Question about the in deck live well in a 20 SF

[Windsors]

I am looking at a 1975 20SF sometime this week. It has the in deck live well and I have searched for issues with this well but haven't found too much other than a few have reported flooding due to the water level being higher than the deck top.

I would think that the well is a problem given the weight sensitivity aft in these boats.

I also read that there is no seacock to cut the feed of water off.

To me, I would cut off all water to this and try to find a hatch that would fit to keep deck water out of it and make it a storage.

I am sure there are a lot of thoughts out there in this forum.

I appreciate any help.

Bill

[Windsors]

I will ask it another way...

For those with the 20 SF .that still has an in deck livewell... how is it operating ?

Or what changes, other than removal, have you made to it to make it more functional ?

Thanks, Bill

[bibijawa]

Mine would always flood the deck. I'm rebuilding my boat now so i'm going to cut it out for better bilge access and just install a fiberglass bait tank in place of a leaning post.

[caper]

I recently sold my 1975 20SF but I had my livewell working. I put a fitting in the drain port leading to a 3 way selector valve to a recirc/aeration pump plumbed back in to the livewell just under the deck. The fixture putting water back in to the livewell had a nozzle that would either recirc to the livewell or pump out the livewell. The selector valve either allowed water from a thru hull in or recirced or pumped out or just drained when out of the water. In no case was the livewell allowed to drain in to the bilge. I had a 175 hp Johnson 2 stroke outboard at 375 lbs. on my boat and never had any issues with wet feet.

[Windsors]

Thanks all.

Caper, the power on the one I am looking at is a Mercury four stroke 115 hp that weighs 380 #'s, so I will have to see how it sits if i get as far as a sea trial.