In deck livewell

[SHEPinMS]

So I'm planning on removing my fuel tank from my 17' and putting a poly tank under my console so my question is has anyone put a divider in the coffin box and made the aft section into a livewell? I'm thinking 1 pump for fill or recirculate and a drain in the bottom with a PVC extension for a overflow. Would this work?

[TikiDoc]

Check out Classic Mako.com   Several Mako models have in-deck livewells, and there are many discussions about getting rid of them.  That should tell you something.

[SHEPinMS]

Gotcha I was just thinking it would save some space while not having to put a big poly one behind the console where  I keep my cooler.

[JimInPB]

I'm a big fan of keeping the tops of my live wells up higher than the transom, so that gravity can drain them off the back of the boat for me. 

I'm also a big fan of having a removable bait well.  That way I can put it in the back of my pickup truck & take it down to the beaches the night before I want to fish.  This allows me to throw a cast net in the flats & stock up on live bait ahead of time.

If I'm redecking a boat anyway, I usually look for places where I can put a fish/ice box below decks with a hinged lid.  That makes it easier to get the feisty critters on ice while they are still flipping around.  It also helps to keep the boat's center of balance low. 

If you bring aboard something energetic, like a big cobia, or something real bloody like a big bonito, a below deck box can be a real help.  Just kicking them below decks is soooo much easier than trying to pick them up & put them somewhere.

Also, the 17s only hold like 25 gallons of fuel to begin with.  If you go any real distance, it might be nice to have the stock tank & also a second tank under the console. 

[SHEPinMS]

The boat is only used for inshore no long runs so no need to put a flopping king or cobia in there, and the livewell would be big enough for a couple dozen shrimp or some pinfish. Pretty much only what sticks out from where the console ends.