Since I bought my Catalina 30 last spring, I have been trying to figure out why I get almost no hot water from the hot water tank even after running the engine under load for 2 or 3 hours. I've blown out the heat exchanger coil in the hot water tank & the two feed hoses from the engine, changed the antifreeze & checked the thermostat (rated at 160F / seems to work). The engine running temperature stays at 160F and both hoses into and out of the water tank seem hot and almost the same temperature. Someone has suggested the following list of possibilities: new radiator cap -can't see how that would help new thermostat - guess I should have a spare anyway fresh water circulating pump problem? calcium/lime build up on the outer surface of the heat exchanger (boat is 10 years old?) Does anybody have some suggestions or similar past experience? Thanks Parke
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no hot water.
Hi THere, You might try draining the water tank and see what kind of drainage you get. If there is a great deal of hard water where you are then you have a build up that needs to be reduced or completely removed. I have seen sand or dirt deposits that will do the same thing. They become so thick on the bottom of the tank that in reality you have lost over half of your water capicity to other elements. If the drain is plugeed up , that would be a REAL good indication the the build up is deep. Feel the outside of the heater itself after running the engine for a half hour or so and start at the bottom and work your hand up the outside of the tank. If the bottom is cool to the touch and warmer as you rise to the top and in a particular place the heat is more noticable. Meaning the top half or top 1/3 then you definetly have build up that needs to be removed or replace the tank. I once had to replace a water heater because it had lost over 80% of capacity due to sediment build up over time. It's best to drain them on an annual basis to keep ahead of the game. Hope this helps you
Dave LaPere
Hi THere, You might try draining the water tank and see what kind of drainage you get. If there is a great deal of hard water where you are then you have a build up that needs to be reduced or completely removed. I have seen sand or dirt deposits that will do the same thing. They become so thick on the bottom of the tank that in reality you have lost over half of your water capicity to other elements. If the drain is plugeed up , that would be a REAL good indication the the build up is deep. Feel the outside of the heater itself after running the engine for a half hour or so and start at the bottom and work your hand up the outside of the tank. If the bottom is cool to the touch and warmer as you rise to the top and in a particular place the heat is more noticable. Meaning the top half or top 1/3 then you definetly have build up that needs to be removed or replace the tank. I once had to replace a water heater because it had lost over 80% of capacity due to sediment build up over time. It's best to drain them on an annual basis to keep ahead of the game. Hope this helps you
Dave LaPereAir in Line
I had a similiar problem with my power boat heater. I found with the engine running if I took off the return heater hose and let the coolant run to insure that there was no vacuum in the line and then reconnected it then heater would heat just fine. Good luck...By the way it will happen again whenever you drain your engine coolant below the level of the return line..........DAVE
I had a similiar problem with my power boat heater. I found with the engine running if I took off the return heater hose and let the coolant run to insure that there was no vacuum in the line and then reconnected it then heater would heat just fine. Good luck...By the way it will happen again whenever you drain your engine coolant below the level of the return line..........DAVE
Bypasss Valve Opened?
I have a 1987 C-30 Standard with an M-18 engine. I was having a similar problem when I first bought the boat used. After following the path of heated engine water, I found that there was a bypass valve on the hot engine water for the water heater. When the valve was closed, the heated engine water would flow to the hot water heater and, provide hot water. When the valve was open, the water would bypass the water heater since there was now a path of lesser resistance. The water would get slightly warm because there was still a little of the heated engine water passing thru the water heater. Hope this helps, and good luck. Hot showers in the middle of nowhere is a real treat! Bill Byrd S/V "Eagle's Nest"
I have a 1987 C-30 Standard with an M-18 engine. I was having a similar problem when I first bought the boat used. After following the path of heated engine water, I found that there was a bypass valve on the hot engine water for the water heater. When the valve was closed, the heated engine water would flow to the hot water heater and, provide hot water. When the valve was open, the water would bypass the water heater since there was now a path of lesser resistance. The water would get slightly warm because there was still a little of the heated engine water passing thru the water heater. Hope this helps, and good luck. Hot showers in the middle of nowhere is a real treat! Bill Byrd S/V "Eagle's Nest"
Thanks -Problem Solved
Of the 3 replies that I've received, I have cleaned out the hot water tank thoroughly as per the first reply & then I used a pump to suck the antifreeze solution through the heat exchanger to ensure that there was no air pockets as per the second reply. One of these two did it& the water's now finally hot. Thanks for the help Parke PS On my system, there's no bypass valve that I could find but thanks anyway.
Of the 3 replies that I've received, I have cleaned out the hot water tank thoroughly as per the first reply & then I used a pump to suck the antifreeze solution through the heat exchanger to ensure that there was no air pockets as per the second reply. One of these two did it& the water's now finally hot. Thanks for the help Parke PS On my system, there's no bypass valve that I could find but thanks anyway.
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