in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

I want it gone. So I was wondering if yall knew if the bottom of the well was attached to the hull.I want to cut it out and make a place for a thruhull bait/washdown pump.

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

My boat is a 1975 sf. I just removed all the old foam under the floor in front of the bait well. It looks as if the center stringer (glassed over 2x4) has been cut down an inch or so and the bait well is sitting in a bed of thickened resin along that center stringer. So the answer to your question is yes the bottom of the well is glued to that center stringer.

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ideopen156.jpg
You`ll love it. Holds lots of prisoners.

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

I think mine sat in a bed of something - just put the thru hull in the bottom

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

After closer examination today, the lowest or deepest side of the bait well (starboard on my boat) is also bonded to the hull bottom. This deep side sits in a bed of thickened resin.

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

The transom cap I got from wtenglish still had teh baitwell attached. The bait well was not attached to the hull that I can see - it appeared to be sitting on some type of foam. You can see it on his blog under Repairs/Mods. His is the "1978 SF Restoration - my first one".

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

just drill the thru hull in there and mount the pump, no need to take it out, then you still have some wet storage to use

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

I can't find any pics of that specific area when it was removed but I believe it was just sitting in a bed of "Potter's Putty" that attached to an indentation in the hull that was about the size of a 50 cent piece and about 3/8" deep. I wasn't sure and maybe somebody else could chime in if the indentation I'm referring to was cast into the hull in the mold or if it was the remnants of an old thru hull.

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

Ok I'm pretty sure it sits in a bed of something so I think i'll just drill as instructed by eggsuckin dog.However I also wanted to be able to get to the bilge pump and I wanted to get rid of the current top/lid to the baitwell.I'm just gonna cut a hatch in the aft part of the livewell(to get to the bilge) and glass some ply over the top of the well with a "watertight" hatch in it.So now I'll have a livewell pump, wet but hopefully drier storage,and bilgepump acess with a new better lookin hatch.Oh yeah and I'll leave the truhull In the back (you know the one thru the stern) so it can still be drained while trailered or running.

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

Hey gfs how do you like that bait well set up? I'm thinking of doing somthin real similar this winter. :cool:I couldnt make up my mind about how to get it done at first but looking at how u did it has got me goin now.

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

The gulfstream is tight here, so live bait is king. I didn`t want to go thru a stringer and was stumped. George said cut out the well. Huh? Oh ok. I can get to anything in a jif now.
I can hold many pounds of prisoners now. Watch the intake flow as the clamshell can ram enough while runnin to overcome the drain. An adjustable intake nozzle is a good idea.
I can also slide my chair forward and the controls fall to hand. I never have to stand , which works great for me. Mock it up over and over to avoid mistakes. I also mounted the shorty on semi permanent pads for removal and console access. :D
gfs

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

U run that drain out of origanal in deck bait tank drain thruhull?If so I'm gonna have to make one cause my in floor tank was never plumed just had a drain in the bottom on the aft side.I'm guessing that Im gonna have to put in a truhull like gfs did just below waterline to keep the tank dry when not using.If I install it above the waterline or above the level that the bottom of the tank sets in the skiff will it just drain to that level?Also it seems pretty hard to find another way to keep it draining downhill than to install below wl drain.I know this is silly but damn I have always hated cutting holes in a boat.Current setup is one 700gph not atuomatic bilge punp mounted on a homemade I guess (my uncle gave it to me) bracket.No its not a snap on rule one.

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

I too am not a fan of drilling holes in a perfectly good boat, but I have to say I love it. I can sit in my bilge and work on anything. I also found a slight top layer delam on my port stringer, which I never would have known about. Was a little damp. Now dry and solid.
gfs

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

Yeah im interested to see what mines looking like its been about 5 years since ive had the tank cover off.Cutting that box out will let me see even more.

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

Large bronze thru hull for running drain. I also have a small end of day drain in the well. Drains to scuppers.


http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ideopen153.jpg



stringer fix



http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ideopen164.jpg

gfs

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

Dang!

How she looks now. Be careful mocking up the lines and thru deck fittings. Also be aware of space restrictions so 2 people can cross behind it. Not much room back there so spend many hours imagineering.
gfs

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ugust08119.jpg

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

looks good man.I took out the old console when I painted mine put in a smaller one and moved it foward a bit to give more room aft.Space will probably still be an issue though cause ive got a hand me down 35 gallon livewell sitting in the stern and it gets tight with 2 people back there now.

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

I just took the in deck baitwell out of my boat. Have you done it yet? The center stringer (glassed 2x4) is just there to make the keel of the boat ridgid and to support the baitwell, gas tank, and front fish box/dry box. The entire liner of the boat in attached to the hull/stringers with resin putty. The putty is very britle and pops right off when chipped with a hammer or chisel. The baitwell in my boat was stuck down with resin putty to the hull not the center stringer. It sounds like you have it pretty much figured out now but I thought I would throw in a few bits of info that I had found.

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

hey Adam hows it going.No I havent taken it out yet but I'm probably gonna do it after duck season.To much gonning on in the fall outdoors, work and gonna be a dad this spring.Can you get camo daipers(how do you spell that) for turkey season? :D

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

Congrats on the baby! I have a 14 month old boy. You can cut all the way around the baitwell(just below where the lid sits) lip and then cut it in half. Then pop it right out. Then take it out in two pieces. Leave the lip so you can glass in your plywood and intall your hatch. That will be so nice to get into your bilge. I'm not sure if thats what you are talking about doing exactly. I am going to put in a box under my floor where the baitwell was but its going to be way bigger. I was thinking I could put my battery cut off and maybe even my batteries in it. That should free up some space in my console. I think I am going to put the baitwell in the seat on the front of my console, and a fishbox in the full transom. I'm still worried about to much weight in the stern. Anyway give me a shout when you do the baitwell and I will come take a look at it. I want to see your boat anyway.

Re: in deck baitwell on 20 footer
 

congrats on your boy.Surprised you havent seen it.It used to say in the creek at north harbor all the time.you are doing the very same thing I want to do only I do not want to put a box back in there.Ive got alot of weight in the stern with that 4 stoke and I am tired of keeping it dry itll just be pump/bilge acess with a new hatch.