Livewell Removal

[capndan]

First of all, I hope I'm not breaking any rules. I posted this same post in "'General Boating", got no replies, and it is already on page 2, and sinking fast...

so maybe this is a better place for this question.

I am removing the livewell in an '89 Crestliner, 19' Aluminum. the unit is located in the bow, I'll never use it, and would be a good place for storage, maybe my 2 12V deep cycles for my trolling motor.

I just bought this boat from my cousin, who says the livewell motor shorted out years ago, drained his battery. he disconnected it(at the switch, I think), never replaced it.

the livewell is bone dry. I assume when I disconnect it, I won't sink the boat. But I don't really understand why.

Somewhere there is at least one hole below the water line. What is keeping the water from flowing in ? After I disconnect the tank from the hoses, what should I do to make sure whatever is keeping water from getting in, continues to do so?

Livewell has 3 hoses, no shutoff valves at the well. One big hose is obviously overflow, I can track that to above water line exit port.

Other two hoses: one drains out at the deepest part of tank, other I assume fills at highest part. Both of those hoses disappear under floor.

Thanks,

Dan L

 

[JB]

Re: Livewell Removal

You posted it in the right place the first time, Dan. This forum is about fishing tackle and techniques. This is not a good place for it.

I am going to put this in Boat Building and Restoration. Those guys probably have a better fix on your questions, anyway.

 

[tlzimmerman]

Re: Livewell Removal

The livewell itself should be above the water line...thats what keeps water from flowing into the well and overflowing the livewell and getting water in the boat. Even if the hole is below the water level, the hose is sealed to that hole, and water doesn't run uphill.

Now the 2 hoses you can't figure out, one is probably the drain and will go out the bottom of the boat, the other is the fill from the pump. When you remove the livewell, there is 2 ways I would think you could do it. The easy way is to leave the hoses in place, and completely seal the ends off and just leave them there. Thats the easy way, but if you lay them in the bottom of the boat, if they ever spring a leak you are going to get water if the exit of the hose is below the water line. The other way would be to remove the livewell, trace the hoses under the floor to their exit points (the drain is normally in the bottom of the boat, and most times the hole where the pump draws water is on the stern below the water line...I am sure there are many places they could be however.) Once you find their exit points you can remove the hoses, and plug or seal the hole they came from. Might have to remove the floor to do this one though, not sure, depends on where they exit.

I suppose you could try to seal the holes from the outside as well.

Good luck. I am a noob but from trying to figure out if I want to put IN a live well in my boat I am reworking, I have looked at them a little bit.