Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

I've always admired the bait stations that are integrated into the solid transoms when people rebuild them. Adding a double fiberglass Hermco bracket and twin 150 four strokes is all the better. Okay, maybe I'm still dreaming and need to snap back into reality!!

But seriously, The classic 23's with the O/B configuration have a HUGE motor well that has A LOT of wasted space. It got me thinking, why can't some one design and build a "Bait Station" utilizing that space?? Well I'm gonna try!

The Goal is to look something like this....

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...7-401/Goal.jpg

This is where I start....

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...7-24-11003.jpg


The design will look something like this...

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e.../8-3-11005.jpg

Maybe add a small sink on the left and a cutting board in the center???

More later....

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

From a design standpoint, I need to make sure the motor cutout is large enough to tilt the motor All the way up to the "lock" position.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e.../8-3-11009.jpg

And also need to be sure the motor can turn left or right completely when in the trim position. I.e. shallow water operation.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e.../8-3-11011.jpg
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e.../8-3-11015.jpg

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

My "Livewell" design is an oval shape that will fit in the motorwell area and net out at least 20 gallon capacity.

Well the model/plug that I built has an 18 gallon capacity.... close enough.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...7-24-11012.jpg
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...7-24-11013.jpg

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

Really? It seams easier to just close the transom in, put a bracket and make an integrated livewell. Personaly I like to be able to sit or kneel right next to the motor while I am working on it. Unless your making the 'topper' removable it wont be possible.
Why not use a large bait board until your ready to put the bracket on?

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

Well after consulting with one of our resident fiberglass experts (Dave W. a.k.a. "Blue Heron") I built the mold for the top section. I integrated a trench leading to a small sink next to (behind) the cutting board area.The opening on the left (inverted) is the lip to accept the livewell tank.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...8-25-11009.jpg

After the first coat of gelcoat.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...lcoatspray.jpg

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

Now its time for fiberglass. 3 layers of 3/4 oz CSM, then 1 layer of 6 oz, then one layer of 10 oz. Added a stiffner to span the width and for strength.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...8-27-11008.jpg
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...8-27-11010.jpg

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

Okay, Time to pop the part out of the mold and see what we have.... http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/100_3927.jpg

Now to trial fit it on the boat and see how we did...Pretty close, need to trim one end (Notch)

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e.../9-1-11003.jpg

Now the sucky part... Lots of fairing! Yuck! But it determines the quality of the work from a finish point of view.
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...9-11-11004.jpg

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

It seems all integrated bait/livewells are along the centerline and yours is on the port side. Do you have something on the starboard side to offset the possible 105-110lbs of water in the well?

Cool design BTW.

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

Fully filled its 160 pounds. Battery (80 lbs) is on the starboard side as is the helm. Have trim tabs too, when running. Should balance out ok.

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

Did you do all of this yesterday?!!! You're an animal!

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

Nice Work!

That's gonna be sweet!

Your woodworking/mold making skills are impressive.

Brandon

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

I wish!! This is a Time-lapse thread that is on warp speed!

I've been working on this from Early August until now. I'm speeding the thread along and should be up to current status with pictures posted later tonight.

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

I decided to take a break on the tedious fairing process and work some on the tank mold, one of the funner parts of the project. You have to really think out the contruction design tech. of the mold so that it can be disassembled and extractable so that the part is not damaged in the process. A real head scratcher. But I think I got a good design, smooth external HDPE skin with a wood internal skeleton that is totally removeable. http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...9-11-11007.jpg
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...9-11-11008.jpg

The finished "Live well tank" mold with clay fillets and big radius.
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...9-11-11009.jpg

The mold with PVA sprayed on and ready to be gelcoated and fiberglassed.
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...9-11-11011.jpg

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

The Livewell after the "Gelcoat" is sprayed on and the fiberglass is being laid...

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...9-11-11012.jpg http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...9-11-11013.jpg http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...9-11-11015.jpg

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

The tank turned out good, now it's placed onto the top piece
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...9-12-11009.jpg

View of the top side of the live well tank
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...9-12-11006.jpg

Now another trial fit to check the dimensions and tank alignment.
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...9-13-11037.jpg

Motor fully tilted up -- no problem

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...9-13-11008.jpg

Motor trimed up for shallow water operation --- check!

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...9-13-11011.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...9-13-11013.jpg


Now back to the fairing process...

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

Lookin' good, Jim. That's gonna be nice when you're done.
Dave

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

Thanks Dave! I couldn't have done it without your guidance and suggestions.

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

Now that the trial fit went well, it's time to stiffen this piece up and make it stout as a SeaCraft is. Using 10 ounce woven and 1708 biaxial to make it tough as nails.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/100_4008.jpg
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/100_4009.jpg
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...1/100_4010.jpg

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

With the fairing completed, time to apply a base coat of primer....

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...9-19-11005.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...9-19-11003.jpg

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

What are your plans for the fishbox in the splashwell since it won't be accessible. Mine always fills with water and I'm thinking of ways to seal it off. Great work on the livewell. Hope you save the molds.

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

Actually, I designed the size of the livewell to be small enough so that the door/hatch to the large fish well is still accessable(see below pic). The teak door thru the motorwell wall will still be operational too.
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...9-13-11020.jpg

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

Very nice work!

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

Thanks Boo!

Tonight I completed the door to the livewell and the cutting board. Both are made of textured Starboard. The door is 3/4" and and the cutting board is 1/4". Also added a sprayer in the sink/wash down area. Completion of this project is getting closer and closer.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...9-21-11005.jpg

Re: Motor well Bait Station 2011
 

awsome work looks great cant wait to see it installed

Final trial, Everything fits nicely. Now just have to put a top coat of paint, screw down the cutting board, and plumb the wash down area.

Side view of the Bait Station

All Done...ready for action!!

Finally got to try out my custom livewell/bait station today. Worked great, the expandable 2lb foam insulation around the tank keep the live bait (herring) cool and frisky. The kids loved to look at the "bait". Caught a few small striped bass, no keepers though....maybe next time.

I like it, very smart.

Ahhh, Success....especially for the kids!

Nice..... Just wondering if you had the built in bait tank on the transom and if you did what did you end up doing with it..... I usually use it for a fish hold when Im done fishing

Yes, I still have the original live well down in the back of the boat. I can still access it thru the teak door on the front of the motor well. I also use it to put the "caught" fish in. The 20 gallon live well I built is just for live "bait". So I use both now.

The latest upgade....Starboard Transom Splashwell Door.

Looks to be very funcional!! Great job! Oh yeah, I like the color coded Zebco rods for the kids! :)

Oooo i like that. Did you make a mold to make that? That would be a good addition for the type of fishing i do. Thats nice you made me feel good seeing that. Usually i come onhere and everyone is ripping the well out cause of the type of modification they are doing. I thought i was the only one on here that still had the well.

Works as a fishing bench too...Didn't catch anything today, but we had a good time.

Great looking kids Jim!!! Now we know the real owners of the pink and blue fishing poles!! At first I thought they were yours and the wife's! :) :)

The Bait station is starting to pay dividends...

Those are some Hands on kids :) looks like they had fun...

strick