Live Well Question

[chris16371]

I bought another boat. A 16' Ozark Sport fisherman Tri-Hull. I need to clean it up a little and lay down carpet but other than that it's solid. This is my first boat with a live well and I want to make sure how I think it works is the actual way it works lol. Attached is 3 pics. The first I'm assuming is the drain and I'm suppose to plug that? Second pic is what pumps water into live well from the back of the boat? Third pic is where the excess water drains out from side of boat? Also do I let it fill up with water from the pump or do I add some water first? Thank you

 

[gm280]

chris, sound correct to me. The first picture is the drain. and you need to plug that to allow it to fill. The second is the aerator or spray bar that allows water in and aerates the water as well. And the third I assume is located toward the top of the live-well and therefore is the overflow level that the live fills up to.

I simply use the manual fill pump to fill the live well. But you can add water if that is how you want to fill it. Your choice. Some also install a timer to cycle on when you have fish in the live well to allow them fresh water with oxygen from the aerator spray bar. Again your choice. JMHO

 

[chris16371]

chris, sound correct to me. The first picture is the drain. and you need to plug that to allow it to fill. The second is the aerator or spray bar that allows water in and aerates the water as well. And the third I assume is located toward the top of the live-well and therefore is the overflow level that the live fills up to.

I simply use the manual fill pump to fill the live well. But you can add water if that is how you want to fill it. Your choice. Some also install a timer to cycle on when you have fish in the live well to allow them fresh water with oxygen from the aerator spray bar. Again your choice. JMHO

Appreciate the reply, thank you! The timer sounds like a good idea, may have to look into that.

 

[gm280]

Appreciate the reply, thank you! The timer sounds like a good idea, may have to look into that.

Those aerator timers are available everywhere and not very expensive either. And some you can even adjust the time duration between cycles. So on cooler days, you can wait longer for fresh water to flow in. And on those really hot days, you can set it to cycle in mere minutes to keep fresh water flowing in. Some guys even freeze 2 liter bottles or water and put one in the live well to keep the water cooler for the fish along with the timer circuits. JMHO

 

[chris16371]

Those aerator timers are available everywhere and not very expensive either. And some you can even adjust the time duration between cycles. So on cooler days, you can wait longer for fresh water to flow in. And on those really hot days, you can set it to cycle in mere minutes to keep fresh water flowing in. Some guys even freeze 2 liter bottles or water and put one in the live well to keep the water cooler for the fish along with the timer circuits. JMHO

Good info, thanks! Is that the name I use to search for them "aerator timers"?

 

[Fed]

You could be missing a riser pipe that would fit into the first picture 'drain'.
Follow the pipes and see where everything goes.

Timers? Kill the fish revive the fish, kill the fish revive the fish, kill the fish revive the fish, that can't be good.

 

[chris16371]

You could be missing a riser pipe that would fit into the first picture 'drain'.
Follow the pipes and see where everything goes.

Timers? Kill the fish revive the fish, kill the fish revive the fish, kill the fish revive the fish, that can't be good.

What exactly is a riser pipe? The spray pipe is run along the top of the live well above the overflow, I take it I'm missing a pipe then? If so what exactly do I need to setup correctly? Do I need to relocate the spray pipe as well? Thanks

 

[fishrdan]

The standpipe allows water to drain when the livewell gets full, same purpose as the overflow fitting in your pic, just another way to keep the livewell at the right level. The overflow will flow water quicker than a standpipe since the overflow is going into air, not water. Standpipe is nice as you don't have to reach all the way to the bottom of the livewell, to drain it.

 

[Fed]

Riser pipe = standpipe, you need to follow the hoses & see where they go.
I suspect the fitting in pic #3 is on the outside of the boat?

 

[Old Ironmaker]

You could be missing a riser pipe that would fit into the first picture 'drain'.
Follow the pipes and see where everything goes.

Timers? Kill the fish revive the fish, kill the fish revive the fish, kill the fish revive the fish, that can't be good.

It isn't good, if the intent is catch and release a timer isn't a good choice. Actually I have never seen one in 50 years of fishing. Mine have the riser pipes with a screen at the top of the pipe, the screen keeps small scales etc from plugging the drain line. The switch has a recirculation mode which is less water flow to the well. Once the level reaches the opening on the top of the riser the water drains out the back of the transom. This will keep fish alive. In warm water conditions where water temps on the surface is very warm fish mortality is greater than with cooler water. That's why they go straight down after release, colder water is what they want. If I am keeping fish, especially when water is warm I just fill a few 2 litre Pop bottles with water and freeze them. Place the fish under the frozen bottles in the live wells with a bit of water. Keeping them in 70 degree F or warmer water starts to poach the dead fish, not good.

Make sure the drains are plugged when in the boat is in the water and if north a splash of plumbers anti freeze in each before putting the boat away. And drained well afterwards and rinsed out well too after each use. Nothing like a nice metal box sitting in the Summer Sun with fish slime baking in them. MMMM good.

I'd say the livewell has more than a bit of cleaning. Spray 9 and bleach then dish soap well rinsed out after is your friend.

 

[chris16371]

Riser pipe = standpipe, you need to follow the hoses & see where they go.
I suspect the fitting in pic #3 is on the outside of the boat?

The spray bar on top goes to the pump. Bottom hole to bottom of boat. Overflow hole out the side. That's all there's on it, now I'm not sure if I'm missing something or not or if it will work properly how it's set up.

 

[fishrdan]

The spray bar on top goes to the pump. Bottom hole to bottom of boat. Overflow hole out the side. That's all there's on it, now I'm not sure if I'm missing something or not or if it will work properly how it's set up.

Plug or standpipe for the drain is the only thing you're missing. If all the plumbing is intact and the pump and wiring is functional, it should work.

 

[chris16371]

Plug or standpipe for the drain is the only thing you're missing. If all the plumbing is intact and the pump and wiring is functional, it should work.

I do have a plug for the drain. The spray bar doesn't need to be in the water? It's ok that it's above the overflow hole? I didn't know if it needed to be in the water. If it does I can get a corner piece of PVC and run it down but if the spray bar doesn't need to be partially submerged I should be good to go. I really appreciate the help everyone, thank you for putting up with what probably seems like very basic questions.

 

[chris16371]

Riser pipe = standpipe, you need to follow the hoses & see where they go.
I suspect the fitting in pic #3 is on the outside of the boat?

Thanks for the pic, gives me am idea for making a live well for my 12' Aluminium.

 

[Fed]

I suspect the fitting in pic #3 is on the outside of the boat?

So this fitting is inside the livewell, if so then you don't use a standpipe, just use a plug and let it overflow out the side of the boat.

 

[fishrdan]

The spray bar doesn't need to be in the water? It's ok that it's above the overflow hole?

Yep, good where it's at. As the name implies, it sprays down into the livewell, to aerate the water, oxygenates the water.

 

[gm280]

chris, your present setup is really all you'll need if all the fittings and such are properly connected and working. A "Stand Pipe" can be added if you want, and that sets the water level height. And that height is depended totally by the height of the stand pipe. It can be lower then the overflow fitting if you like. If merely threads into the drain outlet on the bottom where you would use a plug if you don't want a stand pipe. So you can look closely to see if there are any threads in the drain for such a pipe. But you don' have to use one. Some do, some don't. Some use one to keep the water level lower and therefore less weight.

As for the aerator timer, I've used them for years and can tell you, I had live feed back home at the house when I used the timer. Can't get fresher fish then live ones at the door. But again, it is a personal choice and not everybody uses them. Some drain the live well and throw in a bag of ice and trailer home. JMHO

 

[chris16371]

Thanks everyone. I was thinking I was missing something bc when searching and looking at pics of other people's live wells it seemed like there was more going on then what mine had. Good to know what I have will work and the other information I received will help me make improvements in the future. Now to get it good and clean lol.

 

[gm280]

Thanks everyone. I was thinking I was missing something bc when searching and looking at pics of other people's live wells it seemed like there was more going on then what mine had. Good to know what I have will work and the other information I received will help me make improvements in the future. Now to get it good and clean lol.

Post some pictures after you have it all working. We love pictures on these forums and it helps others see how things are done. JMHO!

 

[chris16371]

Post some pictures after you have it all working. We love pictures on these forums and it helps others see how things are done. JMHO!

I'll make sure I do that, probably put a short video up as well.

I have an unrelated question, is there a used classified section for parts and accessories? I see there's one for boats but I need a 15'-16' rack or rotary cable so I'm trying to find a good used one or a discounted new one. I have both a rotary helm and rack helm. The rotary helm is brand new with a 10' cable that I was going to use for my 12' aluminium but for space saving I'm going to try and find a stick steer so I can use either helm for my new boat. If I can't find one I'll make a stowaway console but just prefer to get the stick system. Guess that info wasn't needed to answer the question, sorry. Anyways if there's a used classified section for parts can someone point me in the right direction?