livewell question

Dan · #1 05-09-2002, 11:10 PM

I don't know about all Seacrafts but mine has a 25G below deck livewell. Does anybody use this as an actual livewell and if so how do you have it plumbed? The well simply has a drain plug. I have added an aerator and works good enough for minnows and such but I want something that will support large baits like spots, croakers, and fat backs. I would think I need a free flowing system. Right now I can pull the plug and water will fill up to the water line of the boat but if I take off, the water will obviously drain out unless I put the plug back in. I also have a 30G drum half way converted into a free flowing livewell which is probably the best way to go but it takes up a lot of room. I appreciate any suggestions.

Dan

hermco · #2 05-09-2002, 11:37 PM

I have been waiting for "the livewell" question.This subject should end up with at least 2 pages!Every one has an ideal livewell setup in thier mind geared to his or hers fishing techniques,baits etc.The way to make a livewell work is to have plenty of flow of fresh oxygenated seawater to keep the baits alive and not sink your boat.How to avhieve this is a matter of opinion depending on the type of fish you are after,type of bait,size of well,plumbing, etc.
[img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[ May 09, 2002, 10:58 PM: Message edited by: HermCo ]

capesams · #3 05-09-2002, 11:49 PM

I don't have a l/well any more, it died when I sealed the top over to keep the water out . the only live bait I use are eels, and they fit just fine in a 5gal. bucket under the leaning post.I use the wash down pump to give them some new water when needed.

Tom · #4 05-10-2002, 09:41 AM

Just my preference, but I like the in-floor livewell set up a) lower center of gravity b) doesn't take up cockpit area. It is harder to snag bait though compared to a transom or leaning post setup.

My plumbing setup is as follows: (top lid of livewell is about 2" above floating waterline)

Fill: bronze thru-hull with high-speed bronze scoop on outside of hull. Inside of thru-hull has bronze sea-cock. On top of seacock is a T, one side of T goes to saltwater washdown pump (another system not related to baitwell) and other has a Rule Baitwell pump threaded right on a nipple. discharge of baitwell pump goes to inlet near top aft left side of livewell (assume oval or round well). In line shut-off valve just before inlet to livewell.

Drain: Bronze Seacock through transom just above garboard drain (main drain plug) From Seacock,, 2" line to a PVC 90 degree elbow glassed into aft bottom of livewell. Inside livewell the elbow faces "up" and is flush with the bottom of well. MAde up 2 pvc "inserts". One is a riser tube which has small holes at the natural waterline level of the boat (if free flowing allowed to happen, then water will fill to this line when sitting at dock). Top of tube is capped, holes are 1/4" to prevent bait from getting snagged inside tube. OTher tube is only 1" long and acts as a "Plug" (with a cap) when the livewell is not used (you can also shut off the drain seacock).

To fill, 1) open the inlet seacock & turn on pump, water will fill to drain level and then as it keeps filling above waterline (Still below floor and lid) the water will drain out the long tube on drain. WHen at speed, the scoop will force water into the inlet, through the pump and into the well.

To drain, you must get on plane and close the inlet seacock, keep the drain seacock open & pull out the outlet tube. The drain through the transom will suck at a pretty fast rate and drain the well and everything in it. when drained, close the drain seacock and put in the plug.

[ May 10, 2002, 08:42 AM: Message edited by: the other tom ]

FELLOW-SHIP · #5 05-10-2002, 10:05 AM

WHEN I RE DID MY TRANSOM ON MY 23 FOOTER I HAD A OPPORTUNITY TO RE ADDRESS THE LIVE WELL. SO I DID, MADE A 32 GAL. ONE OUT OF FIBERGLASS AND MOVED IT TO WHERE THE NEW 23 FOOTERS HAVE THEIR LIVE WELLS. I USE THE THROUGH HULL SCOOP AND SHUT OFF VALVE LIKE EXPLAINED ABOVE WITH A PUMP AND A TIMING SWITCH THAT I CAN ADJUST THE AMOUNT OF TIME THE PUMP RUNS AND THEN SHUTS OFF. I HAVE A 1 ½” DRAIN HOSE THAT DRAINS THROUGH THE TRANSOM FOR THE OVERFLOW AND I TANK DRAIN TO THE BILGE FOR THE END OF THE DAY DRAINING OF THE LIVE WELL.
FELLOW-SHIP [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

FELLOW-SHIP · #6 05-10-2002, 03:21 PM

HA SCOTT
AFTER YOU DO SOME MORE FIBERGLASS WORK YOU WILL KNOW (JUST KIDDING) I TOOK THAT BUILT IN AREA IN THE STEP DOWN CENTER CONSOL OUT TO ENLARGE MY GAS TANK I DECIDED TO USE SOME OF IT. I CUT THE BOTTOM OUT THEN I CUT THE TWO SIDES TO MADE IT THINNER THEN I RE DID THE BOTTOM AND CUSTOMIZED THE BOTTOM ENDS TO FIT THE COUTURE OF THE DECK. IF I CAN REMEMBER I MADE IT 13” H X 18” W (BOW TO STERN) X 32” LONG (PORT TO STARBOARD). OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THE LIVE WELL IS REALLY STRONG SO I SET IT UP THAT THE DECK RESTS ON TOP OF IT TO GIVE THE DECK ADDED SUPPORT AS WELL. PUT A NICE HATCH DOOR ON TOP AND WALLA A NEW LIVE BAIT WELL. I PROBABLY GOT 5 DAYS OF WORK INTO IT TO MAKE IT JUST RIGHT. THAT LIVE WELL IS A KEY INGREDIENT OF STRENGTH TO THAT WHOLE AREA IN MY BOAT PLUS A CENTRAL POINT FOR HOW I FISH.
FELLOW-SHIP [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Miles Offshore · #7 05-10-2002, 03:31 PM

I have found the 150 gallon igloo (49$walmart)up forward works best for me for croakers, spots etc. Does not work well for bunker. For minnows I just use a minnow keeper. (ALthough i lose one every once in a while forgetting its tied off overboard. Craig- who believes in the K.I.S.S. theory

Scott · #8 05-11-2002, 01:36 AM

How did you guys fabricate the tanks.....and how did you make them round.....well I assume you made them round...

The thing thats in the boat now has way too many corners in it...I like round

I was thinking of using a reversible livewell pump. Was going to run an overflow straight out the transom and then plumb it one of two ways...With an inlet high on the tank and then a drain on the bottom (this would require a y-valve) or just put the fill/drain on the bottom at an angle.

To tell you the truth when I was on the big boats we used portable tanks even though we had real nice in deck wells.... For several reasons.
The pumps always seemed to fail...usually in a tournament. That meant jury-rigging the washdown to get the bait fresh water. The wells were in the floor and a pain in the butt to use...especial when the ocean was kicked up. The hatch to the well was huge and very awkward to deal with while getting bait. So we ended using the poly tanks that sit on the deck.....granted we had the room to do that....and one was mounted under the fighting chair.

Now if I do the bracket thing I'll get deck space....OR
I'll just convert the old splashwell to a live well!! [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] just kidding

[ May 10, 2002, 01:05 PM: Message edited by: Scott ]

Blackwater21 · #9 05-28-2002, 02:09 AM

I fiberglassed over mine and closed it off. I now have two above deck live wells.

Dan · #10 05-29-2002, 11:07 PM

Thanks for the replies. I had a set up very similar to the other tom in my Dad's Seacraft but it didn't work to my satisfaction. The pump would pump water in faster than it would drain out causing the well to overfill onto the deck. A timer probably would have helped but I was young and didn't think of that. My solution at the time was to run a 2nd pump parallel to have the inflow and outflow at the same rate. I am sure if I put some thought in to it I could make it work like Tom's. However, like Craig I am a firm believer in the K.I.S.S. philosophy. I am going to keep an aerator below deck for small stuff or if I want to keep a few spots/croakers for just in case situations. I am going to get a 30-40 gal oval livewell to keep above deck for the more serious livebait trips. I'll run a "T" off the inlet for the washdown pump, connect that to a livewell pump, and run the outflow over the splashwell. No additional holes to drill. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Dan