Transom livewell?

[Billybob]

Are any of you guys using the stock transom livewell in a Potter 23' ?
Personally, I don't like the layout or location and want to build a leaning post livewell someday.
But, there's bunker to be livelined and I have too much on my plate to add more right now.
So, if your using yours, how's it working out and how do you have it plumbed?

Thanks,
Bill

[FELLOW-SHIP]

I didn’t like mine and I removed it and built another where the newer SeaCrafts have theirs. I don’t know how the original’s worked since I bought the boat and began my re do.
Before


In the middle

Finished


FellowShip

_______________________________________________

My motto: Just for the Grins

[peterb]

I have no permanent livewell setup right now. I am debating putting one under the leaning post. As a temporary measure (for those bunker to be snagged & cast netted), I use a garbage can and a pump with some aligator clips that I hook up to one of my batteries. With this setup, I can keep the bunker alive for a while.

[Billybob]

Hey Fellowship,
How do you drain the well?
I'm debating between getting a reversible pump, or rigging some kind of drain thru the transom plug hole.
The plug is a pia because it ain't easy to reach and it would only drain while underway and you have to pop it back in when you stop.
Another question,
I want a pump to do double duty as a washdown. What GPM do I need for a decent washdown. I look in the catalog and see a lot at 3.5 - 5 gpm or so, but then some run all the way up to 20, or even 60 ?
I haven't had a washdown before, and I would just like something that does a decent job of getting the blood and scales off the deck.

Thanks Guys.

Bill

[Capt Chuck]

BillyBob

Here is the pump I used in my 23' stock well before my transom enclose. It worked great.

(Try to follow this ) I mounted it via the access port next to the livewell lid (port side). Inlet side was plumbed from a thru hull intake scoop & Seacock in the same access to the pump. The pump's outflow was plumbed thru the top sidewall of the tank into a 2-way valve (higher than the water level, the overfill drain hole) By lifting the livewell lid I could reach in and switch the valve. In one position it would shoot water down into the tank (180*). By switching the valve to the other position (90*), it would push water to the washdown outlet also plumbed thru the front (bow side) top of the tank access thru the battery deck hatch. The tank's overfill / drain would auto drain thru a screened PVC thru the transom (1/2" lower than the switching valve) Next using the old battery access hatch in front of the splashwell, I was able to drill a hole in the bottom (bow side) of the livewell and insert a small 300gph pump for tank pump out. The outflow was "T" into one of the the existing bilge pump out lines.
Short of abanding the existing livewell and using a stock bait tank, this system involves lots of plumbing and wiring etc. but it is the only solution you have utilizing the old confiure.

Sorry I don't have pics and this might seem confusing but PM me for futher info if needed [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]
Click Here for pump specs------>Shurflo Baitmaster Pro

[FELLOW-SHIP]

Ha BillyBob

If you look at the second picture I posted you will still see the hole in the bottom of the hull that I put my scoop through attached to a cut off valve then a 90 degree brass pipe fitting then a 500 gal. per hr. live well pump. You can attach a raw water valve, hose, and pump to that second hose attachment on the pump if you want.

http://www.eangler.com/product/359700127.htm

As for the removal of water from the tank I have two separate hoses in the second picture I posted you will see 1 ½’ through transom fitting that’s for overflow of the tank since 500 gal. is going into the tank all the time. On the other side of the plywood deck support again in the second picture there is a ¾” drain for the tank with its own cut off valve to drain the tank at the end of the day. I don’t use the raw water washdown fitting since I have a fresh water 15 gal tank under the CC with its own pump and hose for that.
Also in that 2nd picture you will notice the deck I build to place the tank I build On It. My live well is 36 gal. Again I moved it to the open hatch (third picture) which is where it is located in the boat. Moving it and the gas tank Forward was one of my major objectives when I did my boat. The Live well tank deck elevates the tank JUST high enough for a in deck live well. The added advantage as a Deck support. I set up my boat that the live well made of thick fiberglass sitting ON that ¾ plywood deck and the top of the Live well supports the bottom of the boats deck.


FellowShip

_______________________________________________

My motto: Just for the Grins

[stoney]

I got rid of the built in livewell when I redid the tramsom. The hole through the bottom, the lack of a good place for bilge pumps, the bad placement location for a livewell and the livewells contribution to the sinkcraft theory were too much for me. I bought a Kodiak livewell and it sits in the motor well when it is needed. A pump attached to a proper valved thruhull feeds the livewell and the Kodiak has a very good drain system. The Kodiak can become the basis of your livewell later. Works great, I can't say enough good things about the Kodiak.

[peterb]

Stoney, that's the route I have been thinking about going long term. Kodiak under the leaning post. I have an available seacock right by there.

[CarlaDee]

I agree w/ the negatives about the well. However, it does work okay. I use my raw water washdown - leave the overflow drain plug out, put your hose into the well. When running, water is pushed into the well and out the overflow. When trolling / drifting, turn on the raw water pump. Keeps the alive all day.