What is a live well on a boat?
Apr 04, 2017 · April 4, 2017. If you’re looking at a new fishing boat, you should know what to look for in a livewell. Livewells are more important to some anglers than others, and they’re also more or less important to different boat-builders. Where the boats are built and what types of anglers they cater to makes a big difference in just how much emphasis a builder puts into designing …
What is an A livewell?
A livewell is a tank found on many fishing boats that is used to keep bait and caught fish alive. It works by pumping fresh water from the surrounding …
How does an aerated livewell work on a boat?
What is a live well? Livewells are tanks found on many fishing boats, deck boats, and pontoons that are used to keep bait and caught fish alive. It works by pumping fresh water from the lake you are boating on into the tank and then back out. This flow of water keeps the water fresh and oxygenated, allowing fish to breath properly.
How do I Check my Boat’s livewell?
Newer bass boats come with systems that introduce oxygenated water into the livewell. A popular choice is the Oxygenator Pro Livewell Flush Mount. It introduces super-saturated oxygen to the livewell, can be retrofitted to most boats, and operates without a switch.
Do you need a livewell in a boat?
A livewell means a hole or holes in the boat that have at least one of them below the water line. Many livewells, when they overflow, actually overflow into the bilge that needs to be pumped out. I suggest that most folks will automatically say that they must have the livewell or livewell in their boat.Jun 20, 2011
How does a livewell get water?
Most livewells bring in lake water via a livewell pump then it over flows back into the lake.May 18, 2006
Can a livewell sink a boat?
As mentioned, livewells/baitwells are notorious for sinking boats. I tore mine out and permanently plugged them. Another thing is overloading the stern of a boat.Jul 15, 2014
How do you empty a livewell on a boat?
If you think it may be plugged, just take a hose and hold it up to the intake hole at the back of the boat and force water through the system to flush out the drain/fill hose into the livewell. If the water goes in it should come out.Apr 10, 2019
What are Livewells used for?
A livewell is an aerated tank in the boat, similar to an aquarium, that holds fish in water until weigh-in time so that they have a better chance of survival when released. The best livewells are big enough to hold a lot of water, enough water for the fish to remain upright and have some room to move about.
What is the point of a livewell?
A livewell is a tank found on many fishing boats that is used to keep bait and caught fish alive. It works by pumping fresh water from the surrounding body into the tank, as well as keeping the water aerated.
What are the holes on the side of my boat for?
A limber hole is a drain hole through a frame or other structural member of a boat designed to prevent water from accumulating against one side of the frame, and allowing it to drain toward the bilge. Limber holes are common in the bilges of wooden boats.
Is water in a boat bilge normal?
This is normal and should not be a cause for concern as long as the water does not keep entering the boat. As long as the bilge pump is not running often, the amount of water in the bilge should be safe.Jun 30, 2020
Why is my livewell not pumping water?
If you hear the pump running, it may be worn out, and unable to pump water because the impeller is too worn. Just to be sure, check and make sure there's no crossover switch that's on recirculate, instead of auto fill. There might also be some debris in the pump. They are easy to remove and check.Oct 31, 2011
What is a bilge on a boat?
The bilge /bɪldʒ/ of a ship or boat is the part of the hull that would rest on the ground if the vessel were unsupported by water. The "turn of the bilge" is the transition from the bottom of a hull to the sides of a hull.
How do you keep water out of Livewells?
Put expansion plugs in the holes on the outside of the boat for both the livewell fill or the pump as well as the livewell drain. Plug the holes from the outside and you will be good to go.Jul 16, 2017
How does the aerator work on a boat?
Aerator - In a livewell system, the aerator is an electric pump that brings water from outside the boat into the livewell, then mixes air with the flow of water to increase the oxygen mix and help keep fish or bait alive and healthy.
How does a livewell work?
It works by pumping fresh water from the lake you are boating on into the tank and then back out. This flow of water keeps the water fresh and oxygenated, allowing fish to breath properly.
How to check if a livewell is leaking?
Plug your drain and fill your livewell with water. If the water level doesn’t stay where you left it, you have a leak. Unless you’re dealing with some major temperature issues the lining of your livewell is rarely a problem. The most common place for a leak is around the seams. The next place to check is your hoses.
Why is it important to clean a livewell filter?
Keeping your livewell’s filter clean is priority #1. Clean your livewell each time you use it to prevent stones, scales, and… whatever else comes out of your catch from clogging your drain and aerator . Keeping the flow going will keep your water clean and safe for your catch.
Why is my Legend boat's livewell clogged?
This happens when water pours in faster than it drains. Either your pump is working harder than it should, or your drain is clogged. Your Legend Boats’ livewell comes equipped with a flow adjustment to control how much water pumps in. Turn this down to the desired level if you find your livewell overflowing. If overflow continues, your next inspection is the drain. If you have fish in your livewell often their scales and waste will add up and start causing clogs, which is why it’s important to clean it often.
How to keep fish water clean?
Keeping the flow going will keep your water clean and safe for your catch. Keep a thermometer in your livewell. A sudden, drastic change in temperature will shock your fish. You’re going to want to put in some effort to maintain an even water temperature.
Why do we take the water from the lake and deliver it to the live well?
We take the water from the lake and deliver it your live well because that’s the water your fish just came out of. Well, that’s not exactly true. Most of the fish you reel in are going to come from deep down where the water is much cooler. Consider adding a little bit of ice to your live well to help match the temperature your fish just came from.
How does an aerator work?
The aerator agitates the water to stimulate the oxygen in the water. The amount of water going into the well needs to be regulated. There is a flow adjustment tap that makes sure enough water is coming in, but not so much that it creates a current or overflows the well. There’s also an overflow drain to help with this.
How long does a livewell last?
As a guide, a typical 8-pound bag of ice cools a 30-gallon livewell by 10 degrees for about three hours. On long hot days you can store bagged ice in a soft sided cooler.
How to keep bass warm in livewell?
You chill your drinks to keep hydrated, and tournament bass can also benefit from ice added to the livewell. Ice cools the water and slows fish metabolism. Cooler water holds more oxygen, and slower metabolic rates reduce oxygen demand and waste production, a win-win for you and the fish. Add ice when water surface temperatures are above 75 degrees. Keep the livewell temperatures no more than 10 degrees below the ambient surface temperature of the lake. As a guide, a typical 8-pound bag of ice cools a 30-gallon livewell by 10 degrees for about three hours. On long hot days you can store bagged ice in a soft sided cooler. Use a floating aquarium thermometer to monitor temperatures.
What to do after weigh in?
Following the weigh in make sure to completely discharge all water from the livewell. Don’t stop there. Inspect the inside of the livewell and remove any dead or alive baitfish, crawfish and weed filaments. This is important if you're living in states with laws about the illegal transportation of invasive aquatic species.
Can livewell be used on fish?
How you can play your part is using livewell additives. Those products are available at retail with a word of caution. Not all are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use on fish that may be treated and released, and possibly eaten by humans.
What is a livewell for offshore fishing?
Serious offshore anglers swear by pressurized livewells, which are filled all the way to the lid. The topped-up well prevents the water sloshing in rough conditions, which keeps baits from getting beaten up. A gasketed lid and well-designed drainage system keep the well from overflowing into the cockpit.
Why do you need LED lights in a well?
LED lights mounted inside a well can be a huge help in checking to make sure the bait is healthy, as well as making it easier to catch them with a dipnet (less blind dipping means less beaten-up bait). Lights should be turned off when not needed -- dark wells seem to make most bait happier.
How much does water weigh in a gallon?
Just remember, water weighs about 8.3 pounds per gallon (easy to remember: 1 kg per liter), so if you put a 100 gallon tank in the back of your 25-foot CC and fill it, you may find the boat no longer wants to get on plane.
What baits are used for blue marlin?
Offshore baits range from 4” (.10 m) scaled sardines, aka pilchards, on Florida's east coast, to 10-pound (4.53 kg) bonito or blackfin tuna that are sometimes towed for blue marlin. Blue runners, goggle-eyes, mullet, and menhaden (also called pogies or bunker) all have their fans. Anglers fishing for mako and bluefin tuna along ...
Does salt water help fish?
There's evidence that some chemical salts added to a saltwater well can protect the slime coat of the fish as well as reducing stress . Some, like Pogey-Saver, also advertise that they cut ammonia in the water and reduce the impact of chlorine in ice added to the well.
Can you use bleach to clean a well?
They certainly help make the well smell better after use, and are safe for a wash-out, which many cleaners are not. (Never use bleach to clean out a well -- even the slightest amount left in a line or pump can wipe out a whole day's fishing.)
What is a tuna tube?
-- or even up to 20 -- it's clear that a special livewell is called for. Tuna tubes are vertical tubes designed to hold the large bonito and tuna that make prime bait for blue marlin, bluefin tuna, and other giant offshore fish.
What is a livewell for bass?
Livewells. Most bass boat livewells are designed for largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, not for bait. Tournament rules require fish to be delivered to weigh-in alive or the competitor loses points, so keeping the fish lively can mean thousands of dollars won or lost -- to say nothing of the conservation aspect.
What is the importance of belowdecks on bass boats?
While the gleaming gelcoats, racing-style seats and high-horsepower outboards of modern bass boats attract the attention in showrooms, it's what's belowdecks that's most important to serious tournament anglers, and there's no part of the boat more important to them than the “livewell.”
How does a bass boat work?
Recirculation. Most bass boats also have the capability of "recirculating" the water that's pumped into the well, with a eration, which allows the boat to be run at high speed or hauled on a trailer without losing the water in the well. It also allows keeping poor-quality water outside the well when the boat pulls into an enclosed harbor where spilled fuel, high temperatures, or low oxygen levels are likely. This flow is controlled from a remote switch, with an adjustable timer that allows the aerator pump to run intermittently.
What is a well divider?
Well Dividers. Bass wells often have a removable divider that allows separating the fish in the well, useful in some tournaments where a second angler sits aft and fishes for separate prizes against other rear-seaters. The divider is normally removed if no second angler is competing, allowing more room for a single limit of fish and adding survivability.
Why do fish need cooler water?
Biologists tell us that cooler water reduces the metabolic rate of fish, and it also holds more oxygen than warmer water . By cooling the water in a livewell, anglers can improve survival of fish. Filling the well first thing in the morning when the water is coolest is always a good idea. And on hot afternoons, adding ice to the well may be essential.
Why is well care important?
Well care can also be important. The slime and excretions of the fish, as well as regurgitated food, not uncommon when they're stressed in captivity, can turn livewells into bacteria farms harmful to fish and bait.
Can you use bleach in a well?
A few drops of bio-degradable soap can help get rid of odors, but be sure to rinse repeatedly to get out all traces of the soap before you use the well next time. Using bleach in the well is risky -- even when rinsed repeatedly, traces of the chlorine can kill sensitive species.
What is a livewell?
A livewell is like a cooler with aerated water. And fish like aerated water. And that is the very first and important function of a livewell. It takes water from the adjacent spaces and fills the livewell. Due to the aerated water in the chamber, the fish and bait don’t die out and stay fresh for longer periods of time.
What is the main force behind the workings of a livewell system?
The livewell pump is the main force behind the workings of a livewell system. It is the thing that keeps the circulation of water from the livewell to an outward system. In short, it circulates water throughout the system to keep the bait alive.
How does air bubbles work?
An air bubble as it passes through water has the ability to put oxygen into the water and also absorb CO2 as it passes slowly to the surface. The bubble then pops at the surface and the CO2 is dissipated into the atmosphere. The smaller the bubble, the longer it remains in the water to exchange oxygen and CO2.
How does a spray bar aerator work?
Spray bar aerators add oxygen to the water by jetting small streams of water into the surface. Some air is absorbed into the spray as it passes from the spray bar to the water surface, and when the spray strikes the water surface, air bubbles are injected into the water.
What is a diffuser made of?
Diffusers are made of ceramic with tightly formed pores. They require 25 to 35 lbs of pressure to force the oxygen through ceramic pores, resulting in micro-fine bubbles. The bubbles are so small that they stay suspended in the water and the water absorbs the oxygen. Ceramic diffusers will give many years of service.
Does oxygen help fish?
Knowing the importance of air bubble size, the effectiveness of different aerator systems becomes readily apparent! Oxygen will maintain higher quantities of fish, but extra care must be taken when using pure oxygen. To understand the fundamentals or air versus oxygen, you need to know about both.