DIY Livewell

[Musky Plug]

Hey guys,

 

As a spring project I'd like to potentially put a live well in my boat. I have heard/read good things and bad about putting one in and removing some of the flotation foam. I have thought about getting one of the cooler live wells but it would take up to much room in the boat. Just looking for some more input on the subject or if anyone has any experience doing this.

 

I have an aluminum 16' Crestliner Sportsman, with three benches. I would like to put it in the bench in front of the driver seat. The length of the bench where the live well would sit is roughly 60" however the live well itself would be about 36". I can post pics of the boat and what my idea is if they would be any help. Any help or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Edited March 7, 2017 by Musky Plug

[PUMP KNOWS]

[glen]

I got a lid and tub and pump from cabelas it works good but costs a lot.

[misfish]

If Davis can post a pic of the one I put in my 14 ft sylvan years ago, you would get an idea.

 

I had an aluminum box welded up, that I slipped it right into the middle bench.

[mike rousseau]

Do you do tournaments where you need to keep fish alive?

 

If not then no need for a well

 

We use a stringer in dads boat and it does just fine

 

My buddy uses a soft cooler bag and 1-2 frozen 2 litre bottles without concern

 

Don't get me wrong I love my livewell... but it's not nessesaru for everyone

[Musky Plug]

I got a lid and tub and pump from cabelas it works good but costs a lot.

 

I also found a pre-fab live well on the cabbalas site unfortunately it won't work for my boat.

 

 

 

 

 

If Davis can post a pic of the one I put in my 14 ft sylvan years ago, you would get an idea.

 

I had an aluminum box welded up, that I slipped it right into the middle bench.

 

 

Yes, that's kinda the same idea I'm looking for. Just a drop in. Do you have a pump and aerator as well?

 

 

 

 

Do you do tournaments where you need to keep fish alive?

 

If not then no need for a well

 

We use a stringer in dads boat and it does just fine

 

My buddy uses a soft cooler bag and 1-2 frozen 2 litre bottles without concern

 

Don't get me wrong I love my livewell... but it's not nessesaru for everyone

 

 

Ya i understand and no tournaments in the forseeable future, but not ruling it out. I currently use stringers now, but looking for an upgrade because I'm probably going to have this boat for a while.

[206]

I use a cooler in my tinny, works mint for the lil tourny's i enter or to save a few fish for pictures later. I'm interested in after market LW that could be plumbed into the boat I'll be following this thread for info lol

 

 

[dave524]

Do you do tournaments where you need to keep fish alive?

 

If not then no need for a well

 

We use a stringer in dads boat and it does just fine

 

My buddy uses a soft cooler bag and 1-2 frozen 2 litre bottles without concern

 

Don't get me wrong I love my livewell... but it's not nessesaru for everyone

 

I find a good cooler with a couple of ice pacs keep the fish in the best shape, I mostly troll so a stringer is not a good option and water near the surface is warm. Yeah I had a nice square welded aluminum live well that was a bench seat in my centre console, 20 plus years, never used it as such , plugged the exterior hull holes and used it for tackle storage.

 

Edit : Costco has a nice cooler bag with their Logo on it cheap

Edited March 8, 2017 by dave524