How do I use my rule livewell pump

[kskomro]

The Livewell is new to me. There are two wires that go to a arieator/livewell switch. A port from a rule livewell pump in the bilge, that goes outside the transom below the waterline. A hose that goes to the livewell. Another hose that is larger and white with a strainer on it, and apears to go out the transom above the waterline. There is a plug in the bottom of the livewell. Is this a bilge pump also? and how does the livewell work? I am currently redoing the Deck so I have not had it into the water yet.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: How do I use my rule livewell pump

I can help you with two out of the three ports. The port below the water line is the intake for the pump. Turning on the livewell switch energizes the pump. It sucks in water and forces it up to the live well through a spray/aerator head. The plug in the bottom of the the live well serves the same purpose as the stopper in your bath tub. That's the drain. Pour some water in it and see where it comes out. Are you sure the third port goes out the transom above the water line? I've never seen a combo livewell/bilge pump but that doesn't mean they don't exist. That would be an odd combination. I think the third line on the pump is intended to be hooked to a recirculation valve that allows you drain the live well, or recirculate the water in it.

 

[jtexas]

Re: How do I use my rule livewell pump

My boat has a livewell pumpout pump, that pumps water out thru the overflow drain, which happens to be a hole in the side of the boat. It also has a hole in the bottom of the livewell - I usually leave it open, the livewell fills up to the level of the waterline.

The livewell fill pump is fastened to the thru-hull fitting in the transom below the waterline and the discharge hose leads to the livewell.

Typically when I have fish in there (most of the time ) I turn both pumps on ever once in awhile, to pump out the bad water and pump in fresh.

My bilge pump discharge hose empties into the splashwell, but a lot of (most?) boats have an above-the-line thru-transom for the bilge, but why would you want a strainer on it?

 

[kskomro]

Re: How do I use my rule livewell pump

I just found a switch or valve (Broken) on the aireator stick. It was a turn valve of some sort. Another thing to fix. It now makes sense that one hose (The Larger white one ) is a overflow, and once livewell is full, it overfills out of it. Does it make sense that the lower hole with a plug in it is for draining, but you would have to be moving to drain because it is below waterline? So I can assume I should install a bilge pump, and that the live well pump is not a bilge pump also. Thank you all for helping me figure some of this out. It's all new to me.

 

[jameskb2]

Re: How do I use my rule livewell pump

kskomro.

If you have a digital camera, it'll help a ton.

I wonder about the strainer too! That's odd....unless there's a new rule or safeguard about vessel discharge with mussels, milfoil or the like. You'd want the strainer basket so that you aren't contaminating lake to lake with various waterborne species.

I bet the live well drain comes in handy when the boat's on the trailer.....

Just some thoughts.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: How do I use my rule livewell pump

The turn valve is to shut the line off while underway to keep the water in the livewell from draining out.
That is why the plug is in the bottom of the livewell, same purpose.
You just pull it when your done for the day.
With that said, if the valve is broke in the wrong place, it will put water into the bilge.

 

[jtexas]

Re: How do I use my rule livewell pump

If your livewell is far enough aft it might not drain under way (mine doesn't). At any rate, you might plug it before launching to use the livewell for stowage on a catch & release day. Otherwise, no real need to drain it till you load again at the end of the day.

If your aerator bar is just connected to the incoming hose from the fill pump, and nothing else, the valve is probably not used for any purpose. If you had a pump in the livewell you might be able use that valve to select either pumpout or recirculate.

Here's a tip: once in a while you might experience the pump running but no water coming in the livewell. Airlock. Some air has gotten into the pump intake and the pump can't draw water thru it. Crank the engine, throw it in reverse and rev it just for a second. Works every time.