Livewell suggestions needed on 200 CCP

[jdupree]

If there is one negative about the CCP'S it is the livewell.  It is less than functional, and has a bad location and pickup design.  

I put in a portable 30 gallon livewell last fall along with a washdown.  We plumed it from the livewell using the existing factory pickup scoop mounted on the transom.  As I guess most of you have figured out, as soon as you get up on plane the transom scoop is out of the water and will not draw.  My second plan was to put a hole in the keel and place a pickup there.  Well, the bildge area is so deep on the CCP, it is basically impossible to access down at the keel to place a pickup.  So, that idea is out.

I am just looking for suggestions on how and where I can put a pickup that will draw when I am on plane.  I had thought about a transom mount aereator but would that even pickup while on plane?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Thanks,

John

[GoneFission]

A piece of 1 inch to 1 1/2 inch PVC on the transom with a 90 degree at the bottom that extends into just beyond the bottom of the boat will give you plenty of flow when the boat is planing.  Use a piece of bilge hose at the top to run to your baitwell.  You can set it up so you can slide it up and down for when you don't  need it.  I mounted one on my swim platform as a temporary deal, cuz I don't fish with bait that often, but it sure worked!  No pump needed - the water pressure from the boat movement is plenty.  

There are a couple pictures in the gallery area of others who have done this - do some browsing and you will probably see them.  

Good luck!

[John Jones]

I could not stand not having bilge access.  I ripped out the existing livewell in my CCP (you will destroy it in the process).  Here are some old in-progress pictures of what I did.  I can now get down into the bilge area if I had to.

This is my standard access now through the old livewell hatch.



If I have to do really serious work, this entire panel will come out with the removal of a few screws.  I added reinforcement around the edges of the large panel and under the panel itself.  I don't have a picture with the large panel out but the red line shows how big it is.


I replaced the captain's chairs with a leaning post and mounted a 30 gal well under the leaning post.  There is just enough room between the deck and gas tank to squeeze in an 1 - 1/2 drain hose from the well to the bilge area.  I installed two of the standard bronze screen scoops in the hull.  A 3/4" for pressurized feed to the livewell pump and a 1" scoop facing backwards to actually suck from the overflow when running.  Without the suction on the overflow the feed line provided more water than the overflow could handle when running.

[jdupree]

GF & JJ,

Thanks for the input.  I will most likely go the PVC route on the transom.  Even if I were to cut out my live well, it is still too deep to reach the bildge area.  The only thing that I can half way access is the bildge pump thru a little hatch but that is it.

I did look at Miguel's in the photo gallery.  I assume that is what we are talking about?  As far as drilling into the transom, I was thinking putting 5200 on the bolts when I screw them in.  Will this be protection enough?

[GoneFission]

If you look at Miguel's setup - it's basically what I was talking about - but I hate drilling holes in the transom.  How about using backing plates like Miguel did (maybe a little bigger), but just using the 5200 as adhesive to glue the plates to the transom, rather than drilling?  If you get the surface nice and clean, I think 5200 will cure out in a couple days and really hold well - and no holes in the transom to provide a route for water and rot.  

Also, leave enough slack on the PVC so you can turn it around backwards as a suction drain like John Jones suggested.  

Good luck and see ya on the water!