Anyone ever convert one of the fishboxes on a Seafarer (or similar) into a livewell? Is it possible? I have a salt water washdown that could be used for the intake, and the existing boxes have thru-hulls for drainage, seems like all I need to add is circulation/aeration??
DIY Livewell
- Thread starter GT
- Start date
Just installed aerator feed to my center well, pretty simple stuff. You just need to modify the drain so it will fill.
Can be done. They just don't work that well. They are too long so it's hard to get bait out of them, they are the wrong shape, and they're too shallow. And water sloshes out of them when you run up on plane.
Consider a kodiak live well, mount it on deck, make it removable. I have a 32gal oval mounted in front of the motorwell, overflows over the transom next to the engine. They work exceedingly well. Lots of good info on keeping bait alive here, and all of the pieces and parts:
www.livebaitlarry.com
Use your fish boxes for....well....fish! Or a cooler, or storage.
Consider a kodiak live well, mount it on deck, make it removable. I have a 32gal oval mounted in front of the motorwell, overflows over the transom next to the engine. They work exceedingly well. Lots of good info on keeping bait alive here, and all of the pieces and parts:
www.livebaitlarry.com
Use your fish boxes for....well....fish! Or a cooler, or storage.
I have had both the factory set up on an earlier 208 and now have a kodiak. Hands down, the Kodiak is the better setup. I have mine set up to feed from the raw water wash down and has a 2" hose that drains overboard. I also made my somewhat portable (hook it up to the back porch on a golf cart) by adding a circulating air pump. I go down to the boat ramp in the golf cart with the live bait well on the back, cast net some mullet and keep them alive for a few hours to do some night dock fishing. The pump also allows me to shut off the raw water when I get into some dirty water and keep the bait alive with the air pump. Here is the setup that I used to set up mine. Works great, much better than my factory built in live well. http://livebaitlarry.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=132rl
Thanks guys, I like the Kodial set up but wonder about placement.
CJ, you have the 32 gallon oval mounted in cockpit front of motorwell? Doesnt that get in the way while fishing? Seems like it would take up a lot of precious space on my 226. There's not a lot of room to begin with. I like the round well, maybe mount it inthe well right in front of the motor but then I cant tilt the motor up with the livewell mounted.
Any suggestions?
CJ, you have the 32 gallon oval mounted in cockpit front of motorwell? Doesnt that get in the way while fishing? Seems like it would take up a lot of precious space on my 226. There's not a lot of room to begin with. I like the round well, maybe mount it inthe well right in front of the motor but then I cant tilt the motor up with the livewell mounted.
Any suggestions?
GT said:
It works really well there and does not get in the way. And of course you get full motor tilt. The out-flow is high enough on the 32gal that it flows right over the transom next to the motor.
I have the quick-mount tabs so it gets pulled when we're not fishng. I don't have a pic handy with it mounted, but here's one without it, shows the mounting tabs.
The two hose bibs on either side are for the livewell pump and washdown pump. The rod holders keep one from bunging their ankle on the fittings, and extra storage for rods or bait net.
Good picture, thanks. Our boats are designed differently. My splashwell 'door' extends almost from port to starboard, from built in box to built in box, no seating. I thought you meant that your livewell was placed between the 'door' and the motor, inside the splashwell. No room there though - I have more if I take the door down, maybe my best option
Update - I picked up a 22 gallon Brute garbage can with lid and plumbed it with an inlet and outlet from West Marine (the Kodiak Marine kit). I attached a hose connector to the inlet hose so it screws into my wash down hose. I Sealed the inlets/outlets with 4200. Total cost $50. (can 17.99; Plumb Kit $32 - 20% coupon from WM). Hoses, clamps, even the 4200 was laying around the garage.
Best part is that it worked like a charm. Took Thursday and Friday off from work and found the bunker. The well held 8 bunker alive all day - intermittently running my wash down pump so as not to kill its battery. I caught a 40" 21 pound Striped Bass. Friday a 41" 25 pound bass (released).
Overall not bad for the money and time spent. A bit of sloshing, no light (yet) and I have to figure out a good tie down, but I can't complain! Thanks for everyone's input.
Best part is that it worked like a charm. Took Thursday and Friday off from work and found the bunker. The well held 8 bunker alive all day - intermittently running my wash down pump so as not to kill its battery. I caught a 40" 21 pound Striped Bass. Friday a 41" 25 pound bass (released).
Overall not bad for the money and time spent. A bit of sloshing, no light (yet) and I have to figure out a good tie down, but I can't complain! Thanks for everyone's input.