Sea Ray 280 Sundancer Twin Engine water heater removal

[Madifonzo]

Looking for advice on removal. I've removed the housing and the front screws. Cannot reach the back screws as the tank is right against the transom. Anyone have real world experience in removing? Crazy how Sea Ray installed without regard to possible replacement down the road.

Any advice is much appreciated.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Working in a boat's bilge is usually a challenge. Even more so, that of a smaller boat with twin engines. To some extent, it's just the name of the game. I can tell you, though, that Sea Ray does put thought into where they place certain items - but it's more in respect to the user experience and daily operation of the boat, such as weight distribution. It's not that they don't care/think about removal - but the number one thing Sea Ray focuses on is the "usability" of it for people during daily use. Some things are easy to get to, some are harder and require the removal of other items, first. In this case, you just happen to be going after one of those things that's not "immediately accessible". When it comes to things like this, having experience on removing these things is the key as it's not always as simple as just "unscrew this". And, like cars, sometimes specialty tools are needed. If everything in the bilge was easy to remove, the bilge would have to be much larger, which means your cabin would be smaller. Everything can be removed - some just take more time and knowledge/experience than others.

I have not removed a water heater from a 280 with twins, but I have removed them other boats - some bigger, some smaller. In all cases, it's just a matter of taking in the whole picture and figuring out what needs to be done. In those cases where I can't easily get to one side of the heater, a long extension works well. Sometimes I'll use a screw gun, sometimes a right-angle gun, other times a simple ratchet.

 

[Madifonzo]

I guess it wasn't Sea Rays fault. It was my affection for Budweiser and chicken wings. My buddy who is a Merc tech lent a hand...had it out in five minutes. He is smaller than me and could lay across the engine further than I could reach.

 

[Bucit]

I had to use a very long extension and basically lay on top of the motor. It was all by feel. The job really sucked and I had the bruises to prove it. I made new brackets and installed them on the side of the new heater so they were easy to install and will be easy to remove!

 

[SAshton]

Did you remove trim pump and all the batteries too? Out in 5 minutes? Mine still works but only on shore power and am afraid to replace it due to the stories I've heard. What is a good replacement?

 

[Lazy Daze]

It was my affection for Budweiser and chicken wings.

Is it bad that I laughed at that? Well, at least you got it out easily! :smt001

 

[Madifonzo]

Yes. I am doing the same. Going to use the front mounts and a side mount set up. I'm also going to raise it up as it seems to sit in water from the bilge. The old one was all but totally disintegrated on the bottom.

 

[Madifonzo]

I removed the screws from the pump to move it closer to the engine. All the batteries were out for winter anyway. I also removed the heater housing to shrink its size. Does yours have the heat exchanger option? If so, you will have to run lines from the port engine. Removal is certainly not a 5 minute job. You have to remove fresh water pump, disconnect all lines, remove blower and remove top plywood panel that holds all that on. Then remove the housing and anything else if possible. I also removed my exhaust elbow to give me additional working room. Which was good because I wanted to inspect it. I was surprised that the original elbow was still in excellent condition. Love having FWC engines.

As as far as the replacment I elected to stick with Atwood. After all the original lasted 10 years and I know it will fit. Kumma was the other brand I looked at. I was able to get an Atwood for the same price so I stuck with it. Why change what works?

 

[Woody]

Yes. I am doing the same. Going to use the front mounts and a side mount set up. I'm also going to raise it up as it seems to sit in water from the bilge. The old one was all but totally disintegrated on the bottom.

How is the water in the bilge getting up there? or do you mean water from other sources/leaks keeps the bottom wet?

 

[Madifonzo]

No. It's seems there is a slight angle so when I wash the bilge down or empty the tank the water just sits there. Poor design in my opinion as I have the same issue with the starboard trim pump sitting in puddles water. I usually hit it with a wet vac.

 

[SAshton]

My heat exchanger side has corroded off but no leaks and works great on shore power so I won't replace it until it's completely gone. When/if I do I won't connect the heat exchanger ends. I'm actually gonna remove the hose from those connectors and Install garbard 1/2 in drain plugs which seems to be what will work.

 

[Madifonzo]

You can purchase replacment heaters without the heat exchanger loop. Is your boat FWC?

 

[aquaaddiction]

Looking for advice on removal. I've removed the housing and the front screws. Cannot reach the back screws as the tank is right against the transom. Anyone have real world experience in removing? Crazy how Sea Ray installed without regard to possible replacement down the road.

Any advice is much appreciated.

I mounted my new heater on a piece of marine ply painted grey, that way I could fix the ply to the boat with screws that were accessible. I also wanted to raise the heater up as the bottom has rusted out so I presume that shelf had water sit on it somehow maybe condensation or the previous owners washing the engine room out.

Anthony

 

[eweise]

Well, I finally got around to installing the new water heater. After thinking things out after the removal of the old one I decided I would not be such an idiot to install a new one the way the factory did. There was no thinking about ever having to remove it to replace. I came up with the idea for a mounting plate so I obtained a stainless steel plate. Had it fabricated to my specs and the rest is history. I had a piece of King Starboard cut to the size of the top of the unit (not installed yet) that I will mount the new pump and blower to. Will update with those photos later.