Almost had a heart attack.

[Fr. Frank]

You should be able to improvise an inexpensive high water alarm by mounting a float switch in the bilge, a couple inches above the float switch for the bilge pump, and wiring it to the alarm buzzer for your Mercury engine.

You can also wire the float switch to a small 12v. electronic siren or bell, like a old fashioned phone bell, all available from Radio Shack. If your boat is behind the house, you may want to mount it under the T-top, or externally, so that you can hear it in the house.

[edloh]

Hello there,

These are all very good idea. When i was new to powerboat, David Pascoe website provided a wealth of information to get a boat seaworthy.

- seal the opening to the bilge (hatches, holes, cable entry)
- double bilge pumps, electrical and battery ( as mention above)
- for those with rear drain (install scupper)
- seal the big livewell in the back especially if not in use. This would provide plenty of flotation.
- bilge alarm
-etc

[askipper3]

We are going to fill the livesell with high density foam- and seal it off completely. Should add some nice floatation.

[riprunner]

I have the same set up as Blue Heron. Float switches tend to go bad every couple years or so. You should check them regularly. I even keep a large hand pump in the boat just in case.

[Blue_Heron]

We are going to fill the livesell with high density foam- and seal it off completely. Should add some nice floatation.

The livewell isn't a liability if it's set up right. I have a livewell pump controlled by a float switch mounted inside the well in a domestically fabricated (homemade) aluminum housing that prevents livies or sloshing water from interfering with the float switch. The livewell drain is plumbed to a through-hull fitting in the transom and the pump discharges overboard through a fitting on the starboard side above the waterline like a bilge pump.

The sequence of operation goes like this: Water enters the livewell through the drain. When the livewell gets full to within about two inches of the top, the float switch activates and pumps it down an inch or so. Then the cycle repeats. Works like a charm, even when the boat's rocking in heavy seas. As long as the lid's not open, the water stays in the well and below deck level.

I've installed some other plumbing that allows it to recirculate when the boat is on plane. I can go into more detail if anyone's interested. Maybe a post in Repairs/Modifications.

Dave

P.S. I use the livewell as a trash receptacle when I'm not fishing. Keeps the deck clear of the usual trash bucket. I just hate to see you get rid of all that usefull storage space when the livewell's not really the culprit in the sinking.

[askipper3]

Wouldn't the pump ALWAYS be running? Because when the waterline goes down...more water comes in. (people in back)...........

[Blue_Heron]

Wouldn't the pump ALWAYS be running? Because when the waterline goes down...more water comes in. (people in back)...........

Nope. It pumps down faster than the water flows in.

[SCSeacraft]

askipper3,
Do not fill that livewell with foam. I had the same idea back in 89' when we 1st reworked our seacraft and it helped to rot out my transom.Over the years small amounts of water worked its way into the well and slowly the foam absorbs this moisture,over time you get a nice "crockpot" effect in summer heat and the wood slowly absorbs the moisture through the fiberglass well.
when we finally cut the old foam out it weighed a couple hundred pounds with all of the moisture.
Donnie