Heater leak?

[Tige22ityper]

Hello all!

I have a 2002 22i and since putting it back on the water I noticed some water by the drivers footwell after running the boat for about 20 minutes..........I seemed to have traced the problem to underneath the dash. Most likely the heater leaking at some location..........could it just be a hose or could it be the heater core?

If its the hose, then no big deal, but if its the core, I am not going to be too thrilled. Has anyone replaced the heater core in their boat, and if so, is it that big of a job? Doesn't seem to be alot of room under the dash, but maybe its a real simple fix. I really don't want to have to take it into the shop if I don't have too.

Any help would be appreciated!

[R&T Babich]

Sounds like either a loose hose clamp, split hose or a leaky core. I've been researching adding an auxilliary heater to our boat and if it's the core you will need to know the manufacturer of the system - probably Heater Craft or Northern. Heater Craft is all over the net and JC Whitney carries Northern. I've talked to Northern and they are very helpful. If you need a core and can get the unit out you might be able to find a replacement core by looking thru a catalog at an auto parts store. These units are not built for a specific boat. They come in different sizes and are generic units intended as add-ons - boat, truck, Jeep, etc.

[Tige22ityper]

That's the exact order I was thinking of. I know its a two outlet Heatercraft and was able to find the part number at Heatercrafts website. When looking at replacing the core, it just might not be that bad. I just hope that's not the case. I am going to run it a bit tomorrow and diagnose. I was planning on pulling it off the water anyways.

Thanks for the tips!

If anyone has changed their core, fill me in on the details!
Thanks in advance!

[mainiak1]

I changed mine a few years back. Very easy to do. Bypass your heater a 5/8" union. I pulled out the whole unit to work on it. I have a 1998 and the replacement was a little different than original. Mine was a Heatercraft two outlet. They( I think I kept the recept where I ordered it.) sent me not just the core but the housing also. The price around $80.00. If I did it again I would go to Napa with my old core and match it up. I have the Napa numbers somewhere if you need them. Cost I was told around $30- $40. You have a couple of wires to cut also. I put in a two prong trailer connector, for ease of future removal.

[R&T Babich]

In case the core really starts to leak you might want to carry a 5/8" splice connector or caps for the fittings. I haven't put a heater assembly into our boat, yet, but while I was working on it this winter I added heater hose connections and 2 ball valves on the transom. I can now easily shut down the system if there's a leak and only turn it on when I need it. No need to run hot water all the way up the dash all the time. I know it's not circulating when not in use, but the heat will conduct some and it's still pressurized. I'll be installing the rest of the system later this year.

Are those "Hot Tubes" worth getting?

Where are good spots for the vents?

[Tige22ityper]

The hot tubes are definitely worth getting.............the kids love it! Especially when we go out late in the evening........the wrap the towels around themselves and pump the hot air in........keep them really toasty.......I wish I had a three vent system instead of two.......the other stationary vent is under the dash to keep the driver warm.......If I were to do it again, I would put another hot tube in so passengers both in the bow and in the main part of the boat can get heat.

Any tools I should bring down to the boat? Flat head screw driver, small metric socket set? The dock is about 500 feet from the garage so I don't want to have to keep running back and forth. I don't have any 5/8 fittings or caps right now, so I am first going to inspect everything, then see what needs to be done. I really hope its just a loose or leaky hose and the core..........

[Tige22ityper]

Well, it looks like its the core. I checked out the fittings and tried to tighten up the hoses, but they were good and tight..................didn't feel or see any splits in the hoses..............the only problem is that I have a custom built sub box in the drivers footwell with a panel that makes getting to the heater a bit of a problem. Didn't really think about heater problems when I had it done last year...............lovely......will have to get the boat off the water and see how I can move the sub box to get to the heater.

[Tige22ityper]

So, I FINALLY figured it all out the last two days. I have been working the last 16 days straight, so I didn't get a chance to actually pull apart the heater until last night. I was able to get a core from a local marine supply store and have it shipped so it was just sitting waiting to be put in. I got the sub box out and pull the heater assembly..........only to have the new core be INCORRECT!!! Holy F! So, I called the marine supply store and made the 50 mile trek up there instead of waiting to ship back and forth.........I get up there and they have 3 in stock...........ALL WRONG!!! Not one fit correctly.........luckily the sales guy was very cool........he called heatercraft right as I stood there, and they told him to sell me the heater they had on the showroom floor minus the fan motor for cost..........so I got a new core and new wrapper or box that it sits in...........fought traffic, got home and got everything (minus the sub) installed and put it in the water while on the trailer to check for leaks........worked like a charm! Pull the boat back up the hill to the house and installed the sub..............finally done with work for awhile and will be able to enjoy the boat for the first time in almost a month!! Thanks again for the help!!

[chpthril]

Glad to hear

[teachercop]

I realize I am a late post, perhaps for the benefit of the future heater failures,
http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/show...light=ford+van

I found the heater core was no special marine part, just ripped off from a seldom used automotive application that is a inexpensive find,,even at the Autozone.

If not, take the core to a knowledgeable radiator shop I bet they can match it up.....

[noworries]

Seems to me that there are only three reasons a heater core would fail in a boat:
1. It was defective and you're really unlucky
2. It froze and burst a seam somewhere.
3. The heater hoses are not secured near the heater and the bouncing and jostling of them caused mechanical stress on the core nipples leading to failure. Automotive heater cores are not subjected in normal use to these stresses. Make sure the hoses are secured near the core.

[Tige22ityper]

I think I was just unlucky. It worked fine when I put it away for the winter.......boat was drained, and stored in heated garage. I think it just gave way for some reason. Hoses were on tight too. I check them about every 30 hours. d

[teachercop]

Difficult to pinpoint the cause of the failure. All points made seem to have merit. The boat is running lake water as opposed to an automobile with anti-corrision fluid in an enclosed system. Some heater cores get bounced around if you happen to live on a dirt road that is wash boarded out.

I was incredulous when mine went with 100 hours on a two year old boat and I live in SoCal where it did not see extreme temps on the cold side anyways.