Fisherman 216

[Donvoyage]

Hi, I just purchased a 2018 fisherman 216. My oversight was assuming it came with a bait tank. Whomp whomp it didn’t . Now I’m thinking about adding one on the swim step port side. Any suggestions of one to add? This will be for salt water in San Diego. Thanks for the advice

 

[Iced-D]

Sounds very risky. If a live well cannot be retrofitted under the starboard helm seat, where it would be if the boat came with that option, you need to be very careful adding a significant amount of weight that far aft and on one side.

The temporary weight of a person boarding at the dock is very different from a sloshing weight on the swim step while underway. Even if you could verify that the swim step could handle it structurally, I'd be worried about creating a dangerous trim and heeling condition.

Maybe consider a small aerated cooler, but please made sure you know where to put it (not on the swim step) and be sure it's strapped down and secure when underway.

 

[luckydude]

I use a trash can on the swim platform of my 228 as a secondary livewell. Just tie a weight to the raw water wash down and leave it running. Alan's concerns about weight have not been a problem for me.

It's not there all the time, I tend to use it when crabbing, the big ones go in the trash can, the little ones go in the built in livewell. Then when we are done, if we have limits of big ones, the little ones go back, if not, we add little ones until limits.

 

[Iced-D]

I'd rely on LuckyDude. i've not tried it, just thought about things that would concern me.