CCP Livewell

[ldeal]

Has anybody come up with a way to plumb the livewell in the CCP's?  The top of the factory livewell is below the water line. I am trying to find a way to keep the overflow from going into the bilge.  Any ideas?  I have thought about running 2 pumps: one pump to pump the water in, another topump the water out.  Thanks

[jdupree]

I don't know what kind of fish you want to keep in there, but if you have to run on plane for awhile with fish in there the factory pickup on the transom will not pull enough water in.  Been there and done that

I think most CCPers would agree that the livewell was a horrible design.  If yours is designed like mine, try bending down to get something out of it.  It is hard to access.  

As a matter of fact, I sealed up my livewell and use it for storage.  I went with a portable livewell which is fed by the "clamshell" type pickup which was mounted on the bottom of the hull.  Don't know what type of pickup you have, but that one is the way to go

[kaptainkoz]

yes, true, its a bit of a challenging design but I think Ive made it useful as a livewell. True, it is not in the best location and definitely deep to get fish in and out of. Unfortunately I cannot show you pics right now because I have it all disassembled. But what I did was use a simple thread on cap to fit over the lower thru hull pickup. If I want to fill it, I unscrew the cap. When Ive got enough water in there I put the cap back on. I use a stand alone bait well airator to keep the water oxygenated. You then have the upper thru transom hole (or at least mine does) which is about 6 inches higher than the lower thru transom. I keep that one plugged unless I want the water to circulate naturally (inflow thru the bottom, spill out through the top). This only works standing still. Under power or on plane it will empty out so you will have to plug up both. Im considering putting a ball valve on the bottom thru hull to make on/off a bit easier. As far as draining it.... You can open the bottom and run her on plane to drain it out then re-cap to stop any additional water from coming in. Unfortunately, you will have about 2 inches of water in there at all times... You dont have much of a choice but to install a drain into the bilge. I have installed an auxillary 12v socket controlled by a switch off of the center console to power the airator.
True, not the greatest setup by far, but you can make it functional. Its not the most conveinent set up either but I didnt want to waste this space so I made it work as best as it can. It does fine. Could be better but could be much worse. Im ok with it now.

[ldeal]

Thanks for the replies.  I was trying to find a way to make the livewell function like a normal livewell.  I had planned to put in a clamshell for raw water pick up and a Rule 1200 livewell pump.  But there is still a problem with getting the water out of the livewell before it spills into the bilge.  In most livewells the water is able to flow out because of gravity but this is not the case in the CCP.  Also I happen to really like the locaion of the livewell.  I have a net with a longer handle and it is quite east to remove baits that are in there.  

Dupree,
I do a lot of diving, so have an obstruction like an above deck livewell just does not work.

Koz,
I only have one one in the livewell that I drilled to drain it.  I have a garden style spicket nozzle that I open and close to allow water to come in while I am sitting still.

I guess it is back to the drawing boards.

[RickK]

Don't give up - someone will pop up with the answer.  Has to be some other bigger CCPs that have the same setup.
BTW, do you have a raw water washdown?  If not maybe you can Tee off the clamshell to a washdown pump and the other way to the wellpump?

[ldeal]

Rick,

I do not have a washdown but getting the water into the livewell is not a problem.  It is getting it out before the water overflows into the livewell.  The is a 1/4" gap at the top of the livewell that flows into the bilge.  I will try to get some pictures to explain what I am talking about.  Thanks

[RickK]

I do not have a washdown but getting the water into the livewell is not a problem.

You'd really like a raw water washdown - buy the Johnson pump 5gpm, they're awesome.

It is getting it out before the water overflows into the livewell.  The is a 1/4" gap at the top of the livewell that flows into the bilge.  I will try to get some pictures to explain what I am talking about.  Thanks

You probaly meant before it overflows into the bilge.
I guess the engineers didn't think dead bait and stuff like that would affect anything in the bilge - wouldn't plug up anything down there    What's that smell? :colors: