www.iFourWinns.com

First the boat is a 2009 V338 . . with winter quickly approaching and the previous owner took the bilge heater with him. My question is, where is the best place to install my bilge heater. It looks as if the previous one was on the port side with the batteries. Also appears to be the only place I can fit one in the V338. Also, in my last boat the bilge heater was hardwired – where is the easiest place to get to the AC wiring on the V338. I can see where the battery charger is . . but how in the world would one get over there – remove the holding tank?? New to the V338 this year - great boat but many questions.

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2010 Vista 338 Volvo Penta
2005 Yamaha Wave Runner FX HO

2005 SeaRay 280 SunDancer
2001 SeaRay 245 Weekender

Surely someone on here has a V338 with bilge heater. My thought is to place it on the plate near the batteries and point it at an angle to get the heater to blow between the engines. Then where is it wired. Options 1, bring it up and plug in with the cockpit refrigerator. Option 2, wire directly to where to power comes int the boat. Love to hear where others are located and wired.

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2010 Vista 338 Volvo Penta
2005 Yamaha Wave Runner FX HO

2005 SeaRay 280 SunDancer
2001 SeaRay 245 Weekender

I don't think so.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Hi VolDad,

I have a 2007 338 and do not have a bilge heater. My boat has been stored inside and outside over the past 6 years with no issues. We fully winterize the appropriate systems, remove the batteries and have it shrink wrapped when stored outside.

By your need for a heater, can I assume you will be bubbling the boat in the water versus pulling it for winter storage? I'm pretty sure most of us just winterize and let mother nature handle things for the winter. Most boat yards do not allow for AC power connected to the boat once in storage.

Just my 2 cents.

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Jnizi

2007 Vista 338 "Better Yet"
Previously:
2007 Vista 258 " Just Right"
2005 Horizon 230

Wow - OK. We tend to boat year round but can get spells of rather frigid weather. No bubbler as the lake has only frozen twice in 30 years . . . but this could be one of those years.

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2010 Vista 338 Volvo Penta
2005 Yamaha Wave Runner FX HO

2005 SeaRay 280 SunDancer
2001 SeaRay 245 Weekender

I have a bilge heater in my V318. It is located below the engines and discharges against both engine blocks/oil pans. I've got it hardwired into the power feed to the cockpit fridge. Temps in Knoxville were near zero a couple days last winter, my engine blocks never were below 45 degrees F. I was pretty paranoid with the polar vortex temps hitting Tennessee, very out of normal winter......but had no issues.

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2009 Four Winns V318

Have any pics of your engine room? That may help with placement.

I know the stringers in my 318 vs JNizis 338 are very different.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

I used a xtremeheater (the XXL) in my 318. I positioned it off the shelf in front of the generator/holding tank where it rested on the mount for the hatch lift. You can use a block of wood or starboard to make a 'plate' for it. I ran the cord up through the hatch under the starboard bench to an outlet in the cockpit.

Not a solution that you can leave in all winter hardwired and still use the boat -- I would unplug/remove it when we used the boat in the off season. then, when we returned to port, I would just put it back in place, run the cord, and let it work.

If you are interested in the heater, I'm up for selling it. Let me know.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Have you considered a Pad Heater?

https://www.wolverineheater.com/Model-1 ... 6csace.htm

Seems like a much more simplistic solution?!

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2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS