3800 Open (‘01) - Hot Water Heater Removal

[RobRay]

The original 11gallon Atwood hot water heater needs to be replaced on my 3800 Open (‘01).  Is there any way of removing/replacing the heater without taking the heat exchanger off of the starboard engine?  Did Tiara install the heater before the engine???

[ReelMagic]

Yes.... I had to replace mine in a 2003 38 Open w/Cummin's several years ago as well. Tried to remove it without removing the heat exchanger but there wasn't enough room but I did figure out a way.... It's quite a bit of work but possible.. After removing the hoses and anchor screws holding the hot water tank down you have to remove the screws on the sheet metal covering around the tank and take the covers out of the engine room. Once the sheet metal covers are removed the tank will come out past the heat exchanger as the tank is a cylinder and much smaller. Reverse the process when installing the new one.. Remove the Sheet metal covers from the new heater, put the new tank in, and reinstall the sheet metal covers... Takes time and significant effort but it beats removing the starboard heat exchanger.. Hope this helps....

[RobRay]

Thank you, very much. I was thinking about removing the sheet metal “box” but assumed that the tank inside would be so large that it wouldn’t solve the problem. Good to know that it would work to do it that way. Don’t want to take heat exchanger off if I can avoid it.

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PS: Was the new water heater the exact same make/model as the old? Unfortunately, the make/model of the Atwood replacement is out of stock everywhere. Seeing very similar heaters by Whale Seaward and Kuuma but it appears that they might be slightly larger...and I’m not sure if the sheet metal comes off and on like the Atwood. What a pain this is! But that’s boating, I guess! Thanks again.

[ReelMagic]

I replaced mine with a Seaward 11 gal hot water heater and the covers came off the same way. Sheet metal screws... Good luck.

[RobRay]

Great. Thanks again.