ram water live well intake question.

[ob]

Anyone have any idea how much lift and pressure a 1/2 inch transom mounted ram water intake tube would deliver underway at around 40 mph?

I recently rigged up a small portable live well but haven't water tested it yet.the Intake tube is bent slightly forward and cut as to form a forward opening and is position mounted so that just the tube width extends below the boat pad.The live well reservoir intake fitting is about 1 1/2 foot above the intake tube.The live well reservoir return/overflow exits a 3/4 inch fitting positioned 3 inches below the intake fitting and discharges through a splash well bulkhead fitting via 3/4 inch hose.
I also installed a valve on the live well inlet hose to regulate flow.

Real curious to see how this contraption performs. It'll be a few days before I'm able to get out on the water to test.Any words of wisdom are welcomed.

 

[mphy98]

Re: ram water live well intake question.

I hope you have a shut off valve on that thing. you will be surprised to find out how much pressure you are going to have. Picture a garden hose with your thumb over part of it. I will bet if you put a gauge to it you would have about 60lbs psi on it minimum.

 

[ob]

Re: ram water live well intake question.

^^^^^

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: ram water live well intake question.

Sounds interesting. I have a feeling you might have to do some mods to the overflow though, it might have a tough time keeping up. I'm curious about the pressure that's going to be exerted on the pickup tube once the valve is closed too. It's going to fill up with water up to the shutoff valve and once that happens, the part that is below the boat pad is going to behave like if you were holding a 2x4 in the water while under way. You might have to do some shaping on it to flow better in the water.

 

[ob]

Re: ram water live well intake question.

Sounds interesting. I have a feeling you might have to do some mods to the overflow though, it might have a tough time keeping up. I'm curious about the pressure that's going to be exerted on the pickup tube once the valve is closed too. It's going to fill up with water up to the shutoff valve and once that happens, the part that is below the boat pad is going to behave like if you were holding a 2x4 in the water while under way. You might have to do some shaping on it to flow better in the water.

Yea,the pickup tube i.d. of 3/8" has me a bit concerned even though it expands into 5/8" hose and valve.I wish I had a better feel for the inlet size of the scoop tube and whether I should drill a relief hole of around 1/8" just aft of the forward facing opening.It's aluminum tube so bending the inlet shut some won't be a problem.I also entertained the idea of cutting the inlet tip angle of the tube a bit more perpendicular to the boat pad to reduce the ram force if needed.As soon as the wind calms here a bit I hope to get it out on the water for a test.
Any and all input is appreciated.