Livewell repairs and weight distribution

[Rex]

I have a 1984 20' Seacraft. The boat has been painted inside and out (quite poorly I might add) and quite a few modifications have been made. I am not sure of the original configurartion of the livewell just aft of the leaning post. Now, it can be lifted out. Someone lined the topside of the livewell with strips of teak. When you lower the livewell into place, the teak strips are what keeps the livewell from falling into the bilge. My problem is that whenever I use the livewell, the water naturally sloshes around and when it reaches the top of the livewell under the lid, it runs around the teak and leaks straight into the bilge. Should the livewell be more permanently installed and caulked into place?
Also, my boat seems to be a little bow heavy. The tank has been replaced with a 65 gallon tank that is installed rather far forward. The aft end of the tank is about 12" forward of the livewell but extgends 93" forward. Also, my batteries are under the console and I intend to move them into the storage boxes on either side of the motor. Any other suggestions on giving me a little more bow lift? The boat is very wet in a following sea because it is so bow heavy.

[FELLOW-SHIP]

HA REX
I DON’T KNOW TO MUCH ABOUT THE 20’ LIVE WELL BUT I DO KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE 23’ LIVE WELL. I REMOVED MINE AND BUILT ANOTHER AND MOVED IT FORWARD BY 2’. I KNOW YOU COULDN’T DO THAT WITH YOUR BOAT BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE A MAJOR PROJECT ON YOUR HANDS. THINGS LIKE THAT CAN CAUSE LOTS OF WATER TO SEEP INTO THE BILGE AND SINK YOUR BOAT OR UNDER MIND THE INTEGRITY OF YOUR DECK OR STRINGERS. IF I WERE YOU I WOULD START FROM SCRATCH AND FIX IT WRIGHT. EVEN IF THAT MEANT YOU NEEDED TO HAVE A NEW TANK FABRICATED AND GLASSED IN.
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