[Dan]

I am sure glad to hear there is someone else w/ this same dilemma, James. I have been trying to figure this out for years now. My headache started in '92. My dad bought a '87 23 cc. I had it all figured out. I installed the bronze scoop/sea cock w/ a500gph pump like previously mentioned & ran the line to a 90o elbow for circulation . I then thought it would be trick to run the overflow line from the 1 1/2" fitting near the top of the tank to a "T" connection that I installed in the drain line thus eliminating the need for a second large hole in the transom.
Well it didn't realy work. The pump pumped in water faster than it could drain out the overflow. The tank would fill up and overflow onto the deck. Actually if I remember right water came in the overflow when sitting still too. My soln then b/c I was young and dumb was to hook up a 2nd 500gph pump to pump water out simultaneously. My dad sold the boat when I was away at college(but lets not talk about that [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] !!!!!) before I had a real chance to test the 2 pump setup. Hindesight I don't think it would have worked too well either. I timer switch may have been a better way to go.

I now have a '89 23 cc w/ the same baitwell and I am still stumped. Getting water in is easy but getting it out is the tricky part. Like you said the well fills up to the level outside the boat thus an overflow line that is beneath that level will not drain. A check valve may work but I start to think about the pressure of the water outside the valve vs. the presure of the water in the overflow on the inside of the valve. You know what I mean? I just haven't had the balls to drill the necessary holes to try it. My idea now is that I really don't need an inflow pump. A scoop/seacock alone in the bottom should suffice. The tank will naturally fill up. But I will need an outflow pump w/ a fitting about 4" from the top of the tank and a timer relay switch. Hmmmm.

Right now my temporary fix is a 30 gal poly drum that I have converted into a free flowing livewell. It works great but it sure would be nice to use the one below deck. I know there are guys and manufacturers w/ similar livewells. Please put in your input. I too would like to hear it. James if you make any progress let me know and will do the same.

Dan [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]