Live Well Pumpout

[Jim Hawkins]

I have a boat with a built in live well that no longer has any hoses or parts except the tank itself with one hole on the bottom and one hole on the side near the top. I want to make it work again but with two goals.

1. I want to be able to pump the live well dry using the same pump that circulates the water
2. I don't want to drill a hole through the hull below the water line, I would be fine using a flexible hose clamped over the side when wanted.

Is this stupid, or done all the time, I don't know it's new to me.

 

[alldodge]

The fill and drain is easy with a 12V reversible pump connected to the bottom hole, the circulation is the issue.

You want fresh water to come in and flow back out, don't see that happening without another pump. Suggest use the one to fill and drain, then if needed, drine some out and add fresh back in. Either that or get a cheap 12V air bubbler and put that in the tank to give the fish air

 

[Jim Hawkins]

Hello AllDodge.

If the pump fills it through the bottom hole I thought I could just let it flow out through a hose connected to the overflow hole at the top. The overflow hole is high enough to drain through a through hull fitting well above the water line. Could you give me an example of a suitable reversible pump?

 

[alldodge]

Anyone of them that use an impeller will reverse. You can even get one of the cheap drill pumps to work. I have a wayne and it works. Google 12V reversible pump and they will show up. The issue is just make sure it has an impeller and not a vacuum type. The issue with making the impeller last long is don't let it run dry. When in doubt pour some water into the hose to keep it wet

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...zOwQ9j-EnLzK6Q-esKpk0Ew5bUuGSzPuH0aAnDm8P8HAQ

 

[pckeen]

If it has a built in live well, there should already be holes in your boat below the water line for the original pipes. Are they still there?

 

[gm280]

If there is already a live well installed with the fittings, why not just rebuilt it t work like it was original? That would be the easier setup in my thinking. :noidea: