Alumacraft Navigator 165 Tiller Live-well issues

[Dandbuck]

New to me 2003 Navigator 165 tiller. I love the boat, just getting familiar with everything. Question on the live-well operation. The only button toggles between auto and manual. When I flip that switch I hear the pump start up in the bilge area, but no water enters the live-well. At the upper part of the live-well is the fill and I have opened that "plug". I do see a plug in the transom near the main boat drain, does this plug need to be out? Can it be left out all the time? If I open the plug in the bottom of the live-well , I can get it to fill some very slowly, but not much. I know I'm doing something wrong. This is my first boat with a live-well/baitwell, and I'm just hoping the internal lines are not busted or something.

 

[mike_i]

"The only button toggles between auto and manual. When I flip that switch I hear the pump start up in the bilge area" That's because the switch is for the bilge pump. Find your bait pump. Trace the input hose from the tank. Is there an intake screen on the bottom of the boat? " If I open the plug in the bottom of the live-well , I can get it to fill some very slowly". That's just water being forced into the tank from the outside pressure of the boat being in the water, (I may not have explained that well). Post a picture of the plug in the transom, it could be the bait tank drain.

 

[Dandbuck]

"The only button toggles between auto and manual. When I flip that switch I hear the pump start up in the bilge area" That's because the switch is for the bilge pump. Find your bait pump. Trace the input hose from the tank. Is there an intake screen on the bottom of the boat? " If I open the plug in the bottom of the live-well , I can get it to fill some very slowly". That's just water being forced into the tank from the outside pressure of the boat being in the water, (I may not have explained that well). Post a picture of the plug in the transom, it could be the bait tank drain.

There is another bilge pump button with another pump, I can run them both and hear them turn on/off seperately. I will look for an intake screen, but do not recall seeing anything like that. Thank you

 

[briangcc]

More than likely on your transom is a screened opening that runs to your livewell pump. Sometimes, to prime that pump, you need to run backwards for a bit - at least that's how mine seems to work best.

The plug in the bottom of the livewell needs to be in to fill the tank, otherwise it'll just drain overboard as quickly as your pump fills it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

After 20 years, the plastic plumbing could be broken

 

[Dandbuck]

More than likely on your transom is a screened opening that runs to your livewell pump. Sometimes, to prime that pump, you need to run backwards for a bit - at least that's how mine seems to work best.

The plug in the bottom of the livewell needs to be in to fill the tank, otherwise it'll just drain overboard as quickly as your pump fills it.

What about the plug that looks identical to that plug in the live-well going out the back of the boat? Right next to the main drain plug?

 

[Dandbuck]

is the plugged hole on the right supposed to be the one with a screen for the inlet? Take out the plug?

 

[roscoe]

bottom hole is the bilge drain.
left hole is the livewell drain
right hole is the livewell inlet which should have a screened cover over it to prevent debris and weeds from entering.

Looks like the screen fell off or broke off like most of them do.

The plug in that hole means either the cheap plastic plumbing is busted and leaks inside the boat. Or they used the livewell for dry storage and didn't want any water to get inside.

It looks just like the one I sold last year, except we permanently sealed both the screened inlet and the drain.

 

[Scott Danforth]

My guess is the cheap plastic plumbing is broken. I have repaired many live-well systems which require lots of swearing.

 

[Dandbuck]

Thank you everyone! I suppose if I take that plug out and don't get water in the bilge right away, I might be lucky, otherwise I will be taking the floor out to access everything?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Depends on the boat. The intake pump is accessible from the bilge. Most of the other plumbing may require pulling the livewells

I haven't had to pull a deck to replumb yet