Rear livewell drain question--Solved.

[Garynyc]

Hi all;

I just bought a 2002 1900 Starcaster with a 135 Optimax. It's a great ride, and our first shakedown run showed some minor issues--lose nut here and there, some screws that needed tightening. The most worrisome issue is the rear livewell that had about 4 inches of water in it. The drain plug was out. I turned on the bilge and the test water we had in the front livewell drained fine, but the rear had no drainage or suction. I put the plug in the drain and scooped out the water with a jug. Upon pulling the drain plug, the well began to fill rapidly, stopping at about 5 inches in depth.

I was hoping that someone could give me some clues as to what in the Sam Hill is going on!

This is my first boat, so I could use some help.

Thank you!

Gary

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Help! Rear livewell drain flooding in!

Re: Help! Rear livewell drain flooding in!

Moving to general boating.....

 

[RL Gman]

Re: Help! Rear livewell drain flooding in!

Re: Help! Rear livewell drain flooding in!

Is this live well at or some below the water line?

May be a self filling/self draining live well.

I've used them before on smaller flats boats. If thats the case, it's working fine, it will fill while in water, and empty when put on the trailer, actually worked very well for me.

To keep it from filling with water, just plug the hole from the inside of the live well with a small rubber plug.

 

[pinellas50]

Re: Help! Rear livewell drain flooding in!

Re: Help! Rear livewell drain flooding in!

It sounds like the live well is filling to the water line of the boat. My live well is always above the water line so I don't know if that is normal or not. To me, it sounds like the pump for the rear live well isn't working. Could it be that easy?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Help! Rear livewell drain flooding in!

Re: Help! Rear livewell drain flooding in!

That is one of my favorite peeves with the cheaper livewell setups. Yes, the live well drain is below the water line and the livewell will fill until the level is the same as the water line. Really a dumb design as it becomes a chore to chase fish around the livewell at the dock. The livewell will drain when the boat is under way so have someone stick the plug in when the livewell is empty. Next, are you saying the front livewell drains into the bilge? Another cheap and really annoying setup but not much you can do with that unless you can get to the drain and plumb a line to a through-hull fitting at the stern.

 

[Garynyc]

Re: Help! Rear livewell drain flooding in!

Re: Help! Rear livewell drain flooding in!

Thank you for the support guys. I don't think the rear livewell is a self-filling type, as there is a pump switch on the dash that controls water flow into the tank from a spigot near the top edge of the tank. This pump works fine.

The front livewell has a spigot at the top as well, and it also has a bilge that sucks the water down the drain. Both filling and draining the tank works well.

Maybe I should send Starcraft a support email.

Any other suggestions, please fire away.

Thank you

Gary

 

[Garynyc]

Re: Help! Rear livewell drain flooding in!

Re: Help! Rear livewell drain flooding in!

That is one of my favorite peeves with the cheaper livewell setups. Yes, the live well drain is below the water line and the livewell will fill until the level is the same as the water line. Really a dumb design as it becomes a chore to chase fish around the livewell at the dock. The livewell will drain when the boat is under way so have someone stick the plug in when the livewell is empty. Next, are you saying the front livewell drains into the bilge? Another cheap and really annoying setup but not much you can do with that unless you can get to the drain and plumb a line to a through-hull fitting at the stern.

Hi Silvertip;

I'm not sure if the rear livewell fills to the waterline or not, but once the boat is underway I will have someone check to see if it's draining out. The boat will remain in the water all summer, so it would be a pain to drag it out to drain it. Do you really think it doesn't have a pump to drain it like the front unit? Thanks Gary

 

[Garynyc]

Re: Help! Rear livewell drain flooding in!

Re: Help! Rear livewell drain flooding in!

It sounds like the live well is filling to the water line of the boat. My live well is always above the water line so I don't know if that is normal or not. To me, it sounds like the pump for the rear live well isn't working. Could it be that easy?

That sounds like a logical possibility. I put an email into the marina that serviced it under the previous owner so I hope to get an answer. Oh and bothel lights in the livewells seems to be blown out.

Thanks

Gary

 

[Garynyc]

Re: Rear livewell drain question--Solved.

The owner of the marina that used to service this boat put my fears to rest with the following answer:

"your livewell empties 2 different ways.
First is on land with all plugs pulled it will drain.
Second is in the water, pull drain plug, put the boat in forward slowly and it will drain out back. If standing still will not drain due to water pressure against boat.
Hope that helps"

thanks all for your help. Seems as if this issue is put to bed!

Gary