There are different waters where you may want to enjoy your sailboat, but there is a difference in the maintenance that needs to be done for saltwater, brackish waters, and freshwater environments. Before you get ready to transport your boat from its saltwater home to a freshwater marina or back and forth, the following tips will help you with the maintenance that is going to need to be done before you can start sailing:

Upgrading the Wiring and Batteries to Withstand Different Marine Environments

Boats that are designed for freshwater environments often have simple automotive wiring that is not designed to withstand the corrosion from salt. Whether you plan on sailing in saltwater, freshwater, or both, it can be a good investment to upgrade the electrical wiring, communications equipment, and electronics of your vessel to marine grade materials to prevent wear and ensure everything is working when you need it.

Choosing the Best Engine for Both Saltwater and Freshwater Environments

There are different types of engines that can be used to power sail boats when there is no wind, or you need to do maneuvers. Freshwater engines are typically outboard engines that are vulnerable to the saltwater marine environment. Therefore, you will want to do modifications to your outboard engine to make it withstand the harsh saltwater conditions, but still be ideal for shallow freshwater and navigating smaller bodies of water. If possible, an inboard engine setup will be much better than outboard engines but will also be more difficult to maintain.

Having Durable Marine Finish for Your Hull and Cleaning It When You Transport Your Boat to A Different Environment

If you are going to be sailing in freshwater, your boat just needs to have a protective finish that protects your boat from wear. If you are going to be boating in both saltwater and freshwater environments, you will want to make sure that you have a marine-grade finish that will protect the materials the hull is made of from corrosion. In addition, every time a boat transportation service moves your boat from one environment to another, you will want to make sure you thoroughly clean the hull and inspect it for minor damage to reduce wear.

Modifying the Cooling System of Your Engine for Durability in The Different Marine Environments

The cooling system of your boat's engine is the most vulnerable area of mechanical components. This is due to the salt in saltwater environments and mud and debris in shallow and freshwater environments. Therefore, you will want to consider modifying the cooling system with a closed system for an inboard engine or adapting your outboard setup to a custom heat exchanger design to protect it from saltwater, mud, and debris in the different marine environments.

These are some tips that will help you to prepare to transport your sailboat from a saltwater to a freshwater environment. If you think you are prepared to move your vessel to a freshwater marine, contact a boat transport service for help getting it to its new home.