Live well drain

PeterM · #1 10-09-2017, 06:24 PM

Here is a question with winter coming up. My live well can only drain via a pump. There is no way to drain it into the bilge. It fills up when it rains. Should I cut in a drain hole with a screw stopper so that any rain water goes into the bilge and then out stern plug? I am concerned the live well might fill and freeze over the winter, even with a boat cover....what do you think? Or do I just leave some antifreeze and a sponge in the well?

uncleboo · #2 10-10-2017, 07:02 AM

I'd do the plug thing.

Old'sCool · #3 10-10-2017, 08:02 AM

Same here.

FLexpat · #4 10-10-2017, 08:23 AM

I don't know how those are plumbed so I will ask the dumb question: is there any way to pull the pump hose at the well fitting or put a Y valve in the hose?
If not, drilling a drain sounds like an option...

caper · #5 10-10-2017, 10:00 AM

FWIW my 1975 20SF had a factory drain in the stbd aft corner that drained in to the bilge.

uncleboo · #6 10-10-2017, 02:06 PM

So did my 18.

bumpdraft · #7 10-11-2017, 01:44 PM

Not a big fan of draining into the bilge. I sometimes have small baits in the well that I would not like in the bilge. A friend of mine that has a Mako, has fishboxes that drain that way as well. The blood and guts water has to be pumped out and I don't think it ever pumps the residue left over.