H30 water heater leak

[malyea]

My new to me '82 H30 has one or more leaks at the water heater (it looks original - the heater that is - cylinder style).

One leak is evident at the hot water outlet - the brass elbow may have a crack, it's not the c-clamp - and it looks like maybe a bigger leak around bottom of tank - I'm guessing it's shot given its age.

Eventually I may retro-fit a new hot water tank but for the near future, I just want to stop the leak.....I see two easy options....which is best...does it matter....

1) cut both the cold supply and hot output lines and join them together to form a closed loop that still supplies cold water out the hot water faucet bypassing the HW tank

2 cut just the CW supply line going to the HW tank and cap it - no water gets to the tank but no water comes out the HW faucet - oh well....

Any thoughts, advice?

The little HW tank is crammed up under cockpit sole just aft, above the engine - looks like the boat was built around it - am I going to have to cut up the tank to get it out when the time comes......??

Thanks

 

[Ed Schenck]

Your option one is exactly what I do every haulout for winterizing. Just a "plastic" 1/2" straight male/male connector. Bought some at Lowes this week. Which option simply depends upon which is easiest, both give the same results.

As for the leak(s) make sure the tank bronze outlet is tight. Those have a habit of loosening when you are working with the hose and the clamp. If you can stop that leak it will be easy to see if you really do have another.

 

[malyea]

Thanks Ed - option 1 looks good for me.

When I'm ready to remove the HW tank, can I cut it up with a Sawzall? Is that the best tool and approach for removal to avoid cutting the boat? This assumes I can't squeeze the tank out the available opening.

Thanks

 

[Ed Schenck]

Can't advise on the removal of the tank. Mine comes out of my 37C without a problem. I hope yours does as well else how will you get a new one in there? Another H30 owner should know. Did you see anything in "Hunter Owner's Mods" regarding the hot water tank?

 

[J Hunter]

I took my original out better than 20 years ago, don't remember the demo but I gotta believe I'd remember if I had the sawzall going down in the lazarette, which I have no recollection of. If you strip off the insulation jacket will it slide through though the lazarette opening? No advice on a replacement either, I am all cold water now, keep her on a mooring and rarely connect to shore power at all in Lake Champlain. Solar shower and stove. Just noticed you said your tank is amidships under the cockpit sole right near the motor- mine was all the way forward in the lazarette- a little different on the '76- but it's definitely out and I definitely did it. A small angle grinder with a cutoff wheel may be an option if you have to cut it up in place. It's hard to get a sawzall started on a round tank.

 

[Dalliance]

I recently investigated replacement of the WH in my '82 H30 as a project for next spring. I have not done this yet, but I figured I could pull it out thru the starboard cockpit locker. There is a lift out plywood panel separating the locker from the fuel tank and WH below the cockpit sole. It's really tight, and it looks like I might need to disconnect the fuel line if I can't sufficiently push it out of the way. That's the only way I can see that they could have gotten it in there, unless as you said, they built the boat around it.

 

[ggrizzard]

Yeah, they built everything in before putting the deck on! See the archives for my trial at R&R'ing my water heater and others reporting on the new WH models that may well fit in through the Stbd locker.

 

[malyea]

If you strip off the insulation jacket will it slide through though the lazarette opening?

Short of cutting the HW heater into pieces, I'd like to take it apart just enough to get it out the side opening into either the starboard lazerette or the port quarter berth...

Never having seen the insides of a HW heater, how are they typically constructed? What can I expect to find as I tear into it to take it apart? Is the insulation jacket removable without surgery?

Thanks

 

[Ed Schenck]

Most of the early boats had the Seward tank, an aluminum water tank inside of a stainless box. Exactly how the heaters were installed is a mystery to me. I think the heat exchanger tubing from the engine is actually inside the water tank. Then somehow the electrical heating element installs between the tank and the box. Plus some amount of insulation. Someone around here had pictures, maybe MaineSail. At any rate cutting it up will require some work but then you will have the answer.