Click for Abeking Click for Cross Click for Mulder Click for Ocean Alexander Click for Mag Bay

Hot Water only available for 4-5 min?

Discussion in 'Carver Yacht' started by Jackie S., Sep 25, 2023.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. Jackie S., Sep 25, 2023
    #1
    Jackie S.

    Jackie S. New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2023
    Messages:
    7
    Location:
    Little River
    Hello fellow boaters,

    Recently my '88 Carver Mariner 3297 hot water heater is only pumping out 4-5 minutes of hot water before it goes luke warm. It's an electric water heater and haven't had any issues until now. Any ideas?

    Thank you!!
  2. Capt Ralph, Sep 25, 2023
    #2
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,754
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    IF a dual element heater, sounds like one of the heating elements has failed.

    I remember a strange issue that drove me crazy for a while on our boat.
    Both elements were good yet hot water went aweigh after a few minutes.
    Found both the transom shower valves open and the water flow just turned off at the transom shower head.
    This connected the hot and cold water directly.
    Start your shower inside the boat, the cold water would go in the hot line from the transom to the inside shower and end your steamy shower early.

    I figure cold water flows easier that hot water.
  3. DOCKMASTER, Sep 25, 2023
    #3
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2012
    Messages:
    1,414
    Location:
    Ketchikan, Alaska
    This can also be a symptom of a failed cold water down tube. There is often a tube in the heater so the incoming cold is delivered to the bottom of the tank. If it fails, the cold goes in the top and you can get luke warm water.
    MBevins likes this.
  4. Capt Ralph, Sep 25, 2023
    #4
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,754
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Oh sheet. I have heard of this.
    Might help if we knew the mg/model of the water heater.
  5. Capt J, Sep 26, 2023
    #5
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,435
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    I would guess that your 25 year old water heater is full of sediment and junk, greatly reducing it's capacity. I'd buy a new water heater given the age of the unit.
  6. MBevins, Sep 26, 2023
    #6
    MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2008
    Messages:
    1,172
    Location:
    Windsor On. Canada
    Why do you automatically reply with it's dead, but a new one?
  7. gr8trn, Sep 26, 2023
    #7
    gr8trn

    gr8trn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2012
    Messages:
    739
    Location:
    OR/CA
    Seems likely perhaps. If it is original, how likely is it not dead? If not dead how likely is it to be repaired with new parts?
    How much time and effort might be involved is finding out?
    Nothing wrong with that approach, we learn from doing so.
  8. MBevins, Sep 26, 2023
    #8
    MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2008
    Messages:
    1,172
    Location:
    Windsor On. Canada
    Understand that but to say replace it without even troubleshooting the problem is just a waste of money and effort.
    gr8trn likes this.
  9. Capt J, Sep 26, 2023
    #9
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,435
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Water heaters are known for filling up with scaling as they get old. 25 years is WAY OVERDUE. So yeah, if you want to waste time and money buying heating elements, hoping they haven't welded themselves in there and you don't crack the tank taking them out, only to find out the water heater itself is the problem, which at 25 years old, I'm 90% sure the tank itself is the problem, go right ahead. I prefer to replace junk, rather than trying to fix something that's 10 years overdue.
  10. rtrafford, Sep 26, 2023
    #10
    rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2019
    Messages:
    1,591
    Location:
    Vero Beach
    This is really true. The cost isn't significant, although the effort might be...but then again, after so many years that removal will afford you the opportunity to address quite a few items of buried and deferred maintenance. Add, new ones will use less power and provide better service going forward.
    Capt Cole likes this.
  11. Jackie S., Feb 22, 2024
    #11
    Jackie S.

    Jackie S. New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2023
    Messages:
    7
    Location:
    Little River
    Turns out the dock water hookup regulator was bad, thanks for the responses.
  12. DOCKMASTER, Feb 26, 2024
    #12
    DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2012
    Messages:
    1,414
    Location:
    Ketchikan, Alaska
    I'm very curious how the bad regulator lead to lack of hot water? Can you elaborate please? Thanks!
    Capt Ralph likes this.
  13. Jackie S., Feb 28, 2024
    #13
    Jackie S.

    Jackie S. New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2023
    Messages:
    7
    Location:
    Little River
    It was the original brass? inline regulator from '88. It was corroded, I assume the interior of it was nasty as hell. Probably not getting enough water to the water heater. Also replaced the water hose from the dock to the boat. Nothing wrong with the water heater itself thankfully.
  14. StillLearning, Feb 28, 2024
    #14
    StillLearning

    StillLearning Member

    Joined:
    May 26, 2017
    Messages:
    58
    Location:
    FL/TX
    Similar. Pressure relief valve went bad. The valve is plumbed into an overboard discharge.

    After arriving at the boat and turning on the water and water heater - would never heat the full tank of water up, continually bleeding off hot water.

    Simple inexpensive fix, replaced the pressure relief valve. Solved my problem.