73' 222... What size lean post/livewell???

[Poon-Time]

I have a 1973 222 that I will be restoring very shortly.  I am trying to get all the info needed before I proceed with the transformation.  I will be shifting the fuel cell and console as far forward as possible and adding a tower.

My question that I keep tossing around is what size gallon livewell to put in the boat.  The leaning post/livewell that I am considering is 30 gallons.  I don't want to add to much weight to the rear of the boat and think that a 50 gallon would just be to much weight.  I like the style that Frank Chunn put into his rebuild not the Dorado type.  



Somebody please give me some input about whether 50 gallons is to heavy??  Also, I have found one that I like to some degree but not yet sold 100%.  Does anybody have any suggestions as to where I can find some of these units?

[Pat Green]

Sir, I would be concerned about adding 50 gallons of weight.  A gallon of water is 8.33lbsx50=416lbs and salt water is heavier.  The only people around here that use livewells are tournament fisherman. If I am lucky enough to catch fish, I put em on ice and clean later. I am not trying to make light of your situation, but is it really necessary to keep them alive?  Also moving the console too far forward could be dangerous. I got into a fast out going tide with wind to my stern that was causing big swells and fell into a trough . The bow penetrated the next wave and I took water over the top, swamping the deck.  If the engine would have died, I would have been in a serious bind.  May I suggest bolting the console down where you think you want it with screws or bolts on four corners and try a test run before you mount it permanently?   You may also find that the boat will throw a lot of spray over the bow.  Trying to be helpful, Pat Green

[Poon-Time]

Pat, thanks for the response.  Let me start by stating I will not be doing the rebuild.  Tommy @ Hammerhead in Tampa has rebuilt countless 222's for alot of the forum members and he has vast experience in weight distribution.  I would not attempt to do any of this as I would probably do exactly what you are describing.    The reason I have to move the console and fuel cell forward is because I am enclosing the transom and adding a porta bracket and hanging a heavy 200hp on the back.  If I do not the boat will sit ass heavy in the back.  So, you can see my dilema with the bait well.  

This will be a baitwell not a release well.  I do not fish tournaments so I do not care about the release well.  I just want as big of a baitwell as possible without adding to much more weight to the aft part of the boat.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this???

Mike

[captflatback]

This is my 68 floating with a 45 gal well full of water and bait and my big (you know) in the back and 2 other guys full of fuel 65 gals. and i have no problem floating in 11 inchs of water and comes out of the hole great. My gas tank, cc, and livewell was all moved foward as far as we wanted to move them from the original spot. The boat floats pretty even in the water when no one is in it. I just moved the 2 trolling motor batt forward to my front deck and i'll be curious to see what it does.


Thanks
Capt. Jim Lemke
www.lighttackleadventures.com
813-917-4989

[Poon-Time]

Hey Capt,  that is one sweet ride!!!!  I saw your pics in the gallery!  I just hope mine comes out like that.    I wasn't sure about the 50 gallon well but your's seems to float real nice.  I want to stay with more of a lean post however and am afraid of the extra weight with the glass that if I had 50 gallons it just may be to much.

What size Honda do you have on her?  What is the weight?

If you have anymore pics of her I'd love to see them.

Mike

[Anonymous]

Mike, I just purchased a 40gal leaning post livewell combination from C&M Marine Products in Plantation Fl.  It's a very nice unit and fits on my deck perfect.  I think I will be fine with the weight since I plan on having three different size removable stand pipes to regulate how much water will be in the tank based on how much bait.  I don't think anyone fills these tanks to the top also.  Sounds like I'm building the same boat you are. Good luck.

[captflatback]

It's a 05 150hp Honda and im running a 15 1/4 x 16p vented power tech im looking for a 17p MERCURY MIRAGE PLUS PROPELLER in RH i have a lh if someone needs one. I will take more photos next week when i run her.

Thanks
Capt. Jim Lemke
www.lighttackleadventures.com
813-917-4989

[Poon-Time]

Capt., yeah when you get the photo's post them up.  I can't wait to see em.

[Pat Green]

I am sorry, guys, but I am at a total loss. I never thought that the fishing in Florida was that different from the Texas coast. When Poon Time asked about a 50 gal. live well, I was amazed. I, honestly could put all the fish I ever caught in a tank that size.  Down here, if it will not hit a mirrolure, then we use shrimp. I have a 48qt Igloo with an aerator from Wall Mart for a total investment of $40. What are you guys fishing for and what bait are you using(lobsters?baby sharks?) Pat

[RickK]

I am sorry, guys, but I am at a total loss. I never thought that the fishing in Florida was that different from the Texas coast. When Poon Time asked about a 50 gal. live well, I was amazed. I, honestly could put all the fish I ever caught in a tank that size.  Down here, if it will not hit a mirrolure, then we use shrimp. I have a 48qt Igloo with an aerator from Wall Mart for a total investment of $40. What are you guys fishing for and what bait are you using(lobsters?baby sharks?) Pat

I think they're talking a baitwell when they say "livewell" - not for storing the fish they caught.  If you use too small of a "livewell" the bait dies, the baitwell is usually round or has rounded corners so the bait don't huddle in the corners and die too.  Capt Lemke can add to this I'm sure, since he uses his everyday.

[John Jones]

Pat,
Rick nailed it.  The only "livewell" fishermen I know of are bass or redfish tournament fishermen.  Live bait is very big here.  You will not find many inshore fishermen that do not have a castnet or three in the boat.  Most common are threadfin herring,  shad, scaled sardines, finger mullet, or pinfish.  Many, especially snook fishermen, even chum with live bait.  It's not uncommon here for guys to spend the first two hours finding/catching bait.  Even offshore bottom diggers here really hate to go out without a well full of pinfish for grouper and snapper.  Bluwater trollers for sails and kingfish are the same, just different baitfish.  Shrimp are not always available here, especially in the summer.  Artificials work as well here as they do anywhere else but there is nothing like having the confidence of 200 live baitfish swimming in the boat.

I just installed a 25 gallon round tank in my 22-2.  Gotta have live bait for tarpon fishing, right captflatback?  

[Pat Green]

Guys, I've been called a hick from south Texas all my life and I have denied, denied, denied.  But, after reading about your livewell/baitwells, I realized that I have fried up some of the stuff yall use for bait!! I call it quits after two hours and go home and have a beer!!  Pat Green

[JimCt]

Pat, you are not alone.  I sometimes buy frozen squid for bait and after my usual non-productive day of fishing I fry the squid up in butter, garlic & a little wine.  Now if I could find a good recipe for bloodworms & mummies....

[Reel sailfish]

Pat,
Rick nailed it.  The only "livewell" fishermen I know of are bass or redfish tournament fishermen.  Live bait is very big here.  You will not find many inshore fishermen that do not have a castnet or three in the boat.  Most common are threadfin herring,  shad, scaled sardines, finger mullet, or pinfish.  Many, especially snook fishermen, even chum with live bait.  It's not uncommon here for guys to spend the first two hours finding/catching bait.  Even offshore bottom diggers here really hate to go out without a well full of pinfish for grouper and snapper.  Bluwater trollers for sails and kingfish are the same, just different baitfish.  Shrimp are not always available here, especially in the summer.  Artificials work as well here as they do anywhere else but there is nothing like having the confidence of 200 live baitfish swimming in the boat.


I just installed a 25 gallon round tank in my 22-2.  Gotta have live bait for tarpon fishing, right captflatback?   <!-- s:wink: --><!-- s:wink: -->

Do you have any pics of your livewell you installed? I'm trying to figure out a setup for my 22-2 ccp... Need to be ready for the sailfish!

[Capt. Bob]

JJ hasn't been on site for several years.
There are other setups we can find.

I had a small (17 gal) on my CCP. I still use it on my 21 WAC. On the CCP, it was mounted on the full platform I ran on that hull. I'll search around and see what I can find.