Silly water heater/engine heat exchanger fittings

[Aero Nautical]

During the bypass process I ripped out a heat exchanger hose with very little force mind you. The fitting at the water heater failed and the inside of the hose is full of a hard white substance, assuming from the boat's previous life in salt water.

The whole design seems to be a potential catastrophe.

I'll be forgoing the exchanger by looping at the engine block I reckon. Or is it possible to plug those holes on the block with a cap type fitting?

.

 

[mistercomputerman]

for·go
[fawr-goh]

verb (used with object), for·went, for·gone, for·go·ing.
1. to abstain or refrain from; do without.
2. to give up, renounce, or resign.
3. Archaic. to neglect or overlook.
4. Archaic. to quit or leave.
5. Obsolete . to go or pass by.

Are you saying that you are going to remove the heat exchanger? If so, how do you plan on cooling the engine water that the heat exchanger was previously cooling?

 

[mwph]

I was scratching my head but, I'm assuming he is going to either do this temporarily for the winterization process, OR he meant to say bypass the water heater. Either way I'm not sure that's the best idea. AND?...

Either way, thanks for the vocabulary lesson!

 

[Aero Nautical]

The heat exchanger part takes warm cooling water from the engines and circulates it thru tubes inside the water heater to warm the water without electricity. I'll forgo that and just rely on the genny to make hot water.

 

[JimG]

Are you saying that you are going to remove the heat exchanger? If so, how do you plan on cooling the engine water that the heat exchanger was previously cooling?

I was scratching my head but, I'm assuming he is going to either do this temporarily for the winterization process, OR he meant to say bypass the water heater. Either way I'm not sure that's the best idea. AND?...

Either way, thanks for the vocabulary lesson!

No... he is going to do without the hot water heater exchanger. This will not affect the engine cooling system.

And Dave, yes you can buy plugs (at Lowes) to eliminate the loop back hose.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Standard garboard drain plugs will fit. 1/2" pipe if you're buying at HD or Lowes.

 

[Aero Nautical]

Brilliant! That'll save me a few trips back n forth.

 

[Aero Nautical]

Forgive my ignorance but I imagine a standard brass garboard plug would be bad.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Forgive my ignorance but I imagine a standard brass garboard plug would be bad.

Why do you feel that (not sarcastic - seriously)? Typically, this is preferred as it will be less likely to cause corrosion issues. If you look around on the engine, you'll see other plugs that are brass, too.