Well it's been a while since I've posted or needed anything about our boat. For all of the re-fit and work we've done I haven't had any real issues till now.
So I present my issue to some of the greatest minds out there.
The hot water heater sprung a leak in the fresh water side of it's circuit so anytime the system was pressurized it leaked. I have not laid eye on the leak as it's under the insulating jacket,but I have indeed eliminated all out points in the heater. It's an old round Raritan 6 gallon with the steel tank and heat exchanger. I'm sure from where the water is coming and where it drains to when no pressure is applied that I'm correct in my diagnose of a hole in the top of the steel tank, plus I have repaired, replaced many in my time both in boats and houses. We are in the Bahamas and I'm not replacing it until we get back to the states as my fall project for next season so I've removed the freshwater part of it from the boat so I could have pressurized water at least to finish the season. I've also drained the tank by disconnecting it from the circuit. It is still connected to the engine cooling system with the heat exchanger. I'm starting to wonder about running the engine for the rest of the season with no fresh water in the tank, wondering what the heat exchanger is made from and if it will stand up to being exposed to air in the tank now that no water is in it. The heater is higher that the engine so the engine coolant expansion tank is even higher in a locker. I do have the factory hose from Westerbeke to bypass and eliminate that from the circuit but I would have to move the expansion tank closer to the engine and there just isn't a great way to do that.
Any thoughts all,..
So I present my issue to some of the greatest minds out there.
The hot water heater sprung a leak in the fresh water side of it's circuit so anytime the system was pressurized it leaked. I have not laid eye on the leak as it's under the insulating jacket,but I have indeed eliminated all out points in the heater. It's an old round Raritan 6 gallon with the steel tank and heat exchanger. I'm sure from where the water is coming and where it drains to when no pressure is applied that I'm correct in my diagnose of a hole in the top of the steel tank, plus I have repaired, replaced many in my time both in boats and houses. We are in the Bahamas and I'm not replacing it until we get back to the states as my fall project for next season so I've removed the freshwater part of it from the boat so I could have pressurized water at least to finish the season. I've also drained the tank by disconnecting it from the circuit. It is still connected to the engine cooling system with the heat exchanger. I'm starting to wonder about running the engine for the rest of the season with no fresh water in the tank, wondering what the heat exchanger is made from and if it will stand up to being exposed to air in the tank now that no water is in it. The heater is higher that the engine so the engine coolant expansion tank is even higher in a locker. I do have the factory hose from Westerbeke to bypass and eliminate that from the circuit but I would have to move the expansion tank closer to the engine and there just isn't a great way to do that.
Any thoughts all,..