Rebuild Options

[gata119]

I am just trying to make some decisions on a rebuild before I take the boat to get estimates.

What do you guys think about Hammerhead or Bayside Marine livewells?  Which one is better?  OR...
what do you think about having a custom livewell built into the transom.  I think that would add a lot of weight to the stern and maybe have to move the gas tank forward, but the idea of it seems nice to me.

Engine bracket with a jackplate or a Porta-bracket?  I like the idea of the engine bracket because of the platform to stand on.  Anyone have experience with both to give opinions on it?

Thanks, there might be a lot more questions in the future.  I want to get most of the decisions settled before I get estimates.  Also, I'm sure that during the build there will be options as well that I might need help with.

[RickK]

One of the rules here is that we don't recommend nor defame a vendor.  If you want an "opinion" you need to go to THT or some other site.
We can, however, give some advice via pm if someone chooses to do so.  That by no means is the opinion of this site.
Welcome to the "chilled" side of the web.

[gran398]

What kind of boat?

[Capt Matt]

I bought a hammerhead livewell for my rebuild and was impressed with the quality and simplicity of the set up, I should be able to tell you how much bait it will hold in the next week or so. I painted it to match the color of the hull. On the 24 footer you might be able to get away with a transom livewell or even both set ups.

Plan on moving your fuel tank forward to offset the 31 inch set back bracket if thats what you go with. The porta-bracket with the swim platform is a sweet set up, I opted for the regular 31 inch set back model. With a full transom you would probably need a bracket and a regular jack plate to try to do the same thing as the porta lift and that would not give you close to the vertical lift capacity of the porta product plate.

Capt Matt

[LilRichard]

I too would like to know what boat, but most of the classic AS hulls are sensitive to weight in the rear, so I would personally go for a livewell leaning post setup.  I worked with Tommy because he was helpful in my rebuild (and makes a good product) hence he got my business.

I second Matt's points on the Porta bracket.  Well said.

Good luck!

[gata119]

I have a 240.  I think I am leaning towards keeping the livewell right behind the leaning post.  Although the 240 might be able to handle it, adding a 40 gallon livewell to the transom when full will add approximately 333 lbs to stern of the boat.  That's with just water and no bait.  Then add the setback for the motor and I think I'll be better off just putting the livewell right behind the leaning post.  I also think I like the idea of having the the transom straight across back there rather than have some kind of half moon livewell in the middle.  I appreciate the replies, you got my wheels turning.

[gran398]

Thanks for your other pic..many of us feel the 240 is the queen of the fleet.

Re the livewell. Keep it an oval sit-on-top. Weight distribution mostly...but looks great too.

I'm all about the Tampa style...800 miles due NE.

Sweet ride gata

[seabob4]

Go with the leaning post LW.  Dropping that kind of weight at the stern on a boat that wasn't designed for it...not good.

An interesting aspect I could never figure out.  Lots of people will incorporate a large LW at the transom (read that a lot of weight), and think that they can offset that weight by ballasting forward, as if there is some type of "fulcrum" effect.  No, than the whole boat will just sit lower in the water...unless you REALLY throw a chunk of ballast forward...