'75 Sceptre Livewell ?

[abl1111]

I would like to install a live well in the forward stroage area ( between the helm and passenger seats ). What is the best way to get the 'exiting water' overboard ? In the bilge is not an acceptable option.

Can a hose be run aft and a thru-hull thru the transom give sufficient gravity out ?

Thx.

[Lars Koster]

Are you refering to the center coffin well in the deck. If so the bottom of this is below the water line and gravity will not allow drainage. I have been fighting the livewell solution on my 76' Sceptre and started out with one inside the splash well in front of the outboard. The plumbing was easy in this location however it put too much weight in the aft and made the boat squat. now I bought a polyproplene (Aguaworld) live well that will stand up, on the deck, next to the fuel fill area behind my leaning post/seat on the port side. This unit will also double as a seat if needed. I ran a 3/4" hose from the transom to pump fresh water from the outside. The tank overflow will dump into the gutter drain, port side, and out the back scupper. Not my first choice but also don't want to drill holes in the side of the boat for overflow. This methood can only be acomplished if the fresh water input is metered so that the overflow/ gutter will not crest over.
Since I will not be turning over 100% of the water as fequently as needed to keep many live baits I have also put a re-circulating pump with oxygen infuser on the tank itself. The combo of these 2 should do the trick and the livewell itself is now portable. When not in use, the hose and power is tucked under the port gunnel, out of sight.
Let me know what you decide since this has been a challenge on a Sceptre.
My seating layout may be custom since I have alum. leaning posts/seats in front and todd helm chairs with arm rests behind them facing towards the stern on pedestals.

[abl1111]

Hey Lars.

Yeah, I'm planning to put the live-well in the center 'coffin thing' - or at least a section of it.

I am re-doing a '75 Sceptre and am thinking ahead so I do not have to re-do anything twice. Having a livewell / washdown is such a nice feature ( I installed one in my 20' Grady White and really like the convenience and 'out-of the way-ness'. I would rather not go w/ the poly tank on the deck only because it's another thing to deal with.

Getting the water in the live well is EZ, it's getting it back out and not in the boat at all that is the challenge.

I do have an initial idea, but it seems excessive and a potential battery killer. Go get a beer and read this.

Here it goes:

Mount a livewell/ washdown pump in the floor ( cut and install an inspection plate in a hollow portion of the floor ). Run a fresh water, feeder hose to a high point of the livewell - this connects to the livewell/wash pump which is connected to a thru hull, southbay strainer raw water intake. This is how the water gets in to the well.

With me so far?

Now for the "out " part of the equation:

Firmly install a small bilge switch, maybe even one of those new fangled electric ones, in the livewell at the level you want the water to stop rising ( this switch is the type that clicks the bilge on when the water level rises ). Run the wires from this switch to a bilge pump ( a good quality one ! ) that is also mounted near the livewell/washdown pump. This bilge pump is completely different from the engine one.

Run another hose, mounted lower in the livewell -this will be the exit water hose that connects from the livewell to the bilge pump.

Then, run a hose from the bilge pump to a thru-hull hole ( or your existing bilge water exit via a "T" connector )

Soooo, what will happen is; you will click a livewell switch at your helm. This will turn the livewell/washdown pump on. The livewell will fill. Once it hits the bilge switch, the bilge will turn on - pumping water out via a hose going out of the hull through your already existing motor bilge hole.

This system, although a bit extensive, would work. Obviously, all hoses would be of the best quality. All clamps would be double clamped with the better hose clamps and all wire connections would have to be water proof to avoid problems down the road. The battery concern is valid, because you would be essentially running two pumps - one in, one out...

What d'ya think ?

By the way do you have any pix of your custom pedestal/ leaning post seats ? I never sit when I drive my boat and I want to install tackle storage boxes under my presently long, no storage underneath, pedestaled seat(s).

- Alan

[Dave Hirshberg]

Sorry this post is a little late but heres what i did on my 23 Sceptre.
1. sealed off floor well in front of motor and added a thru hull fitting inside well that runs to washdown pump. plumed pump into bottom of port corner storage and used 15ft curly hose for fresh water wash.
2. Built above floor livewell that fits between the two access plates forward of splash well. cut square hole between plate to accomodate plumbing and ran drain out 1 1/2 inch thru hull in transome under water line.

Livewell must have stand pipe for drain and water will always find its own level about a two foot drop from top of stand pipe. I put fill in from the bottom of well and also cut out front of well and installed plexi glass window and light. Painted the inside with Light Blue gelcoat. Looks like an aquairium in clear water.

It took some time to do but worked great. I've got Pics just E-mail me [email protected].