Water heater

M

Michael Alvarez

New Member
May 15, 2020
22
New Jersey
Boat Info
2004 300 DA
Engines
Twin 350mpi’s
New to us 300DA, how do we know if hot water heater is working? (guage, sound, light panel...) and how long should it take to heat the water?
 
You'll know when you get hot water in 20 minutes or so after turning it on.

There are no gauges or lights.

Also keep in mind that you may have a heat exchanger that will heat the water while running you engine. You can tell by looking at the water tank... check for black water hoses connected to the engine block.
 
If you have an ammeter on house panel you can usually detect the slight spike when you turn it on, unless it is already hot from motors running.
 
There is a feed off the engine that heats water in the water heater, so the water should be hot just running the engine. At the dock the water is heated with an electric coil once it is turned on. It heats up quickly.
 
Where the boat is new to you, and you live where there is winter, double check the plumbing. It is very common for people when winterizing to drain the heater and bypass the potable water feeds, and if not connected you would never get hot water. Endless’ post above is not sarcastic, applying electricity to an empty water heater will burn out the heating element.
 
I installed a new Kuma hot water heater and I don’t get hot water from my heat exchanger? When on shore power it works great, all in/out plumbing is correct, I’m perplexed as I just bout the boat and replacing many “wear” parts.
 
2004 SR said:
I installed a new Kuma hot water heater and I don’t get hot water from my heat exchanger? When on shore power it works great, all in/out plumbing is correct, I’m perplexed as I just bout the boat and replacing many “wear” parts.
Click to expand...

If the right heater was installed it should have had two hose nipples that connect to the engine. If memory serves these are ⅝” radiator hoses attached with stainless hose clamps that connect to the engine. If these are there with hoses, they may be plugged, or a prior owner may have bypassed them at the engine. Pictures would help diagnose problem.
 
Thanks, yes it does have the hose nipples and all traced from the old HWH to make sure hot/cold was correct. I’ll pull them back off and see if something got into the line blocking it
 
2004 SR said:
Thanks, yes it does have the hose nipples and all traced from the old HWH to make sure hot/cold was correct. I’ll pull them back off and see if something got into the line blocking it
Click to expand...
I'm not sure you are understanding... you would have a total of 4 nipples/fittings: fresh cold water in, fresh hot water out, engine coolant in, and engine coolant out.
 
JimG said:
I'm not sure you are understanding... you would have a total of 4 nipples/fittings: fresh cold water in, fresh hot water out, engine coolant in, and engine coolant out.
Click to expand...

Could he have bought an RV water heater? I don’t know anything about RVs, do those heaters have tie ins to the engine, or are they only electric? If a previous owner installed such a heater (And by passed engine) and 2004sr replaced like for like he would have this conundrum.
 
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