Neither of our opinions really matter, the market matters and has spoken. soldboats.com clearly shows significantly higher prices for fresh water boats.
This is the entire point at question though. Given they command a premium, is the premium worth paying?
On your question regarding saltwater vs freshwater systems. Yes, many freshwater boats end up with repairs/upgrades using freshwater materials. Examples:
- Painted mild steel instead of aluminum or stainless or wrong alloy (ie 3003 instead of 5052 for aluminum)
- Standard copper wire rather than marine grade
- Non-marine accessories (ie household or automotive devices like antennas, electronic devices, lighting, etc.) that will fall apart in salt water environment
- Corrosion control tuned for fresh water (magnesium anodes, reduced # anodes, etc)
I have personally seen a number of freshwater boats with equipment that would degrade quickly in salt water. It is something you need to be aware of when viewing freshwater boats.
No debate about saltwater corrosion being "a thing", this much is obvious. However, in a properly built cruising vessel, I just don't believe it's a significant issue on a typical used boat in good condition within typical age range. And, if it is an issue (such as in the photos you shared), it is obvious and caught before purchase. There are much bigger fish to fry when looking at purchasing a boat than searching for a freshwater-only boat.
For me, here's what I think about when viewing vessels:
- Value. As listed, do I believe this is a good buy? I personally prefer to buy deals where I can exit without large loss if necessary. Boat listings swing wildly in value and it pays to be patient and find a good buy.
- Features. Write down a list of desired high-ticket features. Stabilizers? heat? AC? New electronics? watermaker? paying an extra 10k for 80k stabilizers is good value if you're set on having them.
- Powerplant. How old is the engine? Hours? Reviews on this model?
- Condition. Corrosion issues? Paint/gelcoat? Interior? Woodwork? Level of wear on each piece of equipment?