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Subject: "livewell drain question" Previous topic | Next topic
swimbaitFri Aug-26-05 01:22 PM
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#1364, "livewell drain question"
Fri Aug-26-05 01:27 PM by swimbait

  

          

I've been building a livewell system for my jon boat. Everything at this point is cool but the big dilemma I can't figure out is how to rig the outflow on it.

Let's start with a diagram
http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/4015-boat.jpg

So far I've rigged everything shown in the pic. The pump is mounted in a bracket on the outside of the transom. It has 3/4" tubing coming off it that runs up the transom then through a hole at the upper edge of the transom

On the inside of the boat I have a ball valve on the tubing to prevent water from being forced up the tube while the boat is underway (yes this is a not so thrilling feature of externally mounted centrifigul pumps). From the ball valve the tubing runs along the gunwale and into the cooler/livwell.

Where the tubing meets the cooler I have a threaded fitting so that the hose can be disconnected if I want to remove the cooler.

All of this works fine.

The REAL dilemma is how to do the drain on it. Before you rush to give me advice, consider the following factors...

The drain hose can't simply be hung off the side of the boat because the water level in the livewell is lower than the side of the boat. Therefore a hole must be drilled in the side of the boat.

Everything I've read about livewells suggest that you use a larger outflow than an inflow, ideally double the diameter (so 1 1/2").

The waterline on the boat changes depending on how many people are in it, if people are leaning to one side, and if the boat is underway. I plan to put the outflow toward the stern of the boat because this side will typically be the down side, however its very possible on this boat for the bow to be lower than the stern if I don't have the motor on the back and two guys are standing on the front or if I'm anchored from the stern and standing on the bow.

I'm also fixed on the location of the cooler in the boat. Yes I know it should be along the centerline of the boat, but that's just not reasonable the way the boat is laid out.

And I'd like to have it so that when the water drains out, it doesn't splash like a hose shooting into the water. I am thinking of some kind of tubing on the outside of the boat to force the water straight down into the water, underwater.

I may rig an additional drain hose on the actual drain at the bottom of the cooler that runs back to the drain plug on the boat so that at the end of the day I can open that valve and let water drain directly out the plug of the boat. That's last on the priority list right now though.

So I'd love to hear some suggestions on how to do this. And any tips on drilling 1 1/2" holes in aluminum boats as cleanly as possible. I looked at drill bits today and it looks like a hole cutter is the right thing to get but anyone who has experience doing this, I'd love to hear about it.

Attachment #1, (.jpg file)

  

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Replies to this topic
RE: livewell drain question, Sacto John, Aug 26th 2005, #1
RE: livewell drain question, swimbait, Aug 26th 2005, #2
      RE: livewell drain question, Sacto John, Aug 26th 2005, #3
RE: livewell drain question, PHISHnutS, Aug 26th 2005, #4
RE: livewell drain question, Phil, Aug 26th 2005, #5
RE: livewell drain question, swimbait, Aug 31st 2005, #6

Sacto JohnFri Aug-26-05 02:12 PM
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#1365, "RE: livewell drain question"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

So you are not flexible of changing the location of the livewell? Do you want to keep the livewell removable? Looking at the pictures of you boat I have some ideas but they are not practical if you want a removable livewell in its current location. Do not worry about drilling holes in you boat it is not difficult and the thru hull fittings give the holes a nice, water-tight, finished look. When you do buy a drill bit be sure it is made for metal, most hole cutters are designed for wood and will not give you a clean hole, you may want to check with a shop that specializes in metal working supplies (there used to be one off of Tennision in Hayward, but I forget the name of it)

Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what have-yous

  

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swimbaitFri Aug-26-05 02:50 PM
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#1366, "RE: livewell drain question"
In response to Reply # 1


  

          

I would have liked to put the livewell in the rear bench seat, so that seat basically is the livewell. The problem there is that the rear seat is filled with foam and I don't want to remove that floatation.

You can actually buy my boat with a built in livewell that Triton installs for you, but its smack in the middle of the center deck. Other than those two options, there's not really anywhere else you could put it. As you can tell this whole problem is buggin me, but I'll figure out something. Thanks for the tip on getting a metal cutting bit.

  

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Sacto JohnFri Aug-26-05 03:11 PM
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#1367, "RE: livewell drain question"
In response to Reply # 2


  

          

The rear seat is was where I was thinking of putting the livewell. two of the boats I helped coustomize we put the livewell in the bench seats, on in the center and one in the rear, on both boats we removed the foam and you could not notice a different in how the boat sat in the water. You seem to fish mainly by yourself and you are not a big guy (although you do put some poundage in the boat with the toads you catch) so I would not be too worried about removing the foam.

Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what have-yous

  

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PHISHnutSFri Aug-26-05 03:52 PM
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#1368, "RE: livewell drain question"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          


"I may rig an additional drain hose on the actual drain at the bottom of the cooler that runs back to the drain plug on the boat so that at the end of the day I can open that valve and let water drain directly out the plug of the boat."

This actually sounds like your best option, I don't have much experience in livewell rigging (only w/ kayaks) but using your existing drain for your boat requires no extra holes, you have endless options of different valves or connections to use that are removable.

The only other thing I can think of is to have another small pump inside the livewell to pump the water out thru a hose and down over the side of your boat, make it long enough to reach the water and no splashing??

Just my random thoughts.

Trev-

  

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PhilFri Aug-26-05 05:57 PM
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#1369, "RE: livewell drain question"
In response to Reply # 4


          

Rob,

Since I cut out the bench containing my livewell, i'm kind of in the same situation as you. I have alot of ideas for my livewell, but finding the time to do it has been a different story. That's cool you got yours all plumbed up. Looks like a good set up.

I'm not quite sure I understand your dilema. You're not sure where to put the hole for the outflow? My guess would be to go as high as possible while remaining under the waterline of the livewell. The waterline outside the boat would never get that high.

I also don't think you have to worry about the water shooting out of the outflow. Doubling the size of the outflow would reduce the velocity dramatically. If it still pours out, maybe you could use a screen or something to diffuse the water and cause it to run down the side of your boat.

And one final tip on using a hole saw. Make sure you drill the pilot hole first! Then put on the hole saw and go nice and slow when bringing the teeth to the metal. If you drill the pilot with the hole saw attatched what happens is you'll push the pilot through with so much force that the hole saw's teeth will catch causing the drill to bind up. Then, only bad things can happen. Broken teeth on the hole saw, broken pilot bit or worse yet, a broken wrist.

  

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swimbaitWed Aug-31-05 08:07 AM
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#1370, "RE: livewell drain question"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

Well things have been delayed a bit...

Nico and I were driving home this weekend the cooler ripped out of the boat on hwy. 205! I had it strapped down with two tie downs, and the intake hose on the livewell which was siliconed in place. Somehow both straps tore off (the buckles were gone) and the hose ripped out of the cooler. Unreal. Back to the drawing board.

  

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