Building a Pontoon Live well - Pump Question

[Mudbug63]

Hi All,

I just rebuilt a 1990 Suntracker 24DL Pontoon from the crossmembers up. This particular boat was not designed for fishing so has no provision for livewell pumps on the back of the pontoons.

The plan is to build a couple of live well boxes to mount in front of the forward benches. The construction of the boxes is not an issue, the pump for the water is.

While there is no room to mount the pump on the existing Speedo/Sonar step on the left pontoon there is room to mount a hose with a strainer for pickup.

Since the pumps all seem to be water cooled (at least the ones I can afford) I can't remotely mount it at the top of the pontoon under the deck which would be my preference.

The question is will a Tsunami T500 Aerator pump mounted in a well pull the water the 18 inches or so from the bottom of the pontoon to the top of the log and then pull it the 16 foot or so along the log to the well? I suspect I will also need a check valve in the pickup hose as well near the strainer.

I know I will have to prime the pump by putting some water in the live well which is not an issue we always have at least one 5 gallon bucket onboard. I know my GPH flow will likely be reduced but in the application i'm not too concerned. Also know the real solution is to have another/larger step welded on the pontoon. But for a couple of reasons that's not a option at the moment.

 

[roscoe]

I doubt it. Those are pushing pumps.
Those bilge pumps lose most of their pushing capacity if there is a 3 or 4' rise, can't imagine they would pull at all.


Perhaps a self priming wash down pump. Something that has a 5-6' "pull".
Something like this:

amazon.com/PRESSURE-DIAPHRAGM-4-5GPM-Caravan-Marine/dp/B00DLLZHP8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1441656416&sr=8-2&keywords=washdown+pumps

 

[smokeonthewater]

You need to re think your plan.... Find a competent welder who can add a pump box off the back of the toon.....then make sure you get a top notch pump that will give you the lift you need.... Sinking your live wells into the floor will reduce the lift needed also.

 

[Mudbug63]

Thanks folks, sinking the wells won't really work on the grand plan of things so thats not an option as good a suggestion as it is.

The Tsunami 500 says it will push a max of 8 feet of vertical head. At 3.3 feet it loses roughly 1/3 of its capacity and I figure sitting dead in the water I will be pushing less than 24 inches which would be an acceptable loss in flow. Guess I will start looking for a good welder.