Livewells filling up on their own?

[fishlakeman]

I'm not sure if this is normal or not. Whenever I put my boat in the water, both livewells fill up about 1/2 way. The water comes up through the drains. It seems this is a lot of unecessary weight to be lugging around until I get a keeper or two. I have a 04' 18 foot explorer (as some of you know ) and my friend has a 03' Rebel that does the same thing. Just wondering if any of you have the same thing happen on your boats?

[zebco4040]

I would think that due to the way the livewell sits below the water it would fill up to that level, especaiily if the boat is sitting or at trolling speed. I would bet at plain the boat would loose all that water.

It does seem weird though.

[Surface Tension]

Yep shes going to fill part way if the drain plug is out.

[fishlakeman]

exactly my thinking, it makes sense why it's filling up, and yes it fills up to about water level, but I don't understand why they would do this? Unless there is a one way valve thats stuck on both of my drains?? I'd guess between the 2 livewells, there's 20-25 gallons of water in there. Thats an extra 88-110 pounds (If my memory serves me correctly? 4.4 lbs in a gal of H2O?)

[Slyster]

"A pints a pound the world around"... 8 pints in a gallon so a gallon weights 8 Lbs even.

[fishlakeman]

Thanks for the correction, I've taken so many chemistry classes that I can't remember the simple things. (thats what you get for majoring in mechanical engineering.)

[fiskyknut]

Hmmmm, perhaps flying over those 4-5 footers at 40+ miles per hour has broken something?!?!?! Sorry fishlakeman I could'nt help myself! Surface tension has your answer, and I'm just funnin you a bit.

Regards.....fiskyknut

[fishlakeman]

haha fisky, good one! LMAO. I deserved that one. The plugs that came with the livewell are basically a pvc tube that fits in the hole, water still comes in with those in. even with the tube above the water line? I guess I'll go buy some extra transom plugs to stop the water from coming in.

[fiskyknut]

Well I don't know if you deserved it but I thought it might get a chuckle. I figure you were maybe half expecting a reply of such nature anyways. You know if you ever make it up here to the LOTW I would love to jump in your boat, man oh man the way you drive we'd get out way accros the lake in no time in any kinda weather eh!

Have a good one.....fiskyknut

[TiredOfWorking]

I have a '03 Explorer and that is normal. Just put a transom plug in both of them and they will stay dry. I leave a transom plug in the rear livewell permanently and have the aerator valve closed tight. I don't need two livewells, so I use the rear livewell as a storage locker.

[Northlander]

Also works great as a cooler! I seldom use my rear well either. At times I will use it for minnows and leeches in the new mesh keeper bags.

[marine_man]

Quote:

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The plugs that came with the livewell are basically a pvc tube that fits in the hole, water still comes in with those in.

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A transom drain plug should do the trick.. but I question you on this one... how does that water come in? It flows through the PVC tube (which also acts as the overflow drain)? That overflow drain should be above the water level in the lake while you are in the boat.. unless you're sinking of course ... or have a really, really heavy load in...

Is the water just coming out around the bottom of the tube, or what?

marine_man

[fishlakeman]

Well. now I feel like an (Contact US Regarding This Word) for asking this question. I guess I didn't really look into it too heavily and thought I might as well ask. I took it out yesterday and joint where the tube enters the hole is where I'm gettting the water coming in. After 10 min, it was up to water level. I just wrapped some electrical tape around the shaft to give me a better fit, and I'm going to go buy another extra transom plug.

I too use one of those mesh bags for minnows and they are worth their weight in gold! It is so nice to to not have to drag in the flow troll and get your minnows. Plus, I think they do a better job of keeping them alive anyway.