www.iFourWinns.com

Just bought this boat last week. Bought it without a water heater but rec'd an allowance to put one in of my choice.

Have a few questions;
What brand and model was the original heater? It seems to have been an 11 gal. unit--mounted on the port side.
Was it originally a dual mode with both 110v and engine water heated? Not sure if it had already been changed out once before.
I'd like put in a dual mode, so we have hot water after a cruise without having to fire up the generator for hot water after arriving at a destination. We keep the boat on a mooring, and we usually spend our time on a mooring or on the hook while cruising.
It is a RWC boat, and using it in salt water which is probably why the original one failed--what do you guys recommend? Seems like the Seawards I've had on my old SR 268 Sundancer last about 7 years before they corrode through--but then they're not much money either.

PS--My first 4 Winns, and a newbie here. Live in NH but boat out of Cape Cod, MA. Think we're really gonna like this boat!

Probably an Atwood http://www.atwoodmobile.com/marine-prod ... eaters.asp
The common arrangement is a heat exchanger with flow and return pipes from the engine cooling system and a 110 or 240 volt immersion element for shore power.
Before buying a replacement make sure it will go in without removing the engine or a number of engine attachments such as the port side manifold. The original would have been installed before the engine went in.
You don't have to replace it with the same make, also look at Isotherm and others. A stainless tank will probably last much longer than an aluminium one but stainless costs a lot more.
Scroll down about 3 pages (1st posted Aug 22, my photos added Jan 3) to "Water heater replacement on 258 Vista?" and there is a photo of my original Atwood and a replacement.

Some photos of the Atwood http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html/?_nkw=Bo ... %20heaters

_________________
John
2006 Four Winns Vista 278 (sold)

Thanks for the reply--yep, looked up your old post. Think I'll order the Seaward 11 gal.--took some measurements and it should fit-will get me through 5 years at any rate. Gotta buy a bunch of other stuff right now for the Vista to get it set up the way we want, and I'm sure a few things will go south in the first month or so anyway (don't they always?)
Plus haven't sold my old 1989 Searay 268 Sundancer yet either--pending a sea trial and survey--who knows what they'll find and want a discount for!.