Thru hull live well

[Happy times]

I am restoring a 15 foot skiff, don't know make/model/year, but I have a small live well that I am trying to figure out. There is one hole in the bottom that goes straight out the bottom of the boat (not the back) and one hole out the side of the boat about 3/4 of the way up the live well. Anyone have ideas how to set it up, any pictures? should I put a pickup on the bottom that forces water in the live well while underway?

thanks in advance

scott

 

[Woodonglass]

Well, I'm NOT a Fishing Boat guru, but I THINK, this might be what you're looking for, OR a close facsimile!!!:noidea:

 

[fhhuber]

I am restoring a 15 foot skiff, don't know make/model/year, but I have a small live well that I am trying to figure out. There is one hole in the bottom that goes straight out the bottom of the boat (not the back) and one hole out the side of the boat about 3/4 of the way up the live well. Anyone have ideas how to set it up, any pictures? should I put a pickup on the bottom that forces water in the live well while underway?

thanks in advance

scott

I've seen those before... in some old smaller (under 14 ft) aluminum boats.

The hole is direct through the hull to the water, right?
Just lets water in a section full width of the hull about the fore/aft length of a bench seat?

The bottom hole is your fill and drain. The side hole is your overflow. You can just leave the hole in the bottom open and let the wave action "pump" water in and out as the boat pitches and rocks. You could alternatively rig a pump to that hole to fill and aerate and then the excess goes out the overflow. (needs to be a fairly low capacity pump to not overwhelm the overflow) Pull the pump connection from the bottom hole to drain.

Pretty low tech solution to having a live well.

Just about anything you do that works is fine... The boat probably won't have come with more than a plug for the hole in the bottom.

 

[Happy times]

fhhuber you nailed it, that is exactly what I have. I posed the question here because i was thinking if I installed a pump in the bottom hole, how do I drain and clean it?

 

[gm280]

Happy Times, I actually had the same setup in my project boat. But I removed it and changed the layout to use a center live well. I just installed the typical live well pump and sealed up the holes. But it is exactly like WOG shown. And it simply allows water in and out as you travel. The real problem with such a set up is the fact that when you are moving the water does drain out with the boat moving on the water. So unless you use a one-way valve setup, the fish will not be in any water (or very little) while traveling from one place to the other. JMHO!

 

[fhhuber]

Happy Times, I actually had the same setup in my project boat. But I removed it and changed the layout to use a center live well. I just installed the typical live well pump and sealed up the holes. But it is exactly like WOG shown. And it simply allows water in and out as you travel. The real problem with such a set up is the fact that when you are moving the water does drain out with the boat moving on the water. So unless you use a one-way valve setup, the fish will not be in any water (or very little) while traveling from one place to the other. JMHO!

You could do a smaller live well using the typical setup, and have that hole in the bottom be your fill and drain. A T and 2 valves lets you choose the pump or the drain.
But the original setup is simple and needs no power.

I've also converted a cheap cooler into a livewell... Drill and add the pumps and hoses.

There are lots of options.