73 Tsunami live well

EBEACH · #1 06-13-2005, 12:35 PM

Guys,

I need some suggestions on the live well on my 73 Tsunami I/O. The tank is located just forward of the engine compartment. Going forward from there is the fuel tank and forward of that is the step-down between the helm seats. I think SeaCraft also called it the fish box. My boat has the hatch that covers this step-down area.

The live well is part of the deck itself, and on the port side of the tank, it extends down from the deck to the top of the keelson. On the starboard side, the tank extends down to the hull. With this design, I don’t see how it is possible for water that drains out the two aft corners of the step-down between the helm seats (fish box) to get past this blockage on the starboard side and drain into the bilge area.

Both the motor and the fuel tank are out right now, so this would be the best time to deal with it if I’m to change it at all. I don’t fish with live bait much, and I’m wondering if I should keep it at all? If I cut it out, I could use that area for the batteries or I could just cut off the bottom section and decrease the depth. Any opinions? Jim

ScottM · #2 06-13-2005, 06:15 PM

Jim,
If you're not big into live bait, then cut it out. My father cut his out and uses the added space below deck for storage. If he's fishing herring or macks, then we bring along the Keep Alive tank.

Capt Chuck · #3 06-13-2005, 07:26 PM

Jim

I agree with Scott. Another thought would be to install a 15gal fresh water tank and still have some room for a little storage. You could use the existing plumbing to run the lines to the pump and nozzel.

I would not use the space to store the batteries. Keep them above the deck

EBEACH · #4 06-14-2005, 09:32 AM

Thanks for the replies. I hate to cut it out for the sake of originality, but it is what it is. Not sure how to best use the space when I cut it out. I’ll need to fabricate some type of rain gutter since it doesn’t have one, and anything under there will get wet.

Chuck, I wish I had a place above deck to put batteries, but I don’t have a center console. Maybe I can get them under the fiberglass helm seat box.

Thanks again.

Scott · #5 06-14-2005, 12:54 PM

Hi Jim
If you dont have a reason to cut it out ... like increased fuel ... why not leave it, get rid of the plumbing and use "it " as storage? Then it still is original…
Like you said put a gutter in there to help keep it a bit drier.

EBEACH · #6 06-14-2005, 10:49 PM

Scott, that will still leave me with the blockage problem.

Scott · #7 06-14-2005, 11:34 PM

Missed that some how [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Given that, have you thought about glassing a passageway for the water to go through ...Like a pvc pipe in the bottom of the box?

I have that same problem with the live well in the CC. water builds up forward of where the well is bedded to the hull. I want/would put a hole through the centerline stringer to allow the water to equalize (like the one aft of the livewell) but that might be a bit invlved with the geometry of the hull back there.