Livewell in the Transom or on Leaning Post

GoodChance · #1 05-24-2012, 02:38 PM

Rebuilding a 1977 SeaCraft Center Console. Bracketed motor. Most likely installing a 225 ETEC. Need to start planning the layout of the cockpit. I like the idea of building an intergrated livewell into the transom but my gut feeling tells me that I should move the weight forward a bit and install a leaning post/livewell.

Thoughts?

Old'sCool · #2 05-24-2012, 08:28 PM

I thought that with my 23' also. It's a big footprint on the deck so if that's not a problem go for it. I went with transom.

Mikem8560 · #3 05-24-2012, 10:19 PM

I built a xmall one in my transome like my cooler under the leaning post

syxx · #4 05-28-2012, 01:50 PM

I just got my 77 redone with a filled in transom, bracket, etc... I bought a leaning post with 30 gallon well from Birdsall Marine and it's working out nicely, no bending over all day. Also have 3 levels of drains so I don't have to run with all the water in there all the time. It's plumbed to go out the back underneath the bracket. With the running pickup it's great I don't have to run my pump all the time, and it the drains keep up as long as I don't open the valve all the way. I also have a circulator pump that works good too. The only thing I may do is get the well sealed at the lid, as when the top level drain is on it seems to leak at the top a bit. However the water just goes straight off the back and not around the seating at all, so not too big of a deal.

Check out my pics on the photos page, 77 seacraft restored.

77SceptreOB · #5 05-28-2012, 09:15 PM

I chose a completely different route. I kept the notched transom and added a livewell and bait station in the existing motorwell.....just food for thought.

cbboatworks · #6 05-29-2012, 09:09 AM

Goodchance if i was you I would go with leaning post with a 35+ gallon round livewell, if u fish with pogies you want a round livewell no mater where itis located, if you are inerested in a leaning post with 45gal livewell I build them at a good price.

Old'sCool · #7 05-29-2012, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbboatworks

Goodchance if i was you I would go with leaning post with a 35+ gallon round livewell, if u fish with pogies you want a round livewell no mater where itis located, if you are inerested in a leaning post with 45gal livewell I build them at a good price.

That looks a lot like the McKee LP/LW I considered. Very nice!!

shine · #8 05-29-2012, 09:58 AM

I made a spread sheet of weights when when rebuilding my 23, it was very helpful. Basically take the centers of all you large components and their distance from a single point (outside transom face is a good place) then you can compare changes from the stock set up.

The stock live well (below decks) is already in about the same location as a in transom live well (its center maybe 18" forward of your proposed transom well). So you do not need a huge offsetting moment to compensate for moving the livewell back a little. BUT you still have to compensate for that motor and there are only a couple other things you can move (fuel,console, people, batteries)

Are there any other weights you can move forward to compensate? I moved my console forward by at least 6". When you move a console forward, you also move a lot of people weight too. I also moved my tanks forward.

I went with a large livewell/leaning post and I am very glad I did, her trim at rest is very flat and on plane I do not need trim tabs to keep the bow down. If you were running with a lot more HP, I would say keeping the CG back is not going to hurt you, but with a single 225 (I have a F225) I would get as much weight forward as possible. The faster you go the more aft you can have your CG

eggsuckindog · #9 05-29-2012, 05:29 PM

77Sceptre's is very nice but in that Sceptre you also have "The Dance Floor" the CC's don't have kind of room but very nice.

CBBOATWORKS - that looks really nice - very compact and doesn't take up a lot of space - that would be perfect for SF 20 guys scaled down a tad

cbboatworks · #10 05-29-2012, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eggsuckindog

77Sceptre's is very nice but in that Sceptre you also have "The Dance Floor" the CC's don't have kind of room but very nice.

CBBOATWORKS - that looks really nice - very compact and doesn't take up a lot of space - that would be perfect for SF 20 guys scaled down a tad

Thanks..Sorry guys I am not trying to highjack the thread, I am working on a scaled down verson as we speak, it will look just like what u see above, 35"W x 27"L x 26"Tall