Water Heater Replacement

[dottieshusband]

One of my surprises knocking the dust off the boat this year is the Water Heater ruptured! It was 24 years old so who would have thought. Fortunately, Rheem still makes a very similar unit.. but 1.5 inches shorter. The water lines were 3/8 tubing with flare fittings. I converted to normal 3/4 water heater hoses. I used a 3/8 to 1/2 pipe adapter, then a 1/2 to 3/4 male threaded adapter.. hadn't soldered in a while so it's not pretty!

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

You're scaring me. I've been treating the rust on mine for the last five years.

 

[dottieshusband]

You're scaring me. I've been treating the rust on mine for the last five years.

We sometimes forget these things are pressure vessels. 24 years... they should give me some warranty credit... not positive, but pretty sure! Metal forgives, but it never forgets. The bad thing about having a totally plumbed pressure relief valve is you don't see it venting off. It possible could have been running max pressure for quite some time, or failed altogether. I see horror stories about others replacing their units, but this one was easy peazy... did have to remove the pilothouse door though.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Got 33 years out of mine. I did have to replace the pressure relief valve a few years before that, however. It took me quite a while to figure out why the freshwater pump kept cycling. I could find no leaks. Well, that PR valve was trickling fresh water overboard and I had no idea since you can't see it.

 

[Byresch]

My worse maintenance experience was replacing the water heater on my 1972 45 Columbia sailboat. It was behind the stairs coming from the salon to the galley and of course was a very cramped space. The original unit was obsolete and the one I bought that fit had to have all the hoses rerouted. My back hurt for a long time after twisting and bending in the salon, engine room, and galley to run everything. Sailboats are such roomy places to work in.

 

[SEVEN]

Mine lasted 37 years and 6 owners. I replaced mine with a fiberglass tank and stainless steel shell. I will out live the next 7 owners.

 

[dottieshusband]

Cleaned it up a bit!

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I think you installed it sideways.

 

[dottieshusband]

Helps with gravity flow when the pump is off. I've given up on correcting the pics. If I rotate it 90 on my phone, it posts 180 on here... I'm sure it's me, but I'm just accepting I'm ver 1.0