IP 485 Hot Water Heater access

Access to the hot water tanks on boats is always fun...I've found on the 485 (2005) there must be some way to disconnect the water tank and slide it under the settee for removal. Has anybody had success doing this?  The water heater isn't working and I suspect I'll have to replace the element, but getting access to it is the first step!

Rob

We have the same problem on our 465 but our tank is leaking. There is no way to remove or replace the tank or even to draw the heater element without major surgery. To make matters worse it is placed under the fridge compressor. IP really need to think about access for maintenance in their build, a simple job is turning into a major problem.

I did this a few months ago on our 485. Be sure to drain it completely (including coolant) and then unscrew the bracket on the left (stern) side and slide it forward and lift it out. Its actually pretty light. I put the aft vacuflush in it's place for easier maintenance access and put an isotherm water heater in the bottom of the wet locker to the left of the companionway. It has a custom shelf over it so you can't see it.

Aryall, faced with the same problem on my 445. The access hatch over the heater is not large enough. The one behind the settee back is blocked by a the fridge and freezer compressors. The compressors were obviously installed after the water heater. It has been repeatedly recommended that I don’t want to touch the compressors. This means boat surgery. If you cut an opening to remove the old water heater, how did you do it?

Thanks, Steve

Still haven’t done it Rob, I managed to reduce the leak by replacing all the fittings I could reach whilst losing most of the skin on my knuckles in the process. I have the hole I need to cut out marked and it’s a job for our return to the boat (in Guatemala) in the fall. My idea is to cut a large hole below the settee cushion, edge the piece I remove then fabricate a rim to support it back in place so that the existing access is still in place but within a larger lift out section. The plans of mice and men however.