Livewell install

[SgtMaj]

Well, since I have everything I need (except time) to finish the transom, the next thing I'll finish is the deck. To do that, I'll need to install a couple of things under the deck first. Those being the gas tank, and the livewell.

I'm a little clueless on both, but much more clueless on the livewell. I do not quite understand how normal livewells work. I know you flip a switch and the livewell fills with water, which means there is an electric pump wired through a switch, with a through-hull fitting to suck the water in. Now I assume that same pump keeps operating to replenish the water with fresh water, thus bringing in more oxygenated water. But how does the old water exit the livewell? If there were just a second pump also wired in through the same switch, then no matter which pump pumped more water, you'd end up with a problem. Either an overflowing livewell, or an empty one. Can someone help me out here and explain how to plumb it all in right?

I know it's been said many times here that it's easier/better to just use a portable livewell, but I've always wanted a built-in livewell and by golly that's exactly what I'm going to do one way or another. Especially since the deck is already torn up.

I found a company that will make me a custom-fit livewell tank to fit the spot I've got (which isn't very big, so having it custom fit will help maximize the space). Unfortuneately their tank won't come with all the fittings, which is why I'm here asking about it.

 

[mudmagnet63]

Re: Livewell install

Sarg mine has an overflow about 1 1/2" from the top and a plug like in the transom at the bottom to drain it, fairly simple. plastic line and fittings.

 

[DJ]

Re: Livewell install

Sarg mine has an overflow about 1 1/2" from the top and a plug like in the transom at the bottom to drain it, fairly simple. plastic line and fittings.

Correct.

Livewell pumps usually have the through hull fitting attached. Most are installed in the transom right next to the drain plug.

You will also need a drain in or near the bottom of the livewell. The "overflow" is teed into that drain. Some more sophisticated livewells have the drain plug control at the helm/dashboard. Not needed in my opinion. I can reach in and pull a plug.

You will end up with two through hull fitings. One for the pump and one for the drain/overflow.

Check this page out from the iboats Marine Store.

http://www.iboats.com/Marine_Store/...submit.y.12--submit.x.33--search_type.keyword

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Livewell install

Build the livewell into the hull midship or for best balance when full of water, plumb the fill from a through hull intake at the transom with some good tygon tube about 3/4 should do, tie the fill into your livewell anywhere below the water line with a removable plug inside the well, lay the tube neatly along the bottom of the hull and incorporate a couple access panels in the deck to reach you connections, when the well plug is removed the water will come in and fill your well, it will seek it's own level at the waterline so you'll have to figure out the best height (depth) for the well, then you install a submersible pump into the well and run a 3/4 hose from the outlet to a thru hull fitting somewhere well above the waterline when fully loaded, you pump stale water out and fresh water will always be flowing in to maintain the level. I haven't done this myself but I have thought about it and this is just what I've contemplated so there may be some issues with the rate of fill matching the pumpout rate but I figured that could be addressed with higher or lower volume pumps they're cheap enough. Again this is all in theory and just the way I would like to have one operate.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Livewell install

Ok, so what happens if the water line is higher than the top of the livewell? That would just cause it to overflow, right? What's to guard against that, if anything? Mine will be just inches above the waterline, but if the boat is loaded down, it might be at or just below the waterline, and that wouldn't be good, besides not cycling the water, it could swamp the boat.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Livewell install

It needs to be completely above the water line for it to drain all the of water out, and the top of the live well needs to be well above the water line or the whole boat will be a live well. It gets pumped in and drains out.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Livewell install

I suppose I could raise the top a little more, 6" more at max.

What do you use for the lid? The tank I'm getting won't come with a lid. I'm wondering if there's a good ready made hatch or something with hinges that I could use, especially if it closes water-tight with a latch. That would at least help prevent or slow swamping if something bad did happen.

So I'm thinking I could put the drain in the bottom and leave it open all the time, that way it will self-drain when I pull the boat out. Does that sound right? Then I would just need a pump to pump fresh water in, right? I think I can handle this after all.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Livewell install

If you're working on a small boat, 14' to 16' with small motor like you mentioned in a different thread, then you don't want the live well to have water in it except when you need it to (which is normal). On a bigger boat you could get away with the extra weight of some water in it, but with a small boat and very little HP, it needs to be empty when not in use. That means you need to have valving on it, or raise it completely above the water line. Your best bet would be to make a storage compartment and use it as a seat base that would also work as a live well when needed.

You don't need to pay for somebody to make it, you're already doing a bunch of glass work, so just make it yourself.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Livewell install

I suppose I could raise the top a little more, 6" more at max.

What do you use for the lid? The tank I'm getting won't come with a lid. I'm wondering if there's a good ready made hatch or something with hinges that I could use, especially if it closes water-tight with a latch. That would at least help prevent or slow swamping if something bad did happen.

So I'm thinking I could put the drain in the bottom and leave it open all the time, that way it will self-drain when I pull the boat out. Does that sound right? Then I would just need a pump to pump fresh water in, right? I think I can handle this after all.[/QUOTE

To drain the well, while still on water you simply put the drain/fill plug in to stop water from entering then just pump it dry. 6" above water line would be just about right. For a lid you could glass in the entire top opening then cut out to fit a slam hatch, or use a modified cooler lid or something along that line. There are many sizes slam hatch available, you may even find one that exactly fits.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Livewell install

I must still be confused. Why would there be a plug in the drain?

I'm thinking a simple pump could pump the water from the well into a tube coming up from the livewell to the top of the livewell water line that's above the boat's wate line. That would cause the water to have no choice but to drain. It would mean having 2 pumps in the livewell, but I think a simple $20 bilge pump would do the trick for that. Right?

This calls for a diagram... I'm thinking something like this:

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Livewell install

You don't need a pump to fill the livewell (unless you install it above the waterline) Your fill hole in the well at the bottom/side will also act as the drain when you come out of the water, when your in the water and want to drain the well is when you would put the plug in the drain/fill and then use your pump to drain (pump out) the well through the overflow but I was looking at the overflow being a thru hull fitting outside the hull above the waterline rather than a lift tube. Hope I explained it right.

Oh wait I see now your level is above waterline, you will need fill pump in your case my method won't work.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Livewell install

Ok, I think I understand now. The diagram method would cycle a lot more fresh water through, right? But your method would be cheaper and require a lot less maintanence.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Livewell install

Add these thoughts into your livewell plans.........

Balance

Location


Moving from spot to spot under full throttle...

 

[firefighter615]

Re: Livewell install

There are a few different ways that this can be done. You are correct if you DO NOT keep the top of the well ABOVE the water line that you boat will now become a big live well. I my opinion you will need a live well pump (Wall-Mart has them, they are not a bilge pump) to put fresh water and oxygen into the well. You will need to have 3 holes in the live well, 1 for fresh water intake (close to the top) 2 for a drain (close to the bottom or in the bottom) 3 OVER FLOW, do not forget this one because this is your insurance.

Option 1) way to set this up is to have a thru hole in the transom and connect a pump to the fitting or you can run most pumps thru the transom, them run a hose to the fresh water intake on the well. The hose can be purchased at Lowe’s, Menards, Tractor Supply and other places. The drain will need to come out the transom was well in another fitting, this can be below the water line. The over flow can come out the side of the boat WELL ABOVE THE WATER LINE thru another fitting. When not in use you can plug the drain before you launch to keep the water out of the live well so you don’t have extra weight or if weight is not a concern then you can leave the plug out and water will fill the well to the water line with out turning on the pump. Also when you are underway you will need to plug the drain or when the boat is moving it will siphon the water out of your live well.

Option 2) I am rebuilding a Ranger boat that has a live well recycler installed. This is set up a little driftnet. It still has 2 fittings in the transom but the plumbing is different and no over flow thru the side of the boat. When coming thru the transom there is a hose that connect to the fitting, then connects to a gated valve, then into a T fitting, and then into the live well pump then into another hose that connect to the spray hear. The drain connects to the T fitting. When the tank is full you can close the valve to recycle the water and re-oxygenate it. With the valve open and the pump not running (with the boat out of the water) the water will drain.

I have included a few pictures to help explain this.

Also you will need to think about insulating the live well since it will get extremely hot being near or above the water line.

I hope this helps and if you have any questions I will try my best to explain them to you.
http://home.insightbb.com/~boats/images/ranger/Livewell_lines.jpg[/IMG
[IMG]http://home.insightbb.com/~boats/images/ranger/100_0939.JPG[/IMG
[IMG]http://home.insightbb.com/~boats/images/ranger/100_0938.JPG[/IMG
[IMG]http://home.insightbb.com/~boats/images/ranger/100_0936.JPG[/IMG
[IMG]http://home.insightbb.com/~boats/images/ranger/100_0935.JPG[/IMG

If all else failes the click on the link below, click on Photo Album, click on 1983 Ranger 372V Repair then go to the end of the page.

[URL="http://home.insightbb.com/~boats/"]http://home.insightbb.com/~boats/[/URL]

Tony

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Livewell install

Add these thoughts into your livewell plans.........

Balance

Location


Moving from spot to spot under full throttle...

Well, my spot for the tank will be the middle from front to back as well as the middle from side to side... so that should be ok I think.