Carver Owners Forum

The galvanized steel hot water heater in my 1999 404 cpmy (the 355 design with a cockpit) sprung a leak we can't repair. I bypassed it for the time being but we can't live without hot water, and must replace it. The issue is removing and replacing. It is installed under the dinette forward, starboard. Just aft of it is the forward vacuum generator for the vacuflush in the forward head, and just forward of it, under the dinette seat, is the forward AC unit.

Has anyone figured out how to get an old water heater out and a new one back in for this model Carver? Google searches are coming up empty. I did find one entry on this forum, for a 355 model - same layout - but it didn't conclude how to do it.

I wonder if I can remove, or loosen and slide back, the vacuflush vacuum generator and get it done.

I fortunately haven't had to replace mine yet. On my 355 I have plenty of room to work on it, but to remove it I believe I would need to move or remove the A/C unit. I don't have vacuflush, so not sure how that fits into the mix.

I expect you already thought of this but.....have you determined where the leak originates? If it is the heating element seal or one of the fittings, that would be a way to avoid removal. I am speaking from my experience with the nylon connectors failing once in a while, and one heating element seal leak. er

Sorry can't help. My 404 only has the water heater there so lots of room. I do have a question for you though. How the heck did Carver run the ducts from the AC?

..Aaron

There were a couple of different layouts of the hardware in that compartment. Depending on your configuration, you'll have to remove the vaccum generator or the AC unit or both. If I remember correctly, in a few cases, the mounting bracket on the far side of the tank was a pain to get at. Look for an access hatch on the floor inside the bench above the unit, it may help getting to some of the hardware and fasteners.

Very helpful, folks - thanks for the help. "Cooler", I did check out the fittings and element, and it appeared the leak was coming instead from the bottom corners, both of which had some corrosion. However, it's worth another careful check. We were anchored out when it happened and when we returned, I simply bypassed the tank so we'd have water. In the process of that quick patch I confirmed the plastic fittings were sound, but I'll double check everything carefully before ordering my replacement tank.

"Viper", I'll look for that access panel. That could be a big help. I'll start by removing the vacuum generator and hope that gets it. It'll be three weeks before I can get back down to the boat - we live in Arkansas and keep her in Gulf Shores - but I'll post updates with pix at that time.

Louis

I hope this triggers a response. This is my first post on the forum. Just moved a board a 1999 Carver 404. My water heater leak is exactly as you described. What ended up happening! You promised to follow up :captain

I did say I’d follow up… I think I was so relieved at getting it completed that I went straight to the bar. Lol.
What happened is I bought the same Whale brand hot water heater, and was able to get it into the enclosure and hooked up after a lot of trouble and a little bit of finagling. First, we drained the old hot water heater. Of course, then my wife and I managed to struggle it out of the enclosure. Getting the new one in was more difficult, so we decided to enlarge the opening just a bit. We used a saw to trim around the edges, leaving enough to put the hatch, cover back on securely, but giving us about another half to 3/4 of an inch. we still had to get a precise angle going in to put the new hot water heater in the small space beside the vacuum flush pump

Thanks so much for the pictures and the info. And sorry for the belated reply. Happy New Year. I've been at the bar now I have to figure out how to repair the swim platform I snapped off with my supposedly light aluminum high field dinghy!

[quote="miketenzer@gmail.com"]Source of the post Thanks so much for the pictures and the info. And sorry for the belated reply. Happy New Year. I've been at the bar now I have to figure out how to repair the swim platform I snapped off with my supposedly light aluminum high field dinghy![/quote]

I want to hear that story too!! Keep us updated (with PICS!) on that project!