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We just purchased a 2006 288 Vista and are in the process of getting acquainted with the on board systems. The boat has 135 hrs. on the Volvo Penta 4.3 Gxi engines/duo prop drives and are in need of routine maintenance, tune-ups, new impellers, pull and service drives, change boots, etc., as the former owner apparently did not feel this was necessary?????
We had the boat surveyed and nothing serious popped up. However, when we turn on the hot water taps (head and galley), no water comes out when the boat is hooked up to city water. I tested by turning on the pump and still no water. Water does come out when the cold water is turned on but there doesn't seem to be a good flow, as compared to our previous boat (1995 258 Vista). One point to note, the hot water worked when the surveyor tested it and we got a small amount of flow when we first opened the tap, but it quickly diminished to nothing. It must be something obvious but I am missing it. Upon opening the bilge to snoop around, I noticed there is an inline valve which has a round knob on it with indication on top of open/close. I checked to make sure it was in the open position which it was. Another note, the previous owner did all of his maintenance including winterizations. Could he have lines crossed when reconnecting them? If this was the case, I would think nothing would come out of the taps.
Any ideas on this will be greatly appreciated as we need the hot water to adequately clean.

check to see if the hot water line is connected. During winterization the line can be disconnected or not reconnected correctly. This should be by the water heater. The vistas have the quick disconnect fittings, hot water should be the orange tubing.

Could there be an air lock in the hot water tank? Have you opened the pressure relief valve and the drain valve on the tank - water flow from these areas should cause the pump to run and offer up a few clues or shift any air locks.
When you are disconnected from city water, opening a hot tap should result in the pump coming on and water flow from the fresh water storage tank via the heater.
The city water connection at the back of the boat has a screen and a pressure limit, check that the water is getting through.

_________________
John
2006 Four Winns Vista 278 (sold)

i have no expereince with the layout of a 288, but th is should be fairly straightforward to troubleshoot. trace the cold water line from the water inlet on the rear of the boat. It should "T" at the hot water heater and run to the inlet side of the heater. So far all of this will be blue line, on the outlet side it is a red line and goes to all the hot water outlets on the vessel. Head, galley and transom shower. You didnt mention if that transom shower was working or not.

If all that checks out and you are not getting water to the facuets, the only thing i can think of is I belive a checkvalve right at the back of the inlet connection, it must be stuck. That could be easily verified by pulling the inlet to heater and turn the dock water on, to see if the water tank is getting water. On another note, you should not turn the hot water heater on until you figure this out, if its not getting water, it wont take long to burn the element out.

Even if the check valve is stuck, with water in the fresh water tank and the fresh water pump on you should get water out of the faucets. Also I wouldnt trust the guage n the fresh water tank until yo know for sure it works. fill it with the hose until it flows out of the fill opening.

Dont mean to be so elementary, but sometimes its the easy things that are overlooked...

hope that helps, good luck

_________________
Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)