Saltwater to freshwater

[ScottM]

What happens to a wooden boat when it goes from salt to freshwater? I'm thinking of buying a boat in Nova Scotia, but I live near Lake Ontario. Will it require additional maintenance?

Cheers

[ScottM]

And a P.S. on the first post - I'm about half done my Shellback - will hopefully complete by August before teaching starts again (2nd summer at her). Will post pictures.

Cheers

[Dan McCosh]

My boat was kept in salt water for about 25 years, moved to the Great L:akes and has been in fresh ever since. Fresh doesn't have corrosion problems, hence there is no problem there. I've seen some corrosion in fastenings (everdure) that seems to be a relic of the salt-water days. Bottom line is that there is no significant problem. Going into salt, there could be issues with electrolysis, etc. (One example is engine cooling--raw water works fine in fresh, while intercoolers are used in salt.)

[Victor]

Didn't someone say rainwater is more damaging than salt? Either because it promotes bacterial growth or perhaps because of its own chemical properties. I think it's more important to keep fresh water from standing in the bilge than salt water, which has some preservative properties.

[Dan McCosh]

There is a theory that salt water preserves wood, while fresh water promotes rot. While there may be some truth to this, some wooden boats seem to do just fine in fresh water while others have a short life. I think the type of wood is important here--I've noted that softwood-planked, downeast sailboats sometimes deteriorate quickly. My boat is pushing 70 years, with 50 in fresh water, and the rot I've repaired has been related to bad ventilation, drainage, lack of sealing, etc.--I doubt salt water would have improved the life. A sister ship has never had a plank replaced.

[Victor]

Right, but I believe someone said a trailered boat with rainwater in the bilge will deteriorate faster than one in fresh water. Maybe just because of the wet-dry cycle.

[Scott Rosen]

A boat in fresh water will float lower on its lines. Don't be surprised if the painted waterline ends up below the actual waterline.

[Oyvind Snibsoer]

Regarding rain water:
My dad, a retired chemical engineer who was with a major paint company for ~15 years, told me recently that one of paint's worst enemies is distilled water. Rain water is, in effect, distilled water. The problem is that distilled water is able to penetrate just about any film of paint, which will lead to bubbles and flaking. Salt water does not have the same penetrating capabilities, so while salt water may be worse for metals, it's much better for wood.

[Victor]

I've also heard drinking distilled water can cause health problems.

[paladin]

The problem with distilled water....and continually drinking or using water from a desalinator...is the lack of minerals in the water. It is recommended that for persons drinking/cooking with desalinated or rainwater to take a one a day or multivitamin at least once every other day or three times a week. Additionally there may be a slight "funny" taste due to lack of aeration.......