Water heater in 340 EC 1989

Razzle Dazzle

Ship shape and Bristol Fashion
Jul 2, 2016
77
United Kingdom and Florida
Boat Info
Sea Ray Express Cruiser 340 1989 Mercruiser 7.4
Engines
Mercruiser twin 7.4 Gas powered
help, I think there is a problem with my water heater in my 1989 340 EC will this be a very expensive fix??
 
Need to know what's wrong with it?

Leaking, Doesn't turn on?, Has power but doesn't heat?

New units are around $300 depending on size.
 
Last edited:
More info on what the problem is. Also are you a DYI kind of guy? Probably a 6 galloon heater and as stated around $300 plus the install. Maybe the old one can be fixed.
 
IMG_3639.PNG
IMG_3639.PNG
IMG_0103.PNG
IMG_0102.PNG
Thanks for the responses. I have to speak to the boatyard mechanic Monday as it is in Daytona Beach (finally) and I am still in England for a few more days. It was finally transported down from Bourne, Mass after all the storms and just arrived last Friday. Wish I could do it myself but I am a motor moron. Bottom has been just been sanded and painted ready to put her in at the Halifax River Marina. I have a feeling that it might be best to have the whole thing replaced unless I get lucky and it's just the thermostat. Lots of original stuff on this old gal. I think they found it while flushing out the winterisation pink so I assume it's a leak but won't know until Monday for sure. I found the old specs from new so I guess it is a 6 gallon and Atwood makes them for these old sea rays now. I love this site and how much I have learned from you fellows. I'll keep you posted. I think someone said that it was a 4 to 5 hour job but if this doesn't sound right please let me know. Looking at the paper specs for the 1989 340 Express Cruiser it appears to be a little aft of the helm seat in the starboard bilge quite far from the 40 gallon fresh water tank. I think not having the extra berth allows for a bit more room for the mechanic to move around in this area. The boat has been on the hard for 4 years I had the engines and genny serviced and the nasty duckbill valve replaced and other bits and bobs fixed but until I splash her in and spend some time aboard and sea trial her I won't know what I'll find. I want to make her as pretty as Jason's. There is a long wait for canvas work due to Irma and until that's done I will not be able to do the necessary cosmetic work in the cockpit area.the interior has always been kept tidy. Does anyone know what's happened to Capt Rusty I would love to meet him.
 
More info on what the problem is. Also are you a DYI kind of guy? Probably a 6 galloon heater and as stated around $300 plus the install. Maybe the old one can be fixed.
Where are you on the Cape? I'm a Massachusetts expat living in England wintering in Daytona Beach where I will keep her at Halifax River Marina
 
I replaced mine. Marina where I keep the boat wanted $1,200. I got the exact same model for $400 and put it in myself. It took me half a day. New one weight might have been 20 pounds as I could carry it without effort. It was 10.5 gallons. If you do it yourself make sure you take the water fittings off the old one as you will need them to complete the installation of the new one.
 
It’s been a while since I looked in the bilge of a 340 but I think you might have some pretty good access and replacing a water heater is fairly easy. If it isn’t leaking it could just be the heating element which would be even cheaper to replace than the whole water heater.
 
Thanks again, I spoke to the manager at the yard today. They bypassed the hot water tank to finish flushing the pink out. He said that it can be worked on once it is in the water. The boat has been on hard standing for 4 years. They are checking the stuffing box on the props and say that the bottom painting has been nearly finished. I leave Blighty for Daytona Beach this Thursday arriving close to midnight on the 18th.
 
I replaced mine. Marina where I keep the boat wanted $1,200. I got the exact same model for $400 and put it in myself. It took me half a day. New one weight might have been 20 pounds as I could carry it without effort. It was 10.5 gallons. If you do it yourself make sure you take the water fittings off the old one as you will need them to complete the installation of the new one.
That was quite a labour charge for a half days work. I believe in paying a decent hourly rate to folks who know what they're doing but that's a total "Mick Take". I hope to have a 380 some day but the 1989 340 EC is roomier than the newer 380's they appear to be all swim platform. Thanks for the advice about the water fittings. I get to see my new "hole", no I mean home on the water this Friday. Yippee! How long have you had your 380?
 
I replaced mine. Marina where I keep the boat wanted $1,200. I got the exact same model for $400 and put it in myself. It took me half a day. New one weight might have been 20 pounds as I could carry it without effort. It was 10.5 gallons. If you do it yourself make sure you take the water fittings off the old one as you will need them to complete the installation of the new one.

Most likely $1200 included a half day for 2 workers plus a mark up on the water heater. Not the most efficient use of manpower as 1 worker would be sitting doing nothing for 90% of the time.
 
I replaced my HWH when I first got my boat. It was rusted out pretty bad to the point I could not remove the mounting screws. I ended up having to cut the unit into several pieces to get it out. Replacement with a new heater was fairly easy since I have good access. I set the new heater on top of a couple pieces of 1" square aluminum channel to keep the new heater from sitting directly on the bilge floor. One reason the old heater was so rusty was because water was trapped between the heater bottom and the bilge floor. The fitting for the cold water inlet to the heater is actually a one way valve. It can be installed backwards which will prevent water from flowing into the heater. Can you guess how I know that ?

Good luck.

cliff
 
Razzle
We got the boat in 2005 with 650 HR on the engines we now have 2950 HR on the engines. The 454s are a solid engine, make sure you change the oil every 100 hours or so and transmission fluid as the book says, for us that is 250 HR. You will probably have the PEX screwed water fittings. Go to Lowes or Home Depot and get a few spare nylon elbows and connectors because you may have a few leaks at the fittings. Take a picture with you cell phone. The clerk will know what you are after.
 
The reason the $1,200 was they wanted about $700 for the heater and $500 to put it in.
 
You can find them on internet but you got to really look to find best price. I got a 8 gal that's dual heated-120v or by engine cooling when running-and the prices went from $300 for the lowest price to $800 for the most expensive for the same model number, so shop around! In my 290 took about 1 1/2 in time to install.
 
Finally got aboard the boat Friday. Was a little perturbed to see that the dipstick has been pulled out of the genny no where to be found and my cleaning bucket was upside down in the bilge and the mechanic hadn’t put the deck back over the genny. I looked for the offending water tank where it should have been but found that it was tucked aft on the port side. The yard was closed over the weekend and opens shortly so I am going over there to take some pictures. Mech said that it didn’t look like it was the original one. Watch this space.
 
Found the paperwork and brochure it’s an Atwood mod 9357. Hope to talk to mechanic this pm.
 
IMG_0141.jpg L
IMG_0140.jpg
IMG_0142.jpg
IMG_0140.jpg
Here are the pictures of my water heater and the genny
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0131.jpg
    IMG_0131.jpg
    119.1 KB · Views: 119
  • IMG_0148.jpg
    IMG_0148.jpg
    132.1 KB · Views: 121
  • IMG_0149.jpg
    IMG_0149.jpg
    145.4 KB · Views: 111
I was once told if you assume people know 10% of what you do you will never be disappointed in them.
My original water heater has a steel outer case and was all rusted, took few hours to scrub the rust off the floor.
Make sure you keep the fittings from the old heater. You may have to extend the fitting in the tank to provide easy access to the drain vale in the tank.
You build it once and operate it forever so set it up the way that you can best access the drain valve and thermostat.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,950
Messages
1,422,861
Members
60,932
Latest member
juliediane
Back
Top