Homemade Livewell?

[sutor623]

Hey guys I have made a few cooler livewells in my day. I am now on the brink of making a livewell for shad. It needs to be round, and anywhere between 10-30 gallons. I made a small minnow livewell out of a 5 gallon drinking water cooler, and it will keep minnows alive all day with a simple aerator. But not shad. I was just wondering if any of you guys had any bright ideas for main shells for this thing, filter systems, or anything else. I know there are some on here that are far craftier than I. I also do not want to spend 4-$600 on a new professional grade livewell system. As much as I would love to have one, it is just unpractical for the amount of times that I get on the water during the year.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Homemade Livewell?

Check out LiveBiatLarry, that site it might give you some ideas.

How about using a plastic 55 gallon drum and cutting it down to size. IE: cut the top off (3" down the side), chop 12-24" out of the middle, then join the top and bottom back together, to make a short barrel???

Here's a real red-neck idea for you. We took an old beer keg plastic ice tub and drilled a BUNCH of small holes in the side, about 5-6" above the bottom, then zip tied a pool noodle around the top of the tub. While fishing it was sitting in the water next to the boat, when we were motoring it was on deck with enough water in it to keep the bait kicking. It worked OK, but not real good system as there wasn't a constant flow of water. If we were running for longer than 5 minutes we would have to stop, dunk the basket to get fresh water for the bait. We had some dead loss, but it's to be expected with that type of jerry rigged set-up. And,,, the big smart shad could jump out as the lip was only 3" above the water's surface. Definitely not the best setup, but the price was right, free....

 

[dingbat]

Re: Homemade Livewell?

Now that live lining Spot and perch is catching on for catching Stripers, most the charters and a lot of recs just use a 55 gallon plastic barrell cut in half for the live well and stick the washdown hose in it. The water over flows the barrel, runs out on the floor and out the scuppers. Not too good for a sofa boat, but works very well on a boat with a self bailing cockpit.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Homemade Livewell?

Hmmm guys, I was thinking about something a little more professional. : ) But I do like the idea of the 55 gallon drum, however I want a way to insulate it as well....

 

[dingbat]

Re: Homemade Livewell?

Hmmm guys, I was thinking about something a little more professional. : ) But I do like the idea of the 55 gallon drum, however I want a way to insulate it as well....

Why insulate? The inside is going to remain the same temp as the water your pumping thru it.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Homemade Livewell?

Why insulate? The inside is going to remain the same temp as the water your pumping thru it.

Yeah if you are good with the overflow idea that will work. I actually like to use salt in my water and special stress reducing chemicals. I guess I just had a different idea. Plus in the summer time, the water on the surface is much warmer than the deeper water where the baitfish can be had.

 

[series60]

M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

My needs are somewhat different but this works well for both salt and fresh water. I use a 30 gal Rubbermaid Roughneck trash can. This can is rectangle with rounded corners so those bait fish won't stack up in the corners (anchovies are really dumb fish) and is a perfect fit next to the doghouse on my 22' CC. The thing is tough and the handles allow me to secure it easily. It is just tall enough to dump overboard thru 1? PVC hose bib (bib mounted 5" below rim). A plumbed BRONZE 1" boat thru-hull strainer with HD ball valve and a live-well pump backed up with an aerator for life support. Doesn't overflow even when underway at 15 knots. Will overflow if you leave the pump on while underway. I use the tight fitting lid to keep splash contained during the rough rides. It's light weight - easy to remove when not in use - doesn't brake the bank -

My dad would go on the cheap side of the expense of the BRONZE 1" boat thru-hull strainer with HD ball valve and rig a stern clamped water pickup using 3/4" PVC and a couple 90? elbows. Clamp the sucker to the stern, take your bait tank and go fishing.

 

[sutor623]

Re: M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

Re: M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

My needs are somewhat different but this works well for both salt and fresh water. I use a 30 gal Rubbermaid Roughneck trash can. This can is rectangle with rounded corners so those bait fish won't stack up in the corners (anchovies are really dump fish) and is a perfect fit next to the doghouse on my 22' CC. The thing is tough and the handles allow me to secure it easily. It is just tall enough to dump overboard thru 1? PVC hose bib (bib mounted 5" below rim). A plumbed BRONZE 1" boat thru-hull strainer with HD ball valve and a live-well pump backed up with an aerator for life support. Doesn't overflow even when underway at 15 knots. Will overflow if you leave the pump on while underway. I use the tight fitting lid to keep splash contained during the rough rides. It's light weight - easy to remove when not in use - doesn't brake the bank -

My dad would go on the cheap side of the expense of the BRONZE 1" boat thru-hull strainer with HD ball valve and rig a stern clamped water pickup using 3/4" PVC and a couple 90? elbows. Clamp the sucker to the stern, take your bait tank and go fishing.

Oh yeah, that is cool. Id like to see some pictures. : )

 

[series60]

Re: M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

Re: M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

After sun up I'll see what I can do for pictures.

 

[sutor623]

Re: M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

Re: M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

After sun up I'll see what I can do for pictures.

Sounds awesome!

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

Re: M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

Just an idea, never done it myself but if you look at some of the home built boats techniques you'll see how you could make whatever size built in livewell out of a thin plywood form and some fiberglass. Plumb it and insulate it with some pour in/spray in foam.

Might even be cost effective vs. store bought.

 

[series60]

Re: M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

Re: M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

OK here is a less then professional video of the construction and installation of my homemade trash can bait tank.

 

[sutor623]

Re: M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

Re: M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

OK here is a less then professional video of the construction and installation of my homemade trash can bait tank.

Not exactly what I was going for, but shoot dude, I like it. Simple, cost effective, spacious, portable. Not too shabby my man. Let me ask you this, when you turn on the main motor, do you just cut off the pump that draws the water in?

 

[sutor623]

Re: M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

Re: M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

Just an idea, never done it myself but if you look at some of the home built boats techniques you'll see how you could make whatever size built in livewell out of a thin plywood form and some fiberglass. Plumb it and insulate it with some pour in/spray in foam.

Might even be cost effective vs. store bought.

And yes this seems to be a great idea as well. Talk about a professional outcome!.

 

[series60]

Re: M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

Re: M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

Let me ask you this, when you turn on the main motor, do you just cut off the pump that draws the water in?

I turn the pump off if I'm going to be underway for a while at planing speeds (+10 knots). If it is just a short move I will leave it on. At 5-10 knots water will start flowing through the pickup without the pump on.

 

[sutor623]

Re: M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

Re: M2?'s Re: Homemade Livewell?

I turn the pump off if I'm going to be underway for a while at planing speeds (+10 knots). If it is just a short move I will leave it on. At 5-10 knots water will start flowing through the pickup without the pump on.

Gotcha. Yeah unfortunately my water intake for the livewell is in the transom, and the pump will be running dry while the boat is in motion. I guess I will put the back-up aerator on and switch the pump off whilst travelling. I have a ton of ideas in my head about what I want to do thanks to all of you guys' input. Now I just need to figure in cost before I make the move. Right not I have a little 5 gallon drinking water cooler that I drilled some air holes in the top of, and ran an aerator hose down through. The thing will keep minnows alive in 90degree weather for 10 hours! But I haven't tried it with shad. I have heard that to keep shad alive you have to proportion around 1-2 shad per gallon, and 5-10 shad is just not enough. : )