How to Properly Maintain Your Boat for Saltwater Adventures

Saltwater might be great for fishing, diving, and living the dream — but it’s brutal on boats. Corrosion, wear, and electrical gremlins show up faster than you can say “flush the motor.” If you want your boat to stay safe, reliable, and ready for every offshore mission, a bit of regular maintenance is non-negotiable.

Here’s how to properly care for your boat before, during, and after your saltwater adventures — so it keeps performing trip after trip.

1. Rinse Everything — Every Time

Salt is sneaky. If you don’t wash it off, it’ll eat your boat from the inside out.

• Use fresh water to rinse the hull, trailer, motor, and gear after every saltwater trip

• Don’t forget hatches, under the gunnels, rod holders, and live wells

• Use a light soap or salt-removing wash for stubborn spots

Pro tip: A hose with a spray nozzle and a bit of discipline goes a long way — make rinsing part of your routine, not an afterthought.

2. Flush the Motor Like Your Life Depends on It

Because one day, it just might.

• Use a flushing kit or earmuffs to run fresh water through the engine for 5–10 minutes

• For outboards with a flush port, follow the manufacturer’s steps (some say not to run the motor)

• Let the engine run until it’s warm enough to burn off moisture

Pro tip: Trim the motor up and down a few times post-flush to drain trapped water from the leg.

3. Check Anodes & Replace When Needed

Sacrificial anodes are your corrosion defence — once they’re gone, your metal bits are next.

• Found on outboards, trim tabs, hulls, and stern gear

• Replace when they’re more than 50% corroded or heavily pitted

• Always use marine-grade anodes (zinc, aluminium, or magnesium depending on your water type)

Pro tip: Aluminium anodes are the go-to for saltwater and trailer boats — they last longer and protect better.

4. Grease All the Right Spots

Keep things moving — and stop salt from turning your gear into rusted statues.

• Grease the prop shaft, steering components, throttle linkages, trailer rollers, and winch gears

• Use marine grease — it’s waterproof and designed to handle harsh environments

• Don’t forget your wheel bearings — especially on the trailer

Pro tip: Carry a grease gun onboard or in the ute — you’ll thank yourself before (and after) that long drive home.

5. Keep Your Battery Happy

Saltwater and electrics don’t get along — treat your battery right and avoid headaches.

• Charge after every trip, even if you didn’t use much power

• Check terminals for corrosion and clean them with baking soda and water if needed

• Use dielectric grease on contacts to protect against moisture and salt creep

Pro tip: Add a voltmeter or battery monitor so you can spot issues before you’re stranded offshore.

6. Inspect Your Trailer Thoroughly

It’s easy to focus on the boat and forget the thing that gets it there.

• Rinse the whole trailer, especially the axles, brakes, springs, and winch

• Check for rust, loose bolts, worn rollers, and light issues

• Replace any rusty parts before they fail — trailers cop it hard in salt

Pro tip: Spraying your trailer with lanolin or a corrosion inhibitor can help extend its life significantly.

7. Look After Your Fuel System

Bad fuel = bad day on the water.

• Store your boat with a full tank and a fuel stabiliser to prevent condensation and breakdown

• Replace fuel filters regularly — every 50–100 hours is a good rule of thumb

• Check hoses for cracks or soft spots, and use ethanol-free fuel where possible

Pro tip: Carry a spare fuel filter and know how to swap it on the water — just in case.

8. Protect Your Electronics

GPS, sounders, radios — they’re expensive, and salt loves to fry them.

• Cover them when not in use and avoid direct sun exposure when parked

• Use a microfibre cloth and a light electronics cleaner for screens

• Keep connections dry and use dielectric grease on plugs and terminals

Pro tip: Disconnect batteries or use a master kill switch when storing the boat to avoid slow-drain damage.

9. Do Regular Checks Between Trips

Don’t leave it all for the end of the season.

• Run your motor at home every couple of weeks if you’re not using it

• Check bilge pumps, lights, steering, and safety gear often

• Inspect your hull for cracks, barnacles, or hidden damage

Pro tip: Keep a checklist on your phone or in your shed — knock it off before and after every trip.

10. Book a Full Service Yearly (At Least)

DIY is great, but pros can spot things you’ll miss.

• Schedule an annual service with a marine mechanic — especially before big offshore runs

• They’ll check the impeller, thermostat, gear oil, ignition, and more

• Keep your service history documented — it helps with resale and peace of mind

Pro tip: If you do big hours or run hard offshore often, consider a 6-monthly check-up.

Quick Recap

Saltwater boating is some of the best fun you can have — but it’s brutal on gear if you don’t stay on top of it. With regular rinsing, flushing, greasing, and a bit of mechanical love, your boat will stay in top shape and ready to chase fish, explore islands, or just blast across the blue without a hitch.

So treat your boat like it’s part of the crew — and it’ll keep coming back strong, trip after trip.