Bypass heater question

[Pirate Lady]

Back in day when had kids and we anchored out all week end running the engine once a day kept water hot. We don’t do that no more. That’s why I thinking the recirculating engine water to heat the tank is useless, or should I keep it for when I sell boat some day?

 

[Pirate Lady]

But my original uestion was does it matter if the heat exchanger fittings are on rear or front?

 

[Irie308]

For those that blow out the lines and have washer/dryer combo. How do you clear those lines?

 

[hughespat57]

But my original uestion was does it matter if the heat exchanger fittings are on rear or front?

Functionally for the heater it makes no difference, it's a matter of how easy/hard to route all the hoses.

I had the same situation, my tank rotted out, I picked one with all fittings on the same end.
It let me push the heater a bit more back against a bulkhead and gave me a bit more room to work on the end with all the fittings. (Actually allowed me to go from a six to an eleven gallon heater and still fit)

Just had to re route the engine hoses to that end.

 

[Blueone]

For those that blow out the lines and have washer/dryer combo. How do you clear those lines?

I would have air pressure on the lines cycle the washer to purge the water out of the lines...fill washer with some antifreeze and have the washer pump it out thru the waste line

 

[Smokeio]

Just took my washer/dryer combo out of my boat after blowing the system out with air. I was surprised at the amount of water left in the unit. I also recommend finishing with antifreeze in these when winterizing.