Livewell/Baitwell backwashing?

[bkwapisz]

I have a 1989 Ranger 680c. The boat is equipped with both a livewell and a bait well. The aeration/filling system is pretty simple: One inlet at the stern near the drain plug, this runs to a short run of what looks like garden hose that splits through a T fitting and then proceeds to the respective pumps. The pumps then are plumbed to the wells, which have 2 holes in them: one overflow and one drain. Additionally there is a sprayhead mounted to fill/aerate the wells. There are NO valves in this system.

Since I do not plan on using these much, I placed drain plugs in both the drain and overflow holes and planned on using these for dry storage; however, the last 2 times I had the boat out I noticed about 1 cup of water had come into both wells.

My question is this: Since I am sure that the plugs are sealed, is it possible that perhaps during a reverse maneuver that the water has washed in through the pump/aeration system via reverse propwash? I'm thinking that maybe what I need is a ball valve in the hosing before it meets the T fitting.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for any comments.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Livewell/Baitwell backwashing?

The pumps will pass water when not in use. If I don't close the seacocks on the intakes to my pumps I get the same problem.

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: Livewell/Baitwell backwashing?

The pumps will pass water when not in use. If I don't close the seacocks on the intakes to my pumps I get the same problem.

I was going to try putting a plug in the inlet, but it has a screen over it that is epoxied in place. Might try disconnecting the hose and putting the plug in from the inside. Either way, I can't see where else it may be coming from. I keep tightening the plugs and I don't think that it's the plugs.

Thanks.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Livewell/Baitwell backwashing?

You might try plugging the overflow. Any splashing at the side of the boat could cause some water to enter the wells via that route.

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: Livewell/Baitwell backwashing?

You might try plugging the overflow. Any splashing at the side of the boat could cause some water to enter the wells via that route.

I did that, each well has 2 plugs in it now: one for the drain, the other for the overflow. Only thing I can think of is burping through the sprayer (which is basically a PVC endcap with a slash ground in it...)

I'm going to try to disconnect the water supply and plug the inlet from inside and see how that works. I have no real intention of using these right now as I'm using them both for dry storage, but would like the option of being able to get them working should I decide to do so. I figured by having a seacock in place I could empty one and just open the valve and hit the switch.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Livewell/Baitwell backwashing?

Are you sure the intake is inthe transom and not on the bottom? Dingbat, your boat is probably like one of mine; with the intake on the bottom it circulates while you run even when off. but on a different boat, both are on the transom and it drains when you run.
BK if you aren't going to use them consider installing a sea **** (valve) in the line to hlep reduce the risk of a connection failure and flooding the boat.

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: Livewell/Baitwell backwashing?

Yah I'm positive as to where it comes in. I can acutally access this area for a change and the valve was part of my plan here. Being on the bottom of the transom is why I thought that maybe during a reverse the propwash was blasting in the hole.

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: Livewell/Baitwell backwashing?

Here's a pic of the transom. You can see the bilge drain as the smaller hole on the left, right about on the centerline. The larger black circle is the screen epoxied to the inlet for the wells: