2003 Hunter 356 Hot water tank to engine, hose replacement

[Richardckrug]

Has anyone replaced their hot water heater hose on a Hunter 356 that runs from the Hot water heater to their engine? I can't find any good access. What's the trick?

One of my hoses that comes up through the deck to the engine has heavy rub wear from the access hole it comes up through.
I have disconnected at the Hot water heater and tried pulling it through but it won't budge in either direction I Pull.

 

[karellen]

Hello Richard. We had the same issue on our 356... but after almost 20 years, I figured it was time for replacement regardless of the rubbing.

The trick is to buy a PVC coupler from the hardware store. It was a pretty tight fit, but I also secured it with some tape. I did not use hose clamps because I didn't want it to catch on anything. YMMV.

There was one spot under the floor where it was zip tied. I was able to access through an access hole in the same compartment as the Racor filter. The hole wasn't quite big enough so I enlarged it with a hole saw. I probably could have had my kid get in there but I was concerned about cutting the wrong thing.

After that zip tie was cut I was able to pull the new hose through by just pulling on the old hose.

To prevent rubbing on the new hose I used plastic wire loom and zip tied it around the hoses. I also took the opportunity to replace the "ribbed" hose clamps with some nice smooth marine hose clamps.

 

[Windpilot]

I agree with the above.
I don't have your boat model, but the hoses are almost 20 years old and are going to be stiff. I would loosen both ends and hoses, try twisting and pulling back and forth. Connecting the new hose to the old I use some little countersink screws to hold the hose/couplings together, tape could be just fine if it seems like any easy pull.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Anybody who puts zip ties on inaccessible hoses oughta be keelhauled.

Good idea to replace. Here's my story: Hose replacement to HW heater w/ Hose Flix

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

I did not use hose clamps because I didn't want it to catch on anything. YMMV.

The things that nightmares are made of !

 

[karellen]

The things that nightmares are made of !

To be clear, this was just while the hose was pulled. The new hoses are all fully clamped!

 

[Richardckrug]

Thanks all for your input. I did find one tie rap and cut it initially when I started this. That one was located just below the engine water inlet access hole. I have had to replace the flush water sanitation lines to the Jabsco and toilet because they had pinhole leaks in them and used the splice adaptors for that fix. And I did the same for the 1 1/5 sanitation line to the waist tank. It worked well for both. I was planning on doing the same with the heater lines but couldn't get them to budge to start with. It sounds like I may have another tierap in the access hole below the Racor filter too. Thanks for the pics Karellen. It looks identical to my 356 too. I'll be back up tomorrow and will take a look at it.
I'll let everyone know what I find.
Thanks again everyone,