above deck livewell?????
 

I'm going to install a livewell tank under my seat so I can remove it when diving or boating. I figured out a way to use the saltwater pump to fill the tank then circulate the water in the tank. It can also pump the tank down for my fishtank in the house or do a water change while fishing. Will the bait be ok for a day or do I have to put in an airator?

Bill

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

Hey Gen- alls i use in my 30 gal tank is an aerator and occasionally change the water- I havnt tried large menhaden in it but large live spot , croakers, bluefish etc hold up well. I leave the tank on the front of my console seat to minimize the space the well consumes. doesnt completely answer your question but just thought i would mention my use of the aerator.

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

Hey Miles
Thanks for the info and it does answer some questions. Do you use the aerator all the time? I was planning on circulating the water in the tank but you just let it sit there...maybe that I won't need the aerator??!!
Bill

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

I pretty much leave the same water- i will change it or just dump some and replace it occasionally if it gets crapped up too bad. the water inside the inlet i fish/catch bait in isnt usually too great so I will usually put "pretty" water in after I clear the inlet.

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

I have one sitting in front of my transom (inboard) pick-up scupper in front of the motor and drains overboard via hose.
Not my favorite way of a live well but still looking to put under my leaning post in the future, just leary of putting a 1 1/4" hole in transom, like I did on my old boat, worked good, just hate to drill the holes and no more then I use it now this works to keep large baits alive with little work, outside of catching them.

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

I have a 40 gal above deck tank with a 1100GPH pump that comes through a seacock up into the tank and an 2" overflow that is plumbed out the transom just above the waterline.It circulates ALOT of water and it is needed down here(water temps are very high).I would say that in Ft.Lauderdale you would need to keep a continuous flow of new water moving to keep plichards,gogle eyes,ballyhoo,sardines and such alive.I doubt and airator would work,maybe with mullet,but not much else.

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

We have a above deck livewell. You can see it under pics, and the post is called our 1979 23 seacraft. When we use it, i will tell you how it works. (It is built in though) [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

How do you have it hooked up for draining?

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

Craig..

Nice looking picture of your boat..

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

thanx charlie- friends took a couple from the beach a couple of weeks ago. still waiting for a good opportunity to post a full size one. (dont want to steal this post though),lol.

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

If you are talking about how to drain our livewell. There is a piece of PVC that when it is in the hole, that water will fill up to the highet of the pipe. When you pull out the pipe it drains. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

Since mine will be removable I couldn't figure how to use a hose that large and not get in the way. Is the concern that the heat/sun will cook the bait? Mine will be in some shade. Is yours built into the transom?
Bill

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

Ours is built in the transom,if your talking about ours. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

Being in the shade helps,but really the main thing is that the baits get alot of volume of fresh(sea)water to stay healthy and flush out scales and funk left behind by the bait themselves. My well is built into a coffin box in front of the console and everything is plumbed under the deck.I fish my boat with clients all day and may need to carry hundreds of plichards and dozens of hoo's.If you are looking to keep a few baits alive for an afternoon,you may make it with an airator,I would give it a try and if it doesn't workout then go the plumbed route.

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

Thanks for the help and advise. I'm going to try my way and see what happens.
Bill

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

I installed a 17 gallon live well under my leaning post and plummbed it with a 1100 pump which doubles as a washdown and with the overflow thur the transom.

In order to remove it when not fishing I installed 2 water inlets on the deck.
I can now remove the well replace the caps and use my cooler for those long days of drinking.

But the way to go regaudless is to have water flowing so as to keep your bait alive and frisky.

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

What size hose/fitting did you use, I set mine in front of the transom and have a inlet coming down under the gunnel and plump up a 1 3/4" hose to drain, would like to put this uder the leaning post.

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

Ill take some pics of the set up and post them later

but it works real nice use the live well when i fish cooler when we drink

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

We turned the transom fish hold into a livewell. I put a Y-valve onto the the saltwater washdown hose in the transom access hatch and just switch it for either use.

This livewell is pretty small and I will eventually hook something up for a larger in deck well in-front of the console, or something that's portable.

I also agree that having an overflow will keep your baits happier as you constantly have fresh cool water and you overflow the ammonia etc... out of the water, especially with difficult baits like herring.

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

That is what I'm trying to do but could not figure how to plumb an 1 1/4" overflow. I found what appears to be flush deck fittings at Lewis Marine so the cooler will sit level. I'd luv to see some pics!
Bill

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

I USED 2 WATER INTAKE DECK FITTINGS THAT ARE SEMI FLUSH
SIMILAR TO A GAS FILL

INSTALLED THEM JUST BEHIND THE WELL AND PLUMBED THRU THE TRANSOM

WHEN NOT IN USE I REMOVE THE WELL, REPLACE THE CAPS AND INSTALL THE COOLER

A SIMPLE INSTALL, EXCEPT FOR THE DRILLING OF MY BRAND NEW TRANSOM.

BUT IT WORKED OUT WELL

Re: above deck livewell?????
 

soory it took so long for the pic
But this is what i did

http://images.kodakgallery.com/photo...52106_0_SM.jpg