How not to replace a 400ec water heater

[douglee25]

I hope the owner isn't on this board. I really don't want to offend him, but I sure wish he would have waited for the correct answer to be posted before this happened!

I found this owner on FB asking how to replace a water heater on a 400ec. His Pic for reference...

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Then the after Pic before he waited for advice....

 

[K-DUB]

Wow. I’ve gotten frustrated working on my boat before, but that’s next level stuff! Yikes.

 

[scoflaw]

Pretty much how fuel tanks have to come out on some boats.

 

[douglee25]

Pretty much how fuel tanks have to come out on some boats.

True. But on this boat there is definitely an easier way!

And for the repair, he just used silicone!

 

[scoflaw]

Agree, thought he was a glass guy and figured this would be easier for him

 

[PlayDate]

Not to worry the helm seat will cover that area!

 

[Flyer5]

That looks structural. Yikes!

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

Guess that boat now has more than a pimple....

THATS a PERMANENT SCAR.

BEST !

RWS

 

[Yendor]

Wow. I’ve gotten frustrated working on my boat before, but that’s next level stuff! Yikes.

YIKES, is right !
That's a term I normally use as a last resort when my vocabulary seems too limited for the occasion.
In this case . . . even THAT appears to woefully lacking.

 

[PlayDate]

The sad part is permanently damaging the boat. I have a 370 EC of the same vintage with the Hot Water heater in the same location. It was designed to be removed by releasing the the screws holding it in place and sliding it left. I have batteries located in that spot so they had to be removed (I would bet he does as well).

Once they are out of the way the hot water heater will move left and in front of the engine. The way out is straight up between both engines.

 

[douglee25]

Crazy solution! That's for sure.

 

[blaster]

I would have used dynamite. If you shape the charge properly you can blow out the deck and water heater in one piece without damage to the underlying hull. This guy did amateur work.

 

[Flyer5]

I would have used dynamite. If you shape the charge properly you can blow out the deck and water heater in one piece without damage to the underlying hull. This guy did amateur work.

But if you place the charge on the bottom gravity will make removal much easier.

 

[blaster]

Perhaps but the environmental cost may ruin the fishing for a while and that just isn’t worth it.

 

[PlayDate]

He could have done it the way the USCG replaces engines......

 

[b_arrington]

I would have used dynamite.

Name checks out.

 

[Skuza]

Anyone thats worked on any car or boat will agree-that's EXACTLY how you do it!!!!!

 

[ZZ13]

I would have used dynamite. If you shape the charge properly you can blow out the deck and water heater in one piece without damage to the underlying hull. This guy did amateur work.

I suspect you’ve been at PWM when Carlton had two massive squares cut out of the sides of a big yacht to get the engines out. After the new ones went in he’d glass it back in and you could never tell. The staff there told me he’s magic with fiberglass.

 

[blaster]

I suspect you’ve been at PWM when Carlton had two massive squares cut out of the sides of a big yacht to get the engines out. After the new ones went in he’d glass it back in and you could never tell. The staff there told me he’s magic with fiberglass.

Those guys are experts at their craft. Sometimes though there is an easier way.

 

[PlayDate]

I suspect you’ve been at PWM when Carlton had two massive squares cut out of the sides of a big yacht to get the engines out. After the new ones went in he’d glass it back in and you could never tell. The staff there told me he’s magic with fiberglass.

I knew Carlton when he drag raced every weekend. That was a really long time ago. Cutting holes in the side hull is standard procedure on a lot of large Sport Fish boats.