How to on Livewells

[srt4wad]

I just bought a 1977 GlassArrow 16'10 boat and it has a little livewell up front and I don't understand how it is supposed to work. We went out Sunday and I thought "wow it would be cool to get some live bait" well it was cool until we got to the first stop and we opened the lid to get out some bait and 3/4 of them where dead. Well I understand that while we were moving the water went out the side of the boat but, what I don't understand is how am I supposed to get water back into the livewell there is a hole that is connected to a hose that goes out the side of the boat when we move. Is there something I can buy to keep water in there or should I just plug off the hole and but a cheap little aerator in there all the time? I would really like to know if there is a way to keep water in there when we are moving and keep the fish alive.

Thank You
Wade

 

[Bondo]

Re: How to on Livewells

It Sounds like you're trying to use a Storage Locker for a Bait Tank...........Donno.......

 

[srt4wad]

Re: How to on Livewells

It has a hole that is connected to a hose that drains out the side of the boat.

 

[Bondo]

Re: How to on Livewells

Storage Lockers have to be Drained Somewhere,......
Either Out of the boat, or Into the Bilge,... Where you'll still have to Pump it Out......

Most Livewells are Plumbed to be Filled from outside the boat........
And drained with a Standpipe......

 

[Silvertip]

Re: How to on Livewells

Using a storage locker or cooler as a bait well is a great way to kill your bait. You can simply stick a plug in the drain hole but bait and live wells need to be aerated or the fish/bait will die in short order.

 

[pman7]

Re: How to on Livewells

I'm not sure but isn't that the style of live well around the 70s?

My 72 Ouachita boat has a live well like that and I'm quite sure it isn't a storage locker. There is suppose to be a plug you put in the hole when you take off fast. On mine the tank holds water at trolling speeds but not on plane.

It's an inconvenience to have to plug up the hole everytime you take off but it's either that or install a bubbler.

 

[srt4wad]

Re: How to on Livewells

So, I can plug the hole and add water and an aerator and when I am done for the day unplug the hole and let it drain out while going back to the dock? If so that is no big deal I will just buy an aerator and do it that way. Will that be ok?


Thanks
Wade

 

[Boatist]

Re: How to on Livewells

You can do that but understand that a good livewell also pumps in fresh water. With out fresh water comeing in on hot days the water will get hot and still kill your bait.

Good livewells have a fill pump and a circulation pump. Fill pump usually has a timer on it so you can set it to add new water for one minute then off for 5 minutes. This keep the water cool and with fresh air in the water. The timer is usually adjustable so can adjust the on time longer or shorter. Also should have a constant on position to fill.

Air stones will kill some baits like anchoives quicker than no air at all.

 

[pman7]

Re: How to on Livewells

A friend of mine said the old timers called these kind of livewells, "death tanks." Sort of ironic I'd say.

My open livewell only retains about 4 to 6" of water in it. Supposedly the waves pushing the boat up and down will supply some fresh water. Obviously it doesn't work very well.

My friend has a suggested a system to me that has a vertical pipe and pump that plugs into the drain hole and allows a constant or timed inflow and also keeps the water level higher than the 4". It's kind of hard to describe but the water is pumped into the livewell from inside the vertical pipe below the water line (below the 4" mark) and drains out through the top tip of the vertical pipe. One can determine the water level he wants by the length of pipe sticking up above the drain hole.

I know this discription isn't too good but if you think about it I think you can imagine it. My friend also said these units used to be available on the market but he hasn't seen one in quite some time.