[Putershark]

I don't know what is worse on equipment. acid or salt water I have found out though (by accident) that Gunk bug and tar remover (really just canned kerosene)
works great for keeping your engine covers all nice and shiny and helps keep the mounting bolts for the linkage, etc from rusting after your normal rinse down routine.

Last thing I do before putting the cover on the engine is after the rinse water has dried, I just spray on some on the engine covers and wipe it down with a cotton rag. The covers, prop, etc, all look like new and so far, I have not even gone though my first can as of yet I found out this tip after dragging the boat through a couple hoards of love bugs, and used the bug and tar remover it to get them and off my engine and liked the shine afterwards...Works great, removes water spots, and much faster than using wax after each trip