Live well

[Ocean Airbrush]

Re: Live well

I hate to sound rude here but.....
So far you have led us to the following clues:
1. You have a deck boat, not a fishing boat
2. You have a container with a drain at the bottom and no obvious water supply.
3. you have a dash switch which activates a pump

My guess is that you are looking at a built in cooler, not a livewell and
the switch you turned on is activating your bilge pump.

Livewells are not often found on family ski boats and deckboats. Usually they are reserved for fishing type vessels and other dual purpose boats which are definitely not mistaken as ski boats due to fishing chairs, trolling motors and the such.

Does your deck boat have a fishing seat or two mounted on pedestals in the front? do you have a trolling motor? if the answer to these is no then it is unlikely you have a livewell. I could be wrong but I don't think I am barking up the wrong tree.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Live well

OK here's what I am saying. the live well is a box on the floor of the boat it has a hole on the bottom. Then on the side there is a tube which is capped off.

sounds like a spray bar to me

OK guys/gals I think I figured it out. I will take a pic and post but it's pooring here today in Port Richey.

I found the switch on the dash, turned on the battery and hit the switch. Heard something indication pump. went looking for it found it

he later mentions that the switch is labeled live well

I think a deck boat with a cooler in the floor would be rare as it is likely to get water washed in and I think it would be even more rare for that same boat to have a switch labeled live well that turns on a pump at the transom

 

[Ocean Airbrush]

Re: Live well

Well, I have seen several deck boats with coolers in the floor. So I don't discount that as unlikely. A switch that turns on a pump at the transom could very well be mislabeled or replaced. Last time I checked, all bilge pumps were placed at the transom.

Lolly, what is the the year make and model of the boat? Maybe we can find a photo on the net or at least get a diagram or specs from the manufacturer.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Live well

The fact that he said there "is a tube that is capped off" implies that something was tampered with. That tube, if it is indeed a spray bar would have small holes in it which would have been a little more descriptive. It would seem strange that the owner of a new/used boat would not sit at the helm and examine the console to see what the various switches and knobs were for. Spying one that says "Livewell" would likely be a trigger to THEN look for the livewell. Hence the suggestion he look for a switch labeled "Livewell". As for coolers in the floor, compartments in the floor don't need to be designated coolers but are simply storage lockers. Regardless where they are located, they generally have drains so the contents don't become water logged from rain water or spray.

 

[Lolly]

Re: Live well

I looked on the internet called the company no luck. It is a 1994 FD196 Fish and Fun Deck BOAT. It is actually quite nice. When I bought it he said the live well wasn't working but I liked the boat so I bought it. He also said the motor an Evinrude 140hp 2 stroke was no good and he was tired of trying. I had the carburetor rebuilt changed the gas line and it works perfect.

I put it in the water and it's great just was trying to figure out the live well part.


Lolly

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Live well

If you go to a knowledgable marine store and buy the part that is supposed to go there, and don't mention that you could build your own, and pick up a couple pther things you need even if you could get it cheaper on line or at (shudder at saying) Walmart, you may get advice and future support with a value that far exceeds the $10 you saved by spending two hours going elsewhere, standing in line and making your own half-assed drain pipe. That's how boating works and how you aquire knowledge, skills and experience. Never go into a boat or bait store, ask advice, and walk out without buying.
Find a boater who works at a non-chain hardware store and you get the best of all worlds.
You're a recreational boater. Don't be afraid to pay for convenience and to support the people who are out there for you. We share knowledge here for free and for fun.

Figuring out your live well and other parts is a good way to get to know your boat. Keep in mind that there are often seacocks (valves) at various places in the system; use them correctly. Also be aware that hoses break or come loose, and can be a great threat to your boat, especially if below the line. For example, I have one boat with two lockers and a live well all that gravity drain overboard to through-hulls that are above the line. No sweat. The live well is fed by a pump with a through hull at the bottom of the boat--it keeps me up nights, but if it fails and leaks, the bilge pump is there. But on another boat the intake and the drain each have through-hulls below the water line. Scary, even though backed up by the bilge pump, and so far after 20+ years, no problem.
With a used boat, don't make any assumptions that parts are original or configured by original specs, that they work or are hooked up correctly, or that the previous owner knew what he was doing. Look at your good fortune with the "worthless" motor. (on that topic: now that the carbs are clean, be circumspect about the fuel in the tank, so you won't reinfect your engine with ethanol germs. Tons of info elsewhere on this).

 

[Lolly]

Re: Live well

Ok Guys

I just went to the boat turned it on turned on the live well switch and the water came in through the top . I trust that the bottom hole is an overflow and I only need a tube Took two pictures for you and BTW I am a woman.


As you can see there is water coming in from the top so all I need is an overflow for the bottom right? If yes can I just put a fitted piece of PVC with a rubber washer in the hole. Can't seem to find the piece

1994 FD 196 Fish and Fun
Hurricane by Godfrey Motors

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Live well

You go girl. you got it nailed. Measure your hole and go buy a standpipe if you are going to use it as a livewell. Also buy a flat plug if you are going to use it for storage (to keep water from getting in from the bottom) or a cooler.
While its on the trailer, put a hose in the livewell and see that it drains correctly, and where. If it's below the line add this to your periodic inspection list. if it drains into the bilge, think about the fishy stuff going in there to be pumped out (recent discussion elsewhere).
I put 2 clamp brackets on the inside of the lid to mine to hold the standpipe when I don't use the livewell.

And welcome to iBoats.

 

[Lolly]

Re: Live well

Thanks Homecooking. I just got the book Boating for dummies it seems ok . I truly appreciate all the info here. Everyone is pretty Kewl..........

Have a happy holiday and i will keep everyone posted on my overflow drain. Just found a site that sells them pretty cheap too. Looks like a good place to buy stuff.

http://www.bigedgesports.com/product.asp?pid=2041875&

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Live well

darn it..... now I gotta go edit the "he's" out of my post for "she's" lol j/k..... I would think you shouldn't need a rubber washer.... you can probably just get a length of pvc to push in.... If you can't find a stand pipe in a local store you might be able to check out some bass boats for sale at a local dealership to get an idea of what you need...
Also look VERY thoroughly through the boat, That pipe could be anywhere. Maybe not in a storage box but rather in the bilge somewhere lodged under some hoses or whatever

 

[Triton II]

Re: Live well

Lolly, the upper white plastic piece is the aerator - you can open and close it by twisting the end cap (anti-clockwise to open). When the boat's in the water, open the aerator end cap a little and flick the livewell switch to on. After a short time while the pump self primes, water should start flowing into the well. My livewell looks the same as that one, and it takes a piece of 3/4" pvc pipe that simply pushes into the plastic drain on the bottom. The pipe is slightly shorter than the depth of the well. Even if you don't use the livewell for keeping baitfish alive, they make a great place to keep dirty dishes!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Live well

thanks for getting me into trouble, Triton. I took your advice, but my wife caught me heading out the house and headed for the boat with all the dishes I was supposed to wash last night.

 

[Triton II]

Re: Live well

You're welcome HC... next time, just remember to let her know you've installed a boat dishwasher BEFORE you use it!

 

[Lolly]

Re: Live well

Lucky me I use paper plates. I will look around for the piece otherwise I will add a piece of PVC. And don't worry about the he's/she's.

Now fellahs one more question. I have a 1988 evenrude 2 stroke can I add an oil well to mix itself without having to do the 50:1 ratio.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Live well

no you gotta mix.... oil injection can be unreliable any way... the trick is figuring how many oz per gallon. or better yet get a ratio rite... it's a plastic cup with a lid with markings on the side for how many gallons you put in for what ratio you want... so if you put in 14 gal you go to the 50:1 column and fill oil to the 14 mark and ur good.... I always filled the cup the rest of the way with gas and mixed before pouring in the tank but that's me

 

[Lolly]

Re: Live well

Kevin
Why do you mix the oil with the gas in the cup is that for any reason other than that's just you.
Lolly

 

[Lolly]

Re: Live well

Kevin
I just checked out that ratio rite cup. Kewl. Thanks for that Info going to get one. I was hoping I could buy an oil ereservoir to attach so I wouldn't have to do the mix.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Live well

having a little gas mixed with the oil thins it and makes it mix with the gas in the tank a little faster
Most of my mixing has been in gas cans for dirt bikes and the less I have to shake 50 lbs of gas can the better.... in my 2 stroke boat I just shake it around a little and try to hit the brakes a few times on the way to the lake (not locking them up just enough to slosh the fuel in the tank)

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Live well

oh and if you don't quite fill the tank the oil will mix alot easier as a completely full tank doesn't slosh

 

[Lolly]

Re: Live well

Kevin

Thanks for that information. I have not had to put any gas in the boat yes as it has 3/4 tank. However that is something I will definitely remember. Also going to buy that cup.

Lolly

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL