shadetree livewells

[mellowyellow]

has anyone built there own livewell out of a cooler?<br />seems easy enough? wouldn't you just need a<br />small air pump like for a fish tank? I use the<br />old fashioned bucket right now, but it would be<br />nice not to have to pull it/throw it all the time.<br />thanks,<br />M.Y.

 

[93evinrude]

Re: shadetree livewells

I haven't built one personally but here is a link to different products that may help you.I would look into the super fish saver,about half way down.You will find other products on Bass pro shops website by doing a search for aerators.<br /><br /> http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/c...lasCatalogNumberFinder.giftCertificateURL=..% 2F..%2Ftemplates%2Fgiftcertificate%2Fgiftcertificate.jhtml%3Fid%3D0005586990011a%26podId%3D0005586%26catalogCode%3DIB%26navAction%3Djump%26indexId%3D&_D%3A%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FC abelasCatalogNumberFinder.giftCertificateURL=+&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fleft-nav.jhtml&Go.x=23&Go.y=8

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: shadetree livewells

Mellow,<br />Check this one out:<br /><br /> Livewell

 

[snapperbait]

Re: shadetree livewells

Mellowyellow: I made one with a round storage container (10-12 gallon?) like you would find at wal-mart or that other mart that starts with a K.... I made the lid out of 2 pieces 1/4" clear plexiglass so I can keep an eye on the bait and put a S/S piano hinge in the middle... The rest is pretty much like the cooler on rickdb1boats link...<br /><br />Been thinking of adding a light inside on the lid because I fish at night most of the time....<br /><br />Seen a few made from round plastic garbage cans and plastic 55 gallon drums, ect...<br /><br />Coolers work pretty good, but round is best for bait because the baits cannot get stuck it the corners of a square cooler... Keep em' lively...

 

[SlowlySinking]

Re: shadetree livewells

Hi rickdb1boat, great link, that looks like something from the space shuttle, Ken

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: shadetree livewells

thanks guys, you're the best!<br />never thought about a bilge pump... DUH!<br />wonder if the simple action of water splashing<br />will be enough aeration for a small cooler.<br />Rick, that one is cool! probably a little more<br />complicated than I need. time to get shady

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: shadetree livewells

Mellow,<br />Doubt that the splashing will be real effective. What you could do is get a small aerator pump and drill a small hole in the center of the cooler, then install a fitting that you could connect a small hose to and hook it up to the pump. Then use the cooler "Drain Opening" to run water back to the pump. You could mount the pump to the side of the cooler as shown in the Picture. Would'nt need much action with a small area. Bet you could do that inside of an hour or so!

 

[Bondo]

Re: shadetree livewells

I've built 2 tanks sort of what you're looking to do..... they're both built with a bilge pump(500 or 750GPH) in the bottom, 3/4" plastic tubing running from the pump, running up the side,+ around near the top.... many 1/8th" holes drilled in the tubing to spray water down on the bait water(plug the "end" of the tubing, so water sprays out the little holes)..... built a longer wire for the pump, with a 12V power plug on the end(ciggerette lighter plug).....<br />the 1 built using a 5gal. pail, w/snap-on cover, will keep a couple doz. bait strong for a day or more if the water temp. is kept down.... i use it mostly for the trip from the bait store, or when going icefishing......<br />the other is built with a 180qt. or so Igloo cooler, it stays in the boat,+ will keep 6doz.or more bait Very healthy for days.....<br />the Only problems with this system are; 1) Keep the water temp. down..... 2) after a conciderable amount of time, the fish dung will clog the small spray holes... usually a quick wipe with a brush will free everything up.....

 

[Boatist]

Re: shadetree livewells

Mellowyellow<br />I seen several different units built and Cabela's also sell <br />a unit to convert a regular ice chest into a live well with out drilling a hole.<br />The Live well pump and water spraying in actually puts more air in water than a areator pump.<br /><br />The one Cabela's sells is a live well pump with a pvc pipe with some holes in it to spray out water.<br />The pvc pipe has two suction cups that you stick to the back of the cooler to attach spray pipe.<br />The pump also has a suction cup to stick it to bottom. Fill ice chest with water run 12 volt <br />power cord out the lid and pulg it in and you are in business.<br />Another set up I see alot in ocean waters is a Ice chest straped down to a swim platform.<br />They use a self primeing live well pump or bilge pump that can run dry.<br />The live well pump they use has pipe on both the input and out actually made to bolt thru the transom<br />with a hose to run to live well but the way they use it is drill hole in top part of icechest above the water level<br />attach that to pump for the spray tube the bottom pipe has a pipe attached to go down thru the swim platform<br />into the water for the pick up tube. Drill a hole in other side of of ice chest at you disired water level<br />and install a bilge pump hose outlet fitting backwards to act as over flow. Plug the pump in and pump sea water<br />in and let over flow. Works very well as pumps in resh water in all day. Some dirll a second over flow hole<br />so can adjust water level. If useing for small bait should actually get live well over flow outlet that has a screen<br />on it. Also many get a live well timer that turns pump on and off for a certian time, like one minute for every five.<br />Many timer are adjustable.

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: shadetree livewells

thanks again to all now that x-mas is over,<br />may have some time to play.<br />regards,<br />M.Y.

 

[miloman]

Re: shadetree livewells

I had to put a new livewell in last year I tried and tried to find what I wanted Ie size etc thought about making it from stailess to much$ glass to heavy so I finaly found a rotationally molded tank in California right dimensions etc... had them weld in the fitting for inflow and outflow in the tank itself I put a bildge pump with an outlet through the side of my boat cut in two openings with a divider built a complete cover for it to match my existing carpet to doors for access trimed it off with aluminum thresholds the whole project cost me under 250 now I have extended my from castindg deck an additional 2 feet cheap and real easy if interested emial me I will send you the company in california

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: shadetree livewells

could you put up a pic here of this project miloman? i'd like to see it, as it sounds like a good addition. i have space to extend my front deck also.