[SteveH]

I currently have a 2000 23 footer and have the same problem with water ending up in my "below-deck" baitwell due to rain despite the fact that I have a boat cover. It is a p.i.t.a. It is essentially one of the lowest points in the boat so it is gonna happen. I dont think there is a solution except storing your boat indoors. I am kinda in the market for a temporary building which cost about 3K or so and then I am gonna burn my boat cover until nothing is left. My old 78 20 ft seacraft master angler had a bait well on the gunnel and the newer seacrafts basically took this idea I guess. I tend to use these gunnel bait wells on my boat more than the below deck one even though they are smaller. Regarding the below deck bait well, there should be a "pick up" so that when you are running it is designed to push water into the well. This is a good thing if you want to keep a lot of bait alive. You should be able to close the seacock valve when you are not using this well. The gunnel bait well(s) (I have two in my 2000) dont work this way and you have to pump in the water so there is no issue there. I hope I made sense.