Looking at putting a livewell in my jon boat and was wondering if there would be a way to make it draw in freshwater vs recirculating current water. I’m looking at getting one of the round 23 gallon ones made by Moeller. My main goal is to be able to keep mullet and menhaden alive. Any advice is appreciated, Thanks!
17’ Mako
16’ Alumacraft
Is there already a well or water intake in the boat? Maybe you could just T off of it with a valve and hose to a small livewell pump. If nothing is there to utilize maybe you could just hang a hose with a screen on it over the railing and keep new water pumped in but not sure what to do about the overflow unless you can let it go to the bilge. Otherwise you would have to plumb it out of the boat as well… You probably have a ton of options here and just need to decide on how you want to go about it and how permanent you want it to be. Even if made removable all you would have to do is use a few small brass quarter turn valves.
Fishing Nerd
“skilled labor isn’t cheap, cheap labor isn’t skilled”
I added a removable livewell to my HenryO years ago. Used a Rule livewell pump that came with a transom mount (https://www.westmarine.com/buy/rule-industries--transom-mount-livewell-pumps--P011_330_001_519?recordNum=2) and turned an old cooler into a great livewell. Easy to put in/take out of the boat maintains the boats flexibility. The transom mount doubles as an intake screen and when on a plane it pushes water into the well without running the pump. It is a little expensive at West Marine. Could probably find it cheaper elsewhere.
TH Marine and others make the livewell inlet that lets you control flow and cut it completely off if/when you don’t want it.
17’ Henry O Hornet w/ Johnson 88 spl
26’ Palmer Scott project hull
14’ Bentz-Craft w/ Yamaha 25
quote:
Originally posted by PalmerScottI added a removable livewell to my HenryO years ago. Used a Rule livewell pump that came with a transom mount (https://www.westmarine.com/buy/rule-industries--transom-mount-livewell-pumps--P011_330_001_519?recordNum=2) and turned an old cooler into a great livewell. Easy to put in/take out of the boat maintains the boats flexibility. The transom mount doubles as an intake screen and when on a plane it pushes water into the well without running the pump. It is a little expensive at West Marine. Could probably find it cheaper elsewhere.
TH Marine and others make the livewell inlet that lets you control flow and cut it completely off if/when you don’t want it.
BTW, if you’re going to keep menhaden alive, you’ll need as large a tank as you can get and as much water flow as possible without beating them to death (literally) with flow. They produce epic amounts of fecal material and foul their water badly/quickly. Rapid water turn over in the tank is a MUST.
17’ Henry O Hornet w/ Johnson 88 spl
26’ Palmer Scott project hull
14’ Bentz-Craft w/ Yamaha 25
Great advice! Go round on the well for menhaden.
Fishing Nerd
“skilled labor isn’t cheap, cheap labor isn’t skilled”
self priming pump unless you plan to drill holes or hang the pump over the side.