how big a baitwell can you put on a 20sf?
 

I'm rebuilding my 1989 20sf and I have a.couple.of questions about adding a baitwell. I'm redoing my transom with coosa 26 so I know it will now be lighter than before. But I do have a heavy 150 yamaha hpdi at about 470 lbs. I want to put a 45 gallon offshore marine bait tank in place of a leaning post but I'm afraid my stern will sit to low. Im making the following changes to try to compensate, my batteries are under the console and I'm replacing my fuel tank with a 53 gallon tank that I will move 21" forward from where the original sat under the leaning post. This one will start just under the console to the edge of the front deck. Is this to big of a well for this boat? Should I place it in front of the front seat or will this beat up the bait to much? I will eventually repower with a 140 Suzuki wich will help some with the stern weight issue but that won't be for another year or two.

Put mine here.
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ideopen156.jpg

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps616a4630.jpg

My tank is original. batts under the console.

She loves the weight there.

Except GFS has 100 fewer pounds hanging on the transom! I'd put the baitwell in front of the console until you can get some weight off the transom. Moesly designed the 19/20' hulls for motors of 300 lbs or less, so the closer you can get to that, the better your ride and handling will be!

So, if I go with a 30 gallon instead of a 45 I should be OK with stern weight? Even though I have a 25" transom, I just don't want to sit to low when anchored and risk taking in water through the back.

Buy one of those cheap Rubbermaid trash cans and test it out on the water. This would be the best way to find out. The water weight is what gets you, close to 8 pounds a gallon. I have a 50 gallon on mine but I changed things on the boat so much, a real comparison wouldn't be possible. The stern definitely sits a few inches lower in the water when the tank is full. Some of the tanks have two levels which helps. I'd probably go something in the mid 30 gallon range, just got smoking deal on my big tank.

Denny,
I don't think the Seacraft Industries and Tracker 20' hulls are as sensitive to tail weight as the Potter boats. I use the in-deck live well in mine with no problems. It's located just forward of the motor well, and I have a 400lb Merc hanging on the transom. Running with the live well full, I don't need to deploy trim tabs to keep the bow down. That being said, 45 gallons might be pushing the limits. 30 gallons would probably be ok.

Dave

Tracker hulls are a bit longer so I would agree they should be somewhat less sensitive to stern weight. Do you know if Tracker and/or SI moved the console and gas tank forward as well? Seems like Sandy's boat has a bit more room between motor and console compared to the early CC models. With the 25" transom they were clearly designed for the early V-6 motors, so a different animal than the original Moesly designs.

I have not seen the Bones of the early/ later hulls side by each so I will just give my thoughts. My fuel tank is 47 useable/ 50 gal stock design.

The early boats have the console way back. Maybe Carl`s racing back round influenced this.
The deck design was raised sometime in the 80`s? I can get some water in with one or more in the corner with 365#s of Rude on her ass. Norm makes good points about simulation/ imagineering. Love the Hookah Norm!

I moved my console forward maybe 2 inches to gain more fishing room.
The oval rigging hole prevented me from going farther. I did not consider cutting the hole
farther fore. I would now. You also trade foot room on the jump seat by doing this.

Think, think, and think some more. Questions are your best friends here.

Merry Christmas!
GFS




Ideally, I would like my bait on the transom, but where it is now is not too shabby.

I'm now thinking I can turn my front seat storage compartment into a baitwell. It has a 30 gallon capacity but after I round out the corners it will probably only hold 20 gallons. Has anyone here plumbed their front seat successfully? Any pictures?

I have an 85 20` with the same console as your boat, I raised the front seat 4 inches and cut out storage box to accommodate a custom built livewell about 30-35 gallons, but I had a new deck put in and the plumbing at that time..