water heater issue?

boatman37

Well-Known Member
Jun 6, 2015
4,211
pittsburgh
Boat Info
2006 Crownline 250CR. 5.7 Merc BIII
Previous: 1986 Sea Ray 250 Sundancer. 260 Merc Alpha 1 Gen 1
Engines
5.7 Merc BIII
So our new (to us) boat has an issue with the water system. The water pump works fine but no water will pump unless you crimp off the water heater. I didn't test this but the seller tested it and sent a video of the water running. So does that mean there is a leak in the heater or line going to the heater? I really don't need hot water right now and just want to get in the water this weekend. Is there a way to bypass the water heater for now?
I really don't need the fresh water at all other than I would like to use it for toilet water so I'm not pumping in river water. We have a dock neighbor that gave that advice.

Any idea what type of fitting so I can get one at the hardware store? My pump outlet comes out a few inches to a T. My thought was to just cap off the side of the T going to the heater? Next spring I can work on an actual fix. Anyone know what fitting I would need? Threads? NPT? They are the blue and red 'plastic' lines.
 
not sure if this is your problem, but the 'out' fitting on the heater is a one way valve....It can be installed backwards (ask me how I know)......when I installed it backwards in my new heater there was no flow through the faucets....when I figured out what I had done wrong and switched it around all was good....

cliff
 
The heater needs to get completely filled before you'll get good water flow from any of the faucets.

Yes, you can bypass it. You most likely have 15mm PEX-style lines. These use slip-on fittings, just like the ones you currently have. You can bypass just about any way you want to. If you can access your heater, you could even just remove the input and output lines and connect them together with a short section of garden hose and some hose clamps.
 
Thanks. Like I said, want to fix it right in the spring when I have more time but for now we really have no use for hot water and just want to get the water fresh running. I took the boat with this problem and told them I would take care of it but they did play around with it the day after the survey and said when they bypassed the water heater it worked.

I had the pump running for a good 5 minutes. I would think the water heater tank would have filled by then? Or do I need to bleed the air out of it?
 
It does need to be bled. Either by opening faucets, or simply propping the expansion valve open.
 
It does need to be bled. Either by opening faucets, or simply propping the expansion valve open.
Thanks. Might have to trade the boat for an ark if this weather doesn't cooperate but hey...

Supposed to rain until late Saturday night. According to weather.com thunderstorms non-stop until then but it's sunny right now. I know as soon as I pull the cover the skies will open back up though. Supposed to be nice Sunday so hoping to get this done before then but if not I can do this after it's in the water. Still need to change the outdrive oil and get the anchor set up (which means connecting the anchor to the chain...lol). So getting pretty close here. Would have had the outdrive oil done but had no plug gaskets left so had to run out and get a few.
 
Did I miss the pictures of the new boat???? :)
uhmmmm.......yeah....lol
This is the best one I have. Hadn't cleaned it up yet. I will get more once things have settled down a little. The trailer is a brand new 2016 Venture that hadn't been on the road until the day of the survey/sea trial. The boat is a 2006 Crownline 250CR with 204 hours.

 
Oh, BTW...looked at it again and looks like it is dripping at the outlet fitting of the pump. I opened both valves on the water heater and water came out about instantly so it appears to be full.

I tried tightening the fitting on the outlet side but the whole fitting turned, including the square black lug that goes into the pump. It looks like it is square to put a wrench on it but I didn't have any tools near me so left it go for tonight. Should that lug spin in the pump? Seems like it is set up as a swivel? It is a Jabsco pump. There are also blue 'tabs' on the pump that I have no idea what they are for?

Actually just looked at some pics online and think I figured that much out. Looks like the fittings are removable and the blue 'tabs' lock them into place? So the lugs would be to use a wrench to hold them to tighten the fitting? Have to try that tomorrow if the weather allows it. Is there an o-ring or something in there that can be replaced? Or does the whole fitting need to be replaced? Wondering if this could be why it isn't pumping water?
 
You might have to post some pictures - just to be clear what Crownline is using. "Blue plugs" sounds like the the snap-in plugs for the fittings.

A drip isn't going totally shut-off water. Water coming out right away doesn't mean it's full - just that water is at least at the level of the valves you opened.

Open the expansion valve... does water eventually come out with the pump on? If it does, you know the pump is working and there is sufficient water in the tank. Sea Ray usually runs a hose from the valve to a thru-hull fittings - not sure what Crownline does.

If all is good, then there must be an issue further downstream - possibly a clog or a shut-off valve somewhere or the aerators are clogged.
 
I don't think it is anything plugged as the seller had it working 2 weeks ago but they said they 'bypassed' the water heater. Not sure what they meant by 'bypassed' but they sent me a video of the water running.

Here is a pic. The red arrow shows the fitting that is leaking (or appears to be the one leaking). It comes out of the pump. I didn't think that would cause it to not work at all but just wishful thinking...lol. If the rain holds up tomorrow I will try to let the water heater run longer.

The cold exits the pump to a T that one leg runs to the rest of the system and the other leg to the water heater. The red line in this pic is deceiving. It is the exit from the heater that is actually underneath the blue one but looks like it T's back into it...lol

 
Deceiving... that's OK - I see what's going on there.

Water will take the path of least resistance.

Have you opened the expansion valve, yet? Or... maybe it is already open and that's where all your water is going... overboard (if plumbed that way).

Have you checked out the aerators?

Bypassing can be done many ways - either post a bunch more pics - like of the water heater and such - or just start looking a little closer. No way I can tell you how it was bypassed (other than the suggestions above) without seeing things.

In the end, this is a really dirt-simple system. Just gotta follow the lines. You'll get it - just slow down and look it over real well.
 
Not sure how they 'bypassed' it. Don't really want to ask them either. This whole process has not been fun. We have butted heads a few times. When I asked her the other day she wasn't sure but thought her friend just pinched it off but as far as I know you can't pinch the hard plastic lines. And I haven't checked the aerators since they had it running last week.

I don't have any other pics yet.

I think I will start by disconnecting lines to check for flow and work my way back until I get flow. Seems to be the most logical way?
 
I lied....found this one from the surveyor...lol >
 
Are you getting no water at all, from either the hot or cold side. Seems like if it's the water heater the cold side would work.

Does your pump pressure the system and shut off, or keep running?
 
No water at all (hot or cold) and yes, the pump continues to run.

Tried the galley sink, the bathroom sink, the cockpit sink, and the transom shower. No water anywhere.
 
If the pump is running and doesn't shut off your pump isn't working or you have a leak some where? Start with the freshwater tank and make sure it's got enough water in it, maybe half full. See if it even goes down when the pump is running. Since the water heater seems problematic, I would probably bypass it. Open the closest faucet-- you should hear air and eventually some water coming out.
 
The level hasn't seemed to drop. It's about 1/2 full (about 6") If it did drop it was maybe 1". I know initially the filter on the inlet side of the pump was plugged but the sellers cleaned that out. It is possible it plugged again but I would be surprised if it plugged that fast?
 
Open the expansion valve. See what happens with the pump on. But it won't hurt to check the filter - depends on whether or not there is gunk in the fresh water tank.

Are we going to just keep talking 'bout this or you going to put your rainjacket on and get 'er done? :)
 
Are we going to just keep talking 'bout this or you going to put your rainjacket on and get 'er done? :)

Well here goes. Still not sure what happened but anyway here is what happened. When out to stock the boat, start engine etc. Turned the pump on and it's running. Opened all faucets and nothing. Took the cap off the cockpit faucet and tightened the screw behind the cap. Heard the pump speed up and heard water running so checked all faucets and still nothing. Looked and the tank was empty (only had about 5 gallons in it) and water running into the bilge (looked like it was coming out of a limber hole but can't see that corner real good). Added more water and had my wife turn the pump on to see where it went/came from. Nothing. Water level not moving at all. ugh.... I can see water in the filter so take outlet hose off of pump and have wife turn pump on....nothing. Thinking maybe the filter is plugged again? Maybe they didn't get everything out of it when they cleaned it? Thinking of just putting a new filter on but before that hose out the tank real good to try to get everything out of it.

So the first problem is no water out of the pump. First solution is to clean or replace filter then go from there. The fact that the pump sped up when the tank emptied tells me the pump itself is working and actually trying to push water? Just have to figure out why the pump emptied the tank right before that and where the water went?
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,946
Messages
1,422,769
Members
60,929
Latest member
Henchman
Back
Top