To ByPass WT …or Not?

Suncatcher

New Member
Aug 27, 2021
22
Penetang
Boat Info
1999 Sundancer 270
Engines
Twin 4.3 Mercruisers with Alpha Gen II drives
I just bought this Sundancer 270. I was going to bypass the water heater for winterizing but the house battery is in the way and it’s awkward to get at…and I’m not getting any younger. Initially considered just cutting the hot and cold PECs and joining them to divert AF from the tank but then I still wouldn’t have access to the tank drain. Filling up the WH tank seems wasteful plus throwing away $$ but I value my back.
Any thoughts?
 

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Yeah, it looks like someone added a battery in a bad location. It only takes a few minutes to move the battery - just do that. It will make life much easier. Then you can remove the hot and cold lines (definitely don't cut them! That would be a mistake) from the fittings and join them together with a piece of old garden hose and a couple clamps. You'll also be able to reach the drain much easier. Consider rearranging things in the bilge to make maintenance work easier.
 
I just bought this Sundancer 270. I was going to bypass the water heater for winterizing but the house battery is in the way and it’s awkward to get at…and I’m not getting any younger. Initially considered just cutting the hot and cold PECs and joining them to divert AF from the tank but then I still wouldn’t have access to the tank drain. Filling up the WH tank seems wasteful plus throwing away $$ but I value my back.
Any thoughts?
I have read antifreeze will trash the heating element.
 
In the same boat (no pun intended). New 270 to me, does not have the bypass installed, and the winter season is rapidly approaching and i have to get moving on winterizing. Boat comes out of the water in a week and a half and i'd like to get as much done as i can before it goes on land since i'm storing it at the marina.

I have plenty of AF in my garage since i also use it for winterizing my inground pool, so i'm not concerned about the amount of AF to winterize it without bypassing, but i'm weighing whether i just want to save myself the time and take care of the bypass in the spring before she launches for future summers, or bite the bullet and try to get it done in the next week or so.

I know the negative is it takes forever to flush out in the spring and get the taste/smell out, but other than that, are there really any other negatives if i just put it off one season?
 
In the same boat (no pun intended). New 270 to me, does not have the bypass installed, and the winter season is rapidly approaching and i have to get moving on winterizing. Boat comes out of the water in a week and a half and i'd like to get as much done as i can before it goes on land since i'm storing it at the marina.

I have plenty of AF in my garage since i also use it for winterizing my inground pool, so i'm not concerned about the amount of AF to winterize it without bypassing, but i'm weighing whether i just want to save myself the time and take care of the bypass in the spring before she launches for future summers, or bite the bullet and try to get it done in the next week or so.

I know the negative is it takes forever to flush out in the spring and get the taste/smell out, but other than that, are there really any other negatives if i just put it off one season?
I mentioned earlier in this post, AF and heating elements do not play well together so avoid putting AF in the water heater.
 
How's that? A dry element will burn up in a few seconds!
Come on guys! You obviously shut the tank breaker off if you drain it. I installed the HWT bypass kit for less than $20 and it took 1/2 hr. Why would you not do it ???
 
I don't bypass, hook up air pressure to the water system and run hot and cold faucets till all blow air. Drain what's left in the HW tank bottom valve and call it good.
Scoflaw - Do you run anything through the 12v pump doing it the way ou suggest. I am doing it that way this year and figured I would have to run at least enough to fill the pump and the line to the water tree.
 
Scoflaw - Do you run anything through the 12v pump doing it the way ou suggest. I am doing it that way this year and figured I would have to run at least enough to fill the pump and the line to the water tree.
I pump the fresh water tank dry, I double checked it the first year by pulling the islet to the pump off, no water at all…
 
I bypassed my first year then figured out how things work. No problemo with the no bypass.
Someone smarter than me tell me where the water can hide?
Any dip or low spot in the water lines. The fittings will crack first but I have seen pex with a 6" split from freezing. Do it right or later wish you did. Some of the lines can be a real bee-atch to replace. A cup or two of water left in the tanks is never the issue.
 
Another, little known advantage to using propylene glycol (pink) antifreeze in your potable water system is that it is an effective disinfectant and it also inhibits fungus growth. Even the vapor has disinfectant properties so a bit in your water and HWT is a great idea for winter storage. Come spring time, just flush the system and forget the disinfection step! :)
 
It is like the element on a stove, oven, toaster oven, Does these burn up ?
Every element I've ever changed is directly in the water. So you better drain it before removing the element (and yes @Juliery, shut the breaker off).
 

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