[HandsFree]

Okay, this may sound silly to some of you but I figured who better to ask then the experts. So here it goes, I currently have my 1997 3100 Open with Crusaders in Lake Michigan and I would like to some day move to the Gulf coast and take my boat with me.  After talking to a few of the other boaters who also own Tiaras and spend their summers up north and winters in Florida (using different boats) about taking my boat to the salt they all say not to do it.  They say that my boat would not fair well in those conditions "salt water" and that I should sell my current boat and buy an outboard boat when I get there.  I know that there are Tiara's in salt water but is it really not a good idea to take mine there.  I bought this boat just so that when I retire I could take it with me when I move south.  I realize that there is more maintenance in salt water but isn't that true for any boat in salt water? They really burst my bubble with this, I really love my boat but I don't want to do something that I will soon regret.  So, what's your take? Sell current boat which I really like and buy and outboard or keep my dream boat and suffer the consequences? 

Thanks for you thoughts.

[ReelMagic]

Not sure I agree with your friends that a Tiara 31 is not ready for salt water... Tiara builds a super high quality boat that is more than salt water ready. I owned a 1997 31 Tiara as well for more than 10 years used only in salt water with no impact due to salt (if taken care of). My engines were 454 CI Crusaders w/Fresh Water cooling and I assume yours are the same. Since they are fresh water cooled the maintenance required include the raw water pumps and exhaust elbows (every 7 years or so)..  Maintenance may be a little more due to the salt environment but if there properly maintained I see no additional issues due to the salt environment... My current boat is a 38 Tiara Open w/Cummins diamond series diesels.... Again I see no adverse impact to the boat or motors in salt water as they receive proper maintenance.. Washing the boat after use to remove salt spray, etc is generally what all boaters do in a salt environment. Washing may be needed more frequently in a salt vice fresh water environment but again wanting to keep the boat in pristine condition is a driving incentive to me.... BTW sold my 1997 31 after 10 years with no problem and for what was a fair value. Fresh water boats generally get more than salt water boats but if either is not maintained the value is less....   

[trit21]

I will never understand some people that tell you salt water will ruin a boat. Yes, more maintenance but if you keep up with it you will be fine. Actually, you will be better than most boats up north as you will know your boat so much better since maintenance will be done more frequently. You bought your boat because you love it and want to use it, I say learn as much as you can about regular maintenance and stay on top of it when in salt water. Maybe add a fresh water rinse for the engines, use salt away maybe and enjoy. Just remember to change or at the very least check you risers and manifolds more often. Not sure how you manifold risers are plumbed (coolant cooled or raw water) but those items are the most critical. People are so afraid of salt water for some reason, it really is not a big deal. My model year 2000 3500 open has been a salt water boat all its life , yes it is diesel but keeping up with maintenance is the key. 

[rose_surfer]

I'd agree with all the points above. It's absurd to say a tiara 3100 is not a salt water boat. That being said I lived in FL and now do my boating on the Chesapeake. I own a 3100 now but had a smaller outboard powered proline down there. The reason you may or may not want a different boat down there is the type of boating you'll do. If you plan to spend time in the flats or are wanting to beach it on islands and sand bars then outboards make a lot of sense. If you want or need to make 40 kts then outboards are, again your best option. Some of that you might not know until you get down there. If it's not cost prohibitive to take your boat, why not take it and see how it works.

There are plenty of tiaras in FL, and you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a crusader powered Bertram, etc FBC or express.

[Uhehner]

My '88 Tiara has been in salt water every day of its life except for a one week per year haul out for a bottom job. There are no blisters or signs of corrosion anywhere, inside or out.  I think you are referring to low priced boats that have Zamack or chrome plated zinc fittings that pit, peel and corrode in salt water or China's stainless fittings that leave rust stains after a short time in salt or fresh water. Tiaras do not have this problem, they are quality throughout.  You get what you paid for. Put your Tiara in salt water and enjoy it like the 1000's of others. Just a quick fresh water wash at the end of the day is all you need to do. If you have Crusader engines they probably are fresh water cooled. If not I would highly recommend adding a heat exchanger.
Capt. George

[HandsFree]

Thanks for all of your inputs.  I think I will do as I had planned and take it to the Gulf. Now it is just a matter of retiring and deciding on where to move to in Florida.  It has to have great fishing near by. 

[ReelMagic]

Thanks for all of your inputs.  I think I will do as I had planned and take it to the Gulf. Now it is just a matter of retiring and deciding on where to move to in Florida.  It has to have great fishing near by. 

Good luck on retiring and your selecting where to move to. Also with your trip to FL. Should be a great time

[rose_surfer]

Take a look at my old stomping grounds - the space coast area. Not on the gulf side, but a great place to live and pretty affordable for what you get. You can get a whole lot for your money in Titusville, Merritt Island, down to Palm bay, etc, or if you want to be closer to the beach cape canaveral, cocoa beach, satellite beach, all the way down to vero beach are all options. Fishing is out of Port Canaveral or Sebastian inlet. The port is much easier to navigate, but Sebastian perhaps less crowded.

Whatever you decide - congratulations and enjoy!

[Uhehner]

Stay away from Lake Okeechobee and the water coming into the rivers. It's not dirty, not polluted, it's TOXIC. The St Lucie River on the east side  and Caloosahatchee River into the Gulf are DARK brown and closed to swimming. It's black two miles out into the ocean at the St. Lucie Inlet. An environmental disaster.
Capt. George

[Fiddlehead]

Gotta agree with those above.  My 2002 3500 Open hasn't spent a day of it's life in fresh water, and it's looking and running great.  I give it a quick rinse with the hose whenever I come back to the dock - including a wipe of the windshields if they're covered with spray - and I'm good to go.

Your 3100 with do just fine.