what's the yellow valve for?

[tomcat rio]

top left side...just noticed it while surfing ads.
...

[Denis]

I can't really remember where it goes, but maybe it's to the coil in the water heater to heat up the hot water?

[DougSea]

I can't really remember where it goes, but maybe it's to the coil in the water heater to heat up the hot water?

You get the prize - bypass to the water heater (and soon I hope to the cabin heater as well)

[Denis]

Doug, where are you going to mount the heater?

[DougSea]

Doug, where are you going to mount the heater?

Not certain yet. It depends on the configuration of the heater. I think the last one I looked at had the air-return on the unit itself and then 2 hoses for the hot air. I'd put one outlet low in the cabin and one at the helm. I'd probably try and keep the return down in the cabin, possibly under the starboard v-berth seat. Another possibility is for the unit/return near the end of the quarter berth and the cabin outlet forward - better air flow.

I just bought the boat last season and I have really crawled all over it yet to see where dead-space exists that I can look to reuse, both for mechanical things like this and for additional storage.

[tomcat rio]

...what the benefits of the hot water heater valve are.
easier to winterize?
leak islolation?
looks cool?
...
i'll be installing a new water heater soon so i would certianly like to know if its worth the relatively slight additional expense.
thx,
ed

[DougSea]

Certainly leak isolation would be a factor, and it does look cool.

Shouldn't be a factor in winterizing since it's engine coolant that runs through it and that should be an anti-freeze mix already.

The interesting thing for me is...I know where the supply valve is (as shown) but where's the one on the return? Need to go look for that, otherwise my whole isolation plan is out the window.

[Denis]

I don't think the valve is there to isolate anything, it's just like a switch to turn on the engine heat function for the hot water tank. Just my guess.

[standishboat]

The purpose of the valve is to be able to isolate the engine freshwater antifreeze,that circulates thru the hot water heaters, heat exchanger system, in the event of a hose leaking or a faulty heater.By shutting off, this valve and the other one in the closed loop system,you are still able to run the engine until the hose or the hot water heater can be replaced. I hope this answered your question. Ken HiltonIII

[DougSea]

The purpose of the valve is to be able to isolate the engine freshwater antifreeze,that circulates thru the hot water heaters, heat exchanger system, in the event of a hose leaking or a faulty heater.By shutting off, this valve and the other one in the closed loop system,you are still able to run the engine until the hose or the hot water heater can be replaced. I hope this answered your question. Ken HiltonIII

Funny that Ken (welcome aboard by the way!) posted this today. Earlier this afternoon I stopped down to visit my boat and found the second valve. It's kind of hard to see since it's in the front of the engine (which is in the back of the boat) blocked from view by the engine box.