[Mhilly]

I have a 2000 Mariah 250 Shabah. It has been a freshwater boat and I plan on relocating the boat to the west coast. Other than bottom painting the boat is there anything that I will need to do to the boat to prepare it for salt water? It will be dry stacked when not in use so the engines will get flushed when it is pulled out of the water and stacked.

[Andy b]

You'll need to change/fit anodes for sea water ones.

How long are you planning to leave the boat in the water each time?
If you are keeping it in a drystack then there's no need to anti foul the bottom.

I trailer launch mine and it is only ever used in salt water and I just wash it off after use.

[Mhilly]

Thanks so much for the reply. There may be times that I leave the boat in the salt water for 3-4 days at a time and then it will be dry stacked and washed. Do you think there is still no need for bottom paint?

[Andy b]

In the summer it's not unusual for me to leave it in for a week. Infact when i had mine stacked and they were doing maintenance on the fork lift it was in for a month. They can get a bit slimey, but nothing that doesn't wash off. You only really need to anti foul if you're planning on leaving the boat in for a season on a mooring.

[ShabahZ280]

Yep, agree with Andy. Swap your anodes for Zinc versions. BoatZincs.com has Martyr brand packaged sets for relatively cheap. Saltwater anodes are actually cheaper than the magnesium versions for freshwater! Other than that, make sure and do your routine maintenance, impeller, fuel/water separator, drive oil, engine oil, etc every year, and get a really good coat of wax on it once, or twice a year.

As for anti-fouling bottom paint, if the longest you'll ever leave it in is 3-4 days, then there's no need to do an anti-fouling paint. You can wash and scrub off any of the scum you'll accumulate over just a few days. Plus, it saves you a bunch of work and $$. The initial prep and anti-fouling will definitely put a divot in your wallet. Save yourself the coin and use it for fuel for more boating trips!

[Andy b]

Mine after she'd been in for a week.
One side washed off the other still to be done.

Anti-foul is sometimes a necessary evil, But an evil none the less......

Also it will affect the resale value of the boat.

[ShabahZ280]

Great example photo Andy! He's also correct about the resale value, and antifouling will also affect top end performance as you'll lose a few MPH with the added weight and changes to the surface structure. My advice to you is to go without any bottom paint this year and see how it goes. If you need it, at least you'll know, and it'll be a great project for next year.