is this a cooler design or a livewell?

[thomis]

1992 Stingray 556z - 3.0 Merc I/O Alpha I Gen II bowrider. The reservoir under the seat cushion in bow, port side, is this supposed to be a live well or a cooler? Not sure what the original intention of this design was. Maybe just a place to ice down some can drinks? There is indeed a thru-hull with a drain plug although it is very ineffective at draining the reservoir. What I'd like to do is make it into a live well.I'd like to utilize some kind of pump to fill it with lake water using the thru hull that is already there. I'd also like to aerate it somehow, not sure I can so so using the same pump. Would also be nice to EMPTY it with the pump back into the lake. Maybe this is not possible with one pump? That's why I'm here, asking you kind folks with all the knowledge! Please rec a pump or any other apparatus that may help me accomplish what I'm trying to do. Thanks a bunch!

 

[MRS]

1992 Stingray 556z - 3.0 Merc I/O Alpha I Gen II bowrider. The reservoir under the seat cushion in bow, port side, is this supposed to be a live well or a cooler? Not sure what the original intention of this design was. Maybe just a place to ice down some can drinks? There is indeed a thru-hull with a drain plug although it is very ineffective at draining the reservoir. What I'd like to do is make it into a live well.I'd like to utilize some kind of pump to fill it with lake water using the thru hull that is already there. I'd also like to aerate it somehow, not sure I can so so using the same pump. Would also be nice to EMPTY it with the pump back into the lake. Maybe this is not possible with one pump? That's why I'm here, asking you kind folks with all the knowledge! Please rec a pump or any other apparatus that may help me accomplish what I'm trying to do. Thanks a bunch!View attachment 379144View attachment 379145

Looks like a cooler you would also need a way to aerate the water.

 

[04fxdwgi25]

If there is only a drain, and nor pump for circulation, it is a cooler.

 

[JimS123]

It's a cooler. The drain is plugged and needs some maintenance. The condition of everything in the pic shows the PO did a poor job of taking care of the boat. (sad to look at the pics) It can't be a live well because it is too far away form the infrastructure that would be need to be added.

 

[Captain Caveman]

I'm not sure that anything would stay alive if that was a livewell....maybe a bunch of panfish or a few small walleye. You've got a drain. It would be a lot of plumbing to add a pump, especially for such a small livewell. My livewell just pumps more water every couple minutes to keep the water fresh, and it self-drains. To keep your situation low cost, you could just drain it every 15-30 minutes and then fill it back up with a bucket of lake water. You're not going to keep fish alive very long in that thing no matter what.

However, I think that after a good cleaning you should just use it as intended, as a cooler.

 

[JimS123]

The condition of that boat is atrocious. If you haven't bought it yet, run away fast. Anyone that left a boat in that condition must have left the engine in similar condition.

If you DID buy it, hire a good mechanic. You will need it.