Hot water tank on a 320

[daddyox]

I was searching the threads but I would like some help here. My 320 Atwood 6 gallon (original 2004) seems to be leaking from the bottom, so I'm expecting that it is finished, so will want to replace it. I think I can do it myself but wanted some opinions.
If I replace with the Kuuma it looks like a plug and play replacement. I'm assuming that the same electrical "plug" works and it could be plugged in accordingly? At some point in my boat's past, the raw water intake from the engine into the hot water tank was apparently removed- I'm not sure why. I'm not even sure where those hoses are on the engine so would need to look further. But my cold water inlet and hot water outlet are right there, with brass elbow joints on the current tank, so I'm thinking the identical replacement would be simple. On top of my hot water is plywood with the connected water pump.
My usage of hot water is negligible but I don't want a non-working component on the boat regardless of my use. I almost never turned the actual heating element on but do remember using hot water so obviously the raw water was routed through there at one point?
So- is this easy? I have a ton of room.

 

[Chirodls]

I have a 280 and used the Kuma no problems

 

[cfd95]

Sounds like an easy swap.
I would cycle the water through the tank.
Letting water sit in there heat up and not used will lead to it being very stinky water.
You can bypass the heat exchanger on the new water heater if you don't want the raw water to heat it up.
And only use the heater element to heat it when needed.

 

[The Bill Collector]

We got new engines in '03 from a CAT recall and they disconnected the port engine hoses from the W/H at that time I'm guessing so when we got the boat in '07 I reconnected them. So as soon as the engines are up to temp. we have hot water without burning extra fuel for the gennie to heat it. Once on the dock and plugged into shore power the breaker is flipped on and if I want an immediate shower I have hot water at my disposal without waiting for the tank to heat up...