replacing fresh water heater on a 1990 C-36

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pete@delaunay.com's picture
pete@delaunay.com
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replacing fresh water heater on a 1990 C-36

Anyone have the pleasure of replacing their fresh water heater on a 1990 vintage C-36?  ​I've sourced one at CATALINA DIRECT - Water Heater Seaward 6 Gal Galv CONNECTIONS FRONT.docx Suggestions are welcome.... thanks.... 

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Catboat Willy's picture
Catboat Willy
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Pete;
I've replaced mine on hull #1041, a 1990 model. The water heater that is a direct replacement is an  Atwood S-600 aka a Seaward. There are several 6 gallon models available and price depends on what material is used on the outside of the unit. Stainless is more expensive than painted steel. etc. I think I bought mine at Defender. It's not a big job but it's made easier if you remove the draws under the sink. It's a good opportunity to replace the hoses, if needed. 
Bill

Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041  'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte  Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'

 

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Haro
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Bill, I replaced mine 2 1/2 years ago. Recently I noticed rotten egg smell when hot water was used. The advice was to replace the anode. But, according to the manufacturer there is no anode in this water heater.  You can install one by removing the drain valve and installing the $28.00 magnesium anode. This means that you will not be able to drain the water heater without dealing with flood in your bilge. Have you experienced the rotten egg smell? What have others done who had to deal with this problem? The manufacturer said anode was not required.  I am thinking that this water heater is not marine grade.
What are your thoughts. 
UPDATE: I drained the water heater from its drain faucet and the water smelled bad. I was sure the fresh water tank and the hoses needed to be flushed and cleaned with clorox diluter water. It turned out that the smell was coming from the water heater and not from anywhere else.
I removed the electric heating element from the water heater and another gallon of dirty water came out. I put the element back and filled the water heater with one gallon of water and 4 caps of 7% clorox ( cap is the clorox bottle cap ) using the fresh water pump that I had disconnected from the main water tank. I drained and refilled 5 times. Then I filled the water heater from the water tank where I had put 2 caps of clorox in 30 gallons of water.
I have had no more smelly water.
I discovered that the rotten smell was due to not using the water that is in the water heater for extended period of time. I now make sure to empty water from the hot water faucet into a bucket and spill overboard when I visit the boat every 2 weeks. This allows new fresh water to enter the hot water heater and prevent smelly water.

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dlincoln3
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I replaced mine with a Kuuma 6-gal from Defender.  Nearly identical to the Seaward.

Don Lincoln
"Nancy Lynn"
1993 Catalina MK1.5, Hull 1238
LaSalle, MI (Lake Erie)
Universal M-35AC

Haro's picture
Haro
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Pete, visit the link on my signature, and read the content and view images on the related album.
http://mei1970.org/saillavie/
Haro.

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alfricke
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The three year old Seaward/Whale heater on Jubilee began oozing coolant (I have a hydronic heating system). When I went to replace it, I ran into the supply problem others have experienced. Looked everywhere and could not find one. Catalina Direct is out, citing supply issues. The only thing available was the significantly less expensive Kuuma version. Having no choice, I bought it, knowing it was 5/8 of an each higher than the Seaward and that it would not fit. We tried grinding and cutting, but no go, so had to take off the plywood platform it sits on. An easy one hour job turned into six. 

Al Fricke
S/V Jubilee San Francisco Bay
Catalina 36' MkII  #1867
Universal 35-B

Catboat Willy's picture
Catboat Willy
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Al,
Sorry that happened to you. I forget whether the heater was a front or rear connection but the Seaward 6 gallon went without to much of a mod. Defender Marine usually has a good stock of them and that is where I got mine. Removing the plywood platform had to be a pain - ask me how I know!  I replaced my platform with marine plywood as it was in poor shape and felt the same frustration -but my oscillating tool made short work of removing it. Then again, I did the work when the boat was on the hard.
Bill

Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041  'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte  Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'

 

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