[abl1111]

Hey Lars.

Yeah, I'm planning to put the live-well in the center 'coffin thing' - or at least a section of it.

I am re-doing a '75 Sceptre and am thinking ahead so I do not have to re-do anything twice. Having a livewell / washdown is such a nice feature ( I installed one in my 20' Grady White and really like the convenience and 'out-of the way-ness'. I would rather not go w/ the poly tank on the deck only because it's another thing to deal with.

Getting the water in the live well is EZ, it's getting it back out and not in the boat at all that is the challenge.

I do have an initial idea, but it seems excessive and a potential battery killer. Go get a beer and read this.

Here it goes:

Mount a livewell/ washdown pump in the floor ( cut and install an inspection plate in a hollow portion of the floor ). Run a fresh water, feeder hose to a high point of the livewell - this connects to the livewell/wash pump which is connected to a thru hull, southbay strainer raw water intake. This is how the water gets in to the well.

With me so far?

Now for the "out " part of the equation:

Firmly install a small bilge switch, maybe even one of those new fangled electric ones, in the livewell at the level you want the water to stop rising ( this switch is the type that clicks the bilge on when the water level rises ). Run the wires from this switch to a bilge pump ( a good quality one ! ) that is also mounted near the livewell/washdown pump. This bilge pump is completely different from the engine one.

Run another hose, mounted lower in the livewell -this will be the exit water hose that connects from the livewell to the bilge pump.

Then, run a hose from the bilge pump to a thru-hull hole ( or your existing bilge water exit via a "T" connector )

Soooo, what will happen is; you will click a livewell switch at your helm. This will turn the livewell/washdown pump on. The livewell will fill. Once it hits the bilge switch, the bilge will turn on - pumping water out via a hose going out of the hull through your already existing motor bilge hole.

This system, although a bit extensive, would work. Obviously, all hoses would be of the best quality. All clamps would be double clamped with the better hose clamps and all wire connections would have to be water proof to avoid problems down the road. The battery concern is valid, because you would be essentially running two pumps - one in, one out...

What d'ya think ?

By the way do you have any pix of your custom pedestal/ leaning post seats ? I never sit when I drive my boat and I want to install tackle storage boxes under my presently long, no storage underneath, pedestaled seat(s).

- Alan