Livewell help anyone?

[Iampan]

Hi guys, I'm new to the site and was just looking for some help. I just bought my 1st boat and am totally clueless on this livewell thing. It is a 1980 champion python. It has 2 livewells (one under each seat) There are 2 holes in each livewell that have plugs in them. I have 1 hole on each side of the boat under the waterline that a clamped hose runs from the livewell to the hole. There is a screen thing on the back of the boat next to the drain plug. I have a few toggle switches, one for aerator (which there is none) one for accessory, bildge and lights. When I turn on the aerator and accessory switch there is no noise and nothing happens. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I need to get this running. As I said I know nothing about livewells.

Thanks everyone,
Jason

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Livewell help anyone?

Livewells can have as many configurations as there are womens shoe styles but basically a live well needs a way to pump water into the tank, a way for excess water to flow out of the tank, and way to drain the tank. So -- the thing at the back of the boat next to the drain is the INTAKE for the livewell (aerator) pump. Water enters that port, enters the pump and the pump forces the water into the tank, normally via a spray bar or a spray nozzle. The hole in the bottom of the tank will have either a plug to keep the water in or it will have a stand pipe. If you don't know what a stand pipe is, lift the lid on your toilet tank. The big pipe in the middle of the tank is a standpipe. When water gets to the top it overflows into the standpipe and out the drain. Normally there is an overflow port at the top of the tank with a hose that routes water out the side of the boat (above the water line) or it is "T-eed" into the drain line and it goes out that way. The pump will likely have a fuse in the line so check that. It is also not unusual to have the pump stall due to debris stuck in it. It may also just be seized up due to lack of use.

 

[Iampan]

Re: Livewell help anyone?

I will def check the pump in the back out then and see if its hooked up then. Thanks for a rundown on what it what!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Livewell help anyone?

If you flip the switch and nothing happens, you either have a dead pump or loss of power to it. The easiest way to check it is to flip the switch on and use a test light to see if power is running to the pump. If it is, then check to see if the ground is solid (usually black wire). If both the power & ground are good...dead pump. If not, trace the power feed wire (usually red or brown) back to the switch, looking to see if there is an in-line fuse or if it's connected at all.

 

[Iampan]

Re: Livewell help anyone?

Ok figured out the pump is dead so I guess I'm going to order a livewell kit to get the pump and aerator for in the livewell. I've been doing a ton of research online and can't figure out for the life of me how the water drains from the livewell so I could refill it on the lake. My friend told me the holes on the bottom under the waterline are the drains. How could water drain out from the livewell when the boat was in the water then? Sorry I'm just confused right now lol

Jason

 

[Iampan]

Re: Livewell help anyone?

BTW Fireman very detailed and I followed this to find out to buy a whole new kit. Thanks a ton!

 

[sasto]

Re: Livewell help anyone?

Ok figured out the pump is dead so I guess I'm going to order a livewell kit to get the pump and aerator for in the livewell. I've been doing a ton of research online and can't figure out for the life of me how the water drains from the livewell so I could refill it on the lake. My friend told me the holes on the bottom under the waterline are the drains. How could water drain out from the livewell when the boat was in the water then? Sorry I'm just confused right now lol

Jason

I would fill the livewell from your garden hose and verify where it drains. Report back.

Good Luck!

 

[Iampan]

Re: Livewell help anyone?

lol for some reason I never thought of that. I'll do that and let you guys know

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Livewell help anyone?

How could water drain out from the livewell when the boat was in the water then?

Even though the drain is at or just below the surface of the water, the water in the livewell is actually higher that the surrounding lake water. This creates 'head pressure'. The water in the livewell (under static pressure) will drain into the lake water, which is only under atmospheric pressure.

Think of filling two glasses with water and connecting them to each other through a hose in their bottoms. Lift one glass above your head...what would happen to the water in it? It would drain from that glass into the other, causing a mess in your kitchen.

 

[Iampan]

Re: Livewell help anyone?

Even though the drain is at or just below the surface of the water, the water in the livewell is actually higher that the surrounding lake water. This creates 'head pressure'. The water in the livewell (under static pressure) will drain into the lake water, which is only under atmospheric pressure.

Think of filling two glasses with water and connecting them to each other through a hose in their bottoms. Lift one glass above your head...what would happen to the water in it? It would drain from that glass into the other, causing a mess in your kitchen.

This is about the best answer I have gotten. I would have never came up with this. It really does make sense now. I guess my last question would be does anyone reccommend a livewell kit? I don't want to spend a ton, but do not want anything cheap either. http://www.basspro.com/Mayfair-Basspirator®-Livewell-Aerating-System/product/20965/-700352 I was looking at this. Let me know what ya think.

Thanks again,
Jason

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Livewell help anyone?

Why do you need a "kit" if just the pump is bad? Pumps are cheap, $25-30.

(BTW, the hose in the BPS kit is low quality and might be worse than what's in the boat right now, the clamps look cheap too.)

 

[Iampan]

Re: Livewell help anyone?

Well there is nothing in the livewells, so I need an aerator for them as well. I figured having the spare/new wire & tubing would help. And the pump I need as well. Trust me I'd rather spend 25 than 80 lol

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Livewell help anyone?

The simpler explaination as to "how can this livewell drain" is really quite simple. Water runs downhill.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Livewell help anyone?

Well there is nothing in the livewells, so I need an aerator for them as well. I figured having the spare/new wire & tubing would help. And the pump I need as well. Trust me I'd rather spend 25 than 80 lol

You don't need an aerator for the livewell. Water will be aerated when being pumped into the well from the raw water source (lake). As the water gets sprayed into the well, it will pick up additional oxygen from the air (like a fish tank) which will be more than enough to keep bait alive...until you kill it.

As the water level rises, it flows into the overflow tube and out the drain of the boat. The livewell pump is meant to run continuously, not an off/on/off/on thing. The spray nozzle should have a 90? fitting on it to regulate the flow of water, so you can adjust it to match the incoming water flow to that of the outgoing water flow...thus ensuring a constant supply of freshly aerated water.

See if this makes it clear for you:

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Livewell help anyone?

The livewell pump is meant to run continuously, not an off/on/off/on thing.

Well, except for a livewell timer, they make the pump go on/off/on/off/ to reduce battery drain and keep the water aerated.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Livewell help anyone?

Well, except for a livewell timer, they make the pump go on/off/on/off/ to reduce battery drain and keep the water aerated.

I've read on here about livewell timers, but IMHO, that's just one more item/electrical connection to go bad. Every fishing boat I have owned had a constant run pump, and I never personally had a battery problem. I would fish 8-10 hours 20+ miles offshore, but I had a separate starting battery. Of course, some boaters try to get 8-10 years out of a battery before springing for replacement. If you want a timer, add a timer...

 

[Iampan]

Re: Livewell help anyone?

I really want to thank everyone on here for all of the great input. I feel that I am finally starting to understand some of this. I may read up on a timer a little more and see what that's about. Not really sure about that yet. I do have a battery for cranking and power tilt and another for trolling motor and electronics.

Jason

 

[Iampan]

Re: Livewell help anyone?

Here's how everything is set up BTW. This probably would have been more helpful in the beginning lol. Maybe the livewells were added to the boat not really sure.