2003 Grady 228 seafarer bait tank

[Grady Dan]

I have a 2003 Grady White 228 seafarer and am reinstalling the bait tank that I removed to redo all the wiring, ect. My question is there is a little check valve in line between the bait tank pump and the live bait well, why is it there and is it necessary?

 

[Halfhitch]

Yes, it is necessary. On my 228 the fill fitting is in the lower part of the tank, so if you turn off the baitwell pump while the tank is full and there is no check-valve in the line, the tank will drain back through the bait tank. This is if your bait tank pump is a centrifugal type such as came standard on my 2004. If someone has changed the pump out and installed a piston pump, then the check-valve is not needed. Incidentally, the check-valve Grady installed is a good one.