Live well pick-up

F

Firewood

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 4, 2001
Messages
117
I've notice most boats have a thru-hull fitting on the stern of the boat (usually with a mesh gaurd on it) for live well pick up. My concern is when you under power the fitting will be dry. If I have a 30 mile trip offshore my bait will die. I was thinking of putting an intake strainer on the bottom of my boat, like what you'd use for an inboard motor. The water would be forced in actually as you cruised. I'd only have to pump it when I was idle. Right? or wrong?<br />I never had a live well that had raw water pick up.I always just airated with a bilge pump.<br /><br />Thanks for your input
 
Boatist

Boatist

Rear Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2002
Messages
4,552
Re: Live well pick-up

I road in 4 bass boats with different friends two of which do 70 miles per hour and each had a water pickup on the transom. Most of the time fill with water when stopped then set timer to cycle one minute on 4 minutes off while fishing but when have motor running turn fill motor on full time untill stop again. Never had a problem with dead bass. A bait tank with anchovies may take a little more water circulation. I would mount my fill motor as low as possible with the water pickup as low as can go and I do not think you will have any problem. Fill motor whould be a motor that can run dry with out damage. I think you will find that most cna run dry without damage anyway. Also a good idea to add a second motor to tank to recirculate water with out pumping water in. This is used when go into very dirty water like in a muddy river inlet or a marinea fuel dock and see oil slicks or in cool wheather when pull the boat over night. I done this in my portable bait tank many times and had at least 70 percent of the bait stay alive for next day. I would not put it on the bottom for several reasons. If you hit some thing like a stick at high speed can break fitting off and now you have water pooring into the boat.
 
B

bKelly

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 1, 2002
Messages
191
Re: Live well pick-up

Firewood,<br /><br />I am going to upgrading my livewells with a flow-rite valve system. Check out: www.flow-rite.com/marine/ <br />When fishing the valve opens and lets fresh water recirculate in the livewell. When the boat is on pad the valve closes to prevent water loss and recirculates the livewell water. The valve also can drain the livewell and prevent water from coming back into the livewells. The valve is controlled by a remote mounted actuator that can be located at the helm of the boat.<br /><br />TH Marine makes a pickup that fits on the bottom of the boat. www.thmarine.com/product.cfm?PRID=49
 
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