Live wells

[fmaster360]

Ok, I figured out the way my live well is set up, but it's ghetto rigged to say the least.  my question, is once I get this thing wired right, is it supposed to run constantly, or do I run it for a bit, turn it off, and so on?

[Capt. Bob]

I not sure how your well is set up or the way you use it but there are many (maybe all except one) who subscribe to the idea that you turn on your pump as soon as you splash your boat and turn it off just before you pull out the trailer. Keeps bait livelier especially when the well is empty and doesn't harm the pump.

I don't use live bait every trip so I fall into the one. In the same vein, I use the motion of the boat moving through the water to fill, maintain and circulate the water in the well, turning on the pump when at rest. Yes it means that you have one more thing to think about while on the high seas. Oh well, I still remember to wipe my backsides after my morning constitution and flippin' the live well pump switch off and on is my guard against Alzheimer's.

Remember, it's not that you forget to turn on the pump but rather forgetting what the bait does.  

Sad but true. :(

At the end of the day, personal choice really. Just choose which drum beat you feel like marching to...

God luck.

[Blue Agave]

Do you want live bait or dead bait?

[GoneFission]

You could always get a livewell timer - the bass tourney guys all use these - dead fish don't count at the end of the day:

http://www.basspro.com/Livewell-Aerator ... 908/132780

[fmaster360]

That's a great idea! I didn't know there was a timer like that. Am I going to be ok using the pump, or do I need an aerator too? I don't really think I'm going to be using the live well THAT often, so I'd rather save the cash from the aerator and just replace the pump from wearing out more often. I'm good with wiring, but I can't figure out how in the hell I'm supposed to run the wire from the pump to the console to the switch. There doesn't seem like enough access ports to get below there and run this wire. The pump, on a side note, is just sitting on the hull on the boat. Does that matter, or should I mount it to the transom on the inside of the closed off hull area? That's another thing I'm not really sure how to get access to. So much I want to do to this thing, and so little time. It's going to take me two days just to polish the boat, a couple hours for the Garmin, now the install of a fish well pump with all the wiring, and wiring of the existing live well.

On a side note, the live well, has that tube going into the bottom and sticking in. Something is leaking, because the pump literally has to run continuously for the water to not drop. Do I just need another one of those tubes? I kind of need one anyway, because the screen part on the top that prevents the fish from leaving through said tube.

[Circle Hooked]

I'm of the theory that if you have a steady flow of fresh water going into the livewell you don't need an aerator.

Post some pics of your setup and maybe we can help more.

[gran398]

Hi Carl,

Think you'll find a lot of answers to your questions in the "Discussion" forum. From the top, threads #13 and 14 are both devoted to livewells.

Check it out, best wishes

[Capt Matt]

A timer is a good thing if you are shrimp fishing or carrying very little bait. Otherwise let the pump run
Capt matt

[Skoot]

Tell you the truth, Ive never thought about it before.  If I have 1 or 100 pieces of bait in the well, the pump is continually running.

Let'er Run!

[fmaster360]

You ever worry about the boat battery? How long can it run the pump? Are you charging the boat batteries or just letting the motor charge them while underway?

[gran398]

Batt drainage is not an issue...unless your alternator isn't working.

Most draw less than 2 amps


http://www.depcopump.com/catalog108/23.pdf

[Skoot]

You ever worry about the boat battery? How long can it run the pump? Are you charging the boat batteries or just letting the motor charge them while underway?

Nope, Never. When I go fishing, my livewell pump is on all day long. As gran stated these pumps draw very little amps.  The only thing I worry about is my pump accidentally shutting off/malfunctioning and my bait dying.  As for charging, I charge my dual purpose battery(plural) after every trip and/or the night before Im going out.

[GoneFission]

Batt drainage is not an issue...unless your alternator isn't working.

Most draw less than 2 amps
http://www.depcopump.com/catalog108/23.pdf

Unless you've got an older outboard that charges off the stator and only puts out about 8-10 amps max - then that 2 amps makes a difference!  Most newer motors with auto-type alternators put out 40-60 amps - no problem there - but my old Black Max does 10 amps total on a good day at speed - less at idle, so I am actually slightly draining the batteries when trolling with a depth finder, gps, radio, and livewell pump running.   :(   But another reason to have 3 batts on board, with one fully isolated...  

[wingtime]

I ran my live well pump for seven hours straight yesterday.  But I was trolling so the engine was running all day too.  My pump draws 8 amps!     So if I'm at anchor with the motor off I have to keep and eye on how long I run the pump and manage my batteries wisely!  As mentioned you need to know what your outboards charging system is rated at.

[Capt. Bob]

Batt drainage is not an issue...unless your alternator isn't working.

Most draw less than 2 amps
http://www.depcopump.com/catalog108/23.pdf

Unless you've got an older outboard that charges off the stator and only puts out about 8-10 amps max - then that 2 amps makes a difference!  Most newer motors with auto-type alternators put out 40-60 amps - no problem there - but my old Black Max does 10 amps total on a good day at speed - less at idle, so I am actually slightly draining the batteries when trolling with a depth finder, gps, radio, and livewell pump running.   :(   But another reason to have 3 batts on board, with one fully isolated...  

Take this a step further.
What's the present condition (think age/size) of you battery(s)? Even if they get a proper charge, can they retain and use it fully.
SOP for battery needs always takes drainage, no matter the source, into account. Just look at the scores of threads on this Forum alone touting LED lighting. So if your battery is on the "down side of 30", you may want to look at fishing with "Gulp" baits until Christmas or your birthday (whichever comes first) unless you are looking to be an extra in this scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXh1tW16 ... re=related

Don't forget to bring some friends.