Livewell and Interior design brainstorm

[s_explore]

I need to help to add a livewell in my boat. I added some picture. The boat is and i/o engine, so I can't add the livewell at the stern in the center. I was thinking to add the livewell at the stern port side where the power steering assembly is not located and add both battery on the starboard side.

I see both usually have two livewell on each side for balance I presume. Will there be a problem adding only one livewell. I could go around 34 gallons with the dimension 26x21x14.5 (HxWxL). That would be 284lbs.

I can do it smaller too. If someone could help me. I'm brainstorming for interior design.

 

[eggs712]

Deep cycle batteries weigh 60-70 pounds each, so you'll have some listing to the livewell side. I also run a small boat for fishing and move my coolers around to help balance weight as needed.

 

[s_explore]

I would be sitting on the starboard side, I'm thinking that would help to. Are you thinking the listing will impact a lot the boat? My boat is a 20 feet. The difference let say would be around 140lbs between the livewell and the two battery.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would put two 50 gallon livewells, a 2-pump seachest, a 1-1/2" high speed pickup.

One forward,one aft. One for bait, one for caught fish

 

[s_explore]

Where would I put the front livewell? I have a cabin in this boat.

 

[dingbat]

You talking live well or bait well?

Unless you bass fish competitively, there is no reason for a livewell.

I quit keeping fish alive by wallow around in ambient, excrement laced water long ago.

Fish intended for the table go in the fish box along with #80 of ice and a bucket of brine. A cooler could easily service the same purpose

 

[s_explore]

Oh ok, so no livewell needed. Maybe I'm thinking too much here. I wanted to add the baitwell at the rear port side, but more I think of it more it feels complicated. I will mostly fish in lake since I'm far from ocean. But I still think a baitwell would be awesome if I need it at some point. I was thinking oval shape baitwell, but i'm not sure how I would attach it to the boat if I make it from a mold.

 

[dingbat]

Oh ok, so no livewell needed. Maybe I'm thinking too much here. I wanted to add the baitwell at the rear port side, but more I think of it more it feels complicated. I will mostly fish in lake since I'm far from ocean. But I still think a baitwell would be awesome if I need it at some point. I was thinking oval shape baitwell, but i'm not sure how I would attach it to the boat if I make it from a mold.

Not sure what not fishing in salt has to do with fish boxes. The brine reference is to add salt to the ice to reduce the melting temperature a couple of degrees. Colder drinks, ice lasts longer.

No square corners in bait wells.

It’s probably easier to convert a cooler than prefab one when all is said and done.

Lots of guys have gone to portable units. Sits on the deck. Just drop the pump over the transom and let the overflow run out the scuppers. Only takes up space if used

 

[s_explore]

Thank you for the info sir, I greatly appreciate it.

 

[airshot]

Neighbor has a 17' boat with a 30 plus gallon livewell on the port side. He is a big boy, 280# so he needs to add water in the live well even when he doesn't need it to keep the boat balanced. My live wells are used to store tackle, my fish go in iced cooler, they taste much better that way....

 

[s_explore]

I have trim tabs in this boat that would help balance. Now I understand, keeping the fish in livewell would be not as good than just throwing it in cooler with ice. I guess I don't really need it then. Then I'm still wondering how should I design the interior. Should I just keep it simple, add fridge speaker some seat and that's it?

 

[dingbat]

Depends on your needs and usage.

I primarily fish/troll so I wanted a large, open cockpit (outboard) with easy access to the (back) corners with lots of tackle and rod storage.

Transom has large storage compartments on each side of the splash-well. Enclosures house the batteries, one on each side, raw water and live well pumps, and a coalescing filter assembly. Snap on cushions covert the storage to seating if need be.

The live well, bait tank and cooler are all built in to the back of the helm station. They have snap-on cushions as well to covert to seating if not in use. Also has a two drawer tackle locker built into the bottom of each helm pedestal.

Have storage for 6 rods under the gunnels and 4 more rods holders on the roof of the cabin. Ended up adding a 5 rod rocket launcher to my top to accommodate more rods.

The middle of the cuddy cabin floor has an access panel that opens up. Has enough dry storage for the porta-potty and to store all my safety equipment and extra flotation devices.

 

[s_explore]

Would it be possible to have some picture?

 

[dingbat]

Would it be possible to have some picture?

Not my boat, but the same make and model