Plumbing my livewell

Billybob · #1 01-10-2003, 11:47 AM

Are any of you guys using the livewell under the splashwell on the original 23 O/B setup? I want to put in a strainer/ pickup and a pump, t it for a washdown/livewell.But I'm not sure how to drain.Not quite sure if it's high enough to just overflow drain out the transom or side - and even if it is, I need a way to drain the well at the end of the day - do they make reversible pumps? If I don't have the height to overflow drain, then I would need a second pump for that, but how would I switch it.Seems a float switch would work, but it would cycle on/off like crazy? Any thoughts? I know a lot of guys either seal off this well, or use it for wet storage, but I don't want to clutter up the deck with a temp well, and am trying to keep this thing as original as I can because I'm nostalgic, err cheap! Plus my transom sits pretty high with the single. [img]C:/TEMP/Sirotnak232.jpg[/img]

Jon G · #2 01-10-2003, 04:33 PM

Billybob I have a 20 with the bait well in the floor and I'm putting a new seacock in as well as an aerator pump and also a small rule pump 360 or so to pump it out at the end of the day that way any water that happens to get in there from the floor can be easily pumped out by flipping a switch. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Rule makes a small pump that looks like a thru hull with a pump on the end so the pump is on the outside of the bait well not in the way.

FELLOW-SHIP · #3 01-13-2003, 05:51 PM

ON MY 23 THAT HAD THE SAME TYPE LIVE WELL AS YOURS IT HAD A HOLE THAT WENT THROUGH THE LIVE WELL THROUGH ABOUT ¾” OF FIBERGLASS BUDDY AND THEN THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE HULL WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO COME IN AND OUT THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT. THE HOLE WAS LOCATED ON THE PORT SIDE OF THE LIVE WELL ABOUT HALF THE DISTANCE TO THE TRANSOM. DOES YOUR LIVE WELL HAVE ANY PLUMBING TO IT NOW AND HOLES? WHAT DO YOU HAVE DOWN THERE NOW???

Billybob · #4 01-14-2003, 09:38 AM

All I have in there now is a drain that goes through the transom and is almost impossible to reach.I thought about an aerator, but think pumping fresh water through the well would be better.The only bait I'll be livelining is probably bunker.I need a washdown too, so the supply side is easy enough.I'm still not sure if the top of the well is high enough to overflow out through a thru-hull.I can't get in the boat right now because of the snow/ice.A friend said that they make reverse flow pumps, but I've never seen one?

FELLOW-SHIP · #5 01-14-2003, 05:24 PM

TO GET WATER INTO THE WELL YOU COULD GO WITH DRILLING A HOLE THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE HULL AND USING A SCOOP FACING FORWARD WITH THE BRASS CUT OFF VALVE AND A RULE 500 GAL PER HR LIVE BAIT PUMP ATTACHED TO IT AND THEN RUN THE HOSE THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE WELL FOR YOUR FRESH WATER COMING INTO THE TANK.
THE WATER GOING OUT IS A DIFFERENT STORY. I REMOVED THAT LIVE WELL ON MY 76 AND BUILT A NEW ONE WHERE THE NEWER 23’ HAVE THEIRS ABOUT 2’ IN FRONT OF THE TRANSOM. YOUR WELL “IS NOT ATTACHED” TO THE TRANSOM THUS IF YOU DRILL A HOLE THROUGH THE TRANSOM AND THEN THE TANK THINKING IT WOULD BE SAFE FROM LEAKING THINK AGAIN ON MINE THERE WAS ABOUT A ¼” TO ½” GAP PLENTY OF ROOM FOR LOTS OF WATER TO GO INTO THE BILGE THAT COULD SINK THE BOAT WHEN YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING IT. IF YOU COULD CUT A 2” WHOLE IN THE UPPER SIDE OF THE TANK USE PROPER HOSE AND FITTINGS AND THEN GO THROUGH THE LOWER TRANSOM USING BRASS FITTING YOU WOULD HAVE THAT SOLVED. AS FOR THE DRAIN IF YOU REVERSED THE PLUG TO DRAIN YOUR TANK FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE BOAT INSTEAD OF GOING THROUGH THE INSIDE BACK OF THE WELL YOU GOT IT.
HOPE THAT HELPS
FELLOW-SHIP [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

RAHIM NAHIM · #6 01-23-2003, 12:55 PM

HEY BILLYBOB A GOOD IDEA FOR A BELOW DECK LIVEWELL LIKE ON THE 20 C.C IS A PUMP BRINGING IN WITH A SCOPPER AND A 500GPH. THE (OUT) YOU WOULD USE A RULE MODEL#97 SHOWER BOX IT HAS A SWITCH & A RULE 700 GPH CONTAINED IN A BOX IT WORKS LIKE ACHARM

Billybob · #7 01-23-2003, 03:11 PM

Thanks for the replies guys.I have the in all set with a scoop and a pump feeding into the lower end of the well.The pump needs to be big enough to serve as a washdown too.The out can be a fitting near the top of the well out through the side if it's high enough, or the shower box idea.I suppose I could drain the thing through the drain plug while underway, it's a P.I.A. weather the plug's inside or out-but I'll only need to do it infrequently.