt?

Thanks again to all you great IFisher's. I appreciate it!!

My North River came with a bottle of a concentrated solution called "Salt-X" that does a great job at disolving the salt deposits that cover your boat after being is salt water/air. Have been looking for it locally, and yet to find it on the shelf, but haven't started looking online etc.

[cj6530]

My North River came with a bottle of a concentrated solution called "Salt-X" that does a great job at disolving the salt deposits that cover your boat after being is salt water/air. Have been looking for it locally, and yet to find it on the shelf, but haven't started looking online etc.

I bought the Salt-X garden hose kit online. It is a must.

[Redhawk-Driver]

Found this online info: http://www.saltx.com/saltx_uses_for-jet-ski.htm

Thanks all!

[MikeN]

You can rig up a way to flush your inboard jet system out without running it.

On your suction hose from the pump install a "T" with another hose off the "T" to a valve and then a hose bib which you hook a garden hose. You must then install a valve on the low side of the "T" towards the pump side in the suction hose which when turned off will force the water into your heat exchanger. If you don't do this the water will just flush the pump because of gravity.

I used heavy duty brass fitings while I have seen people use the plastic fittings from a prestone type radiator flush kit.

A "how-to" was posted on another Jet Boat website.

I have had this set-up on my boat for approx 3 years and it works great!