Replacing water heater R25sc

I am in process replacing the water heater on my 2011 R25 sc, in fact, everything in the starboard side lazarette will be replaced as it is a 10/year old boat and I am not finished cruising/ fishing her yet. I have the heater free to slide back into lazarette space and was considering cutting out a section of plywood to allow enough vertical clearance to drop the unit far enough to get it out. I was wondering if there are existing images of what is under there before I start hacking away. I am more deft with wood than painstaking disassembly of metal, and, since it needs to be done twice, out and in, I thought I might try another solution that also offers the next user relief from thoughtless boat design (come on guys building a boat around an element that is nearly impossible to remove is a bit much!). Thanks for any leads or suggestions.

Swims with Tuna

Good morning,

When I upgraded the original manual head to electric, I purchased myself a digital endoscope (tons available on amazon). It allowed me to see behind bulkheads and tight spaces without having to take anything apart.

For your current circumstances, I would drill a small hole in the plywood and snake the endoscope to see what's below, or search for an existing hole/access to the cavity below the plywood.

So I need to amend my post by apologizing to Ranger boat designers for my somewhat snide comment about designing around an element that cannot be removed, the water heater. Turns out, it can be removed without cutting or disassembling anything! By sliding the unit to the most forward area of cockpit starboard lazarette, then lifting one corner on to the starboard side stringer, then lifting it up and spinning it 90 degrees on its axis, it will lift out. Hurrah! While not obvious, it can be removed, at least out of my R25 without cutting or altering the unit. Next comes reinstall of Gh10 auto pilot pump then slowly reverse installation of all the new systems I am replacing.

Thanks for advise and help with the process

Swims with Tuna