Our test group, from left to right: Salt-X, Salt-Away, Woody Wax Engine Flush, Salt Terminator, and Salt Off.

Ah, salt water. We catch the fish that call it home. We enjoy running our boats through our favorite waters, filling the lungs with salty air and listening to the water peeling off the hull. And we love to swim, snorkel, or scuba dive in it. This is why we own boats.

But alas, as much as it brings joy, salt water can be the source of great frustration—and financial expense—for the boat owner. Salt causes corrosion; therefore, we must get rid of it to protect the tools that allow us to take pleasure in it. …