I've heard before to stay away from buying a boat that has been in saltwater as the saltwater is so corrosive to boat and motor components but should that only apply to a boat that has spent it's entire life in saltwater? What about a boat that has been in both freshwater and saltwater and the owner says that the boat was rinsed with freshwater after every saltwater trip and the motor flushed...would that be okay or should I just stay away from a boat completely if it's ever been in saltwater?

Well if the owner says so, then it should be totally OK ~

You're kidding right ?

 At some point in this process there has to be a time when you realize that some humans are occasionally less than completely truthful.

Unless you plan on using the boat in saltwater as well, is there really any reason to go down that road ?

I'm going to say no on that one.

A-Jay

I had a place in Galveston for years, now I upon return my house, would flush the engine out for about five minutes and also would spray the heck out of the inside and out and also the trailer.  It mattered not, I was still replacing this and that all the time.  Even the electronics would have issues with connections and stuff

Like the other guy said no reason to go down that road unless you have to.

Point taken, reaffirms my suspicions. Thanks gents!!!

I grew up on salt water and I personally would not put my present boat or trailer in salt water as much as I would like to. Back in the day a steel trailer was considered old if it was 10 years old. I would never buy an outboard that was tied up at a dock in salt water without first taking it apart. Big inboards that do not have fresh water cooling but rely on sea water for cooling do not last many years.