livewell in a 85 23 SF ??

[FAS]

I have an 85 ,23' center, and am doing an extensive restoration over this winter.I'm ready to put the new floors down, and want to put a nice livewell somewhere??when I got the boat,the aft hatch was glassed over all the way to the console, so I don't know how that aft section worked.I plan on putting two batteries,and an oil tank back there up near the aft tank bulkhead.every thing below the deck is close to the waterline,and I am not sure if an under floor livewell will drain properly.also there is no hatch,never was,in front of the console on the floor.need advice soon,as I want to keep moving on this...any and all ideas are welcome.

[Jacquestrappe]

How is your scupper currently set up? Will you be raising the deck at all? Not sure of your current weight distribution but many try to push as much weight forward as possible....If you are already considering moving the batteries and oil, I would suggest pushing them forward (Either in the console or if you can drop a small hatch forward of the console, even better.

With regard to the bait well, have you considered a leaning post live well? While I ended up putting a custom well in my transom, I was very close to pulling the trigger on one...Do a search for Fish Magnet's restore...I thought his turned out great.

[FAS]

I am changing from a twin 130 engine set up to a single, mid 2000 2 stroke Yamaha 250 0X66.trying to even the weight out ,the way it was,by moving the batteries from under the front of the console , to aft of the console, to compensate for the missing second engine.the scuppers are at standard height,and the deck will be same as original freeboard.with the lighter engine on the back, I figure I will be OK.also I'm changing the fuel tank from 135 gallons to 110.should I push the tank fwd 18",balance wise, OR, leave the aft part of the tank where it was ,at the original aft bulkhead,and open up the front 18" ?? There is no hatch fwd of the console as of now.An above deck, portable livewell is always an option,but last option.Where were livewells originally put back in those years?must have been under the deck???

[FAS]

welcoming some options on these questions, anybody?

[Islandtrader]

Not sure this will give you any more light on the subject, but here is my take on it.

My boat is a different set up than yours, but I put a live well in the floor, because I am not a big live bait fisher guy...and my boat is a cruiser...

You are correct the live well will not drain...so what I did (check my build out Post # 213)was have the live well drain into a dry well....then in the dry well I have a bilge pump that drains the well. It works good.

Now I think most guys with your set up...will build a neat live well (or buy) something that is incorporated into the leaning post. Check out the "Here we go again" thread.

I am sure some of the others will chime in.

[Boatboy6]

My '84 has the live well built into the floor just forward of the splash well. It's at least 20 gallons, possibly 30

[Old'sCool]

Mines in the transom ~ 30 gals. No drainage problems. I also have plenty of bilge access. A leaning post/livewell will move the water weight forward and would be my preference but the "wife couch" wouldn't fit Happy wife = Happy life

[bbh57]

I put mine in the floor just behind the leaning post and Im very happy with it there. I use a stand pipe and a drain at the top. Both drain into 1 1\2 pipe, I have had no problems with it draining. I think it holds about 15 gallons. I used this baitwell as a mold to make it.

[bumpdraft]

My 83' had bilge access in splash well (no access while boat was in water). I had it glassed over and I put hatch in front of splash well.

[FAS]

thanks for the input guys,i see its not a easy thing,unless its above deck.old'scool looks to work perfectly with a full transom,nice lookin hatches, too.islandtrader has quite a setup.BBH has a nice rig, with the tee,must have to drain while under way,nice picts, I see how it works..Boatboy6 sounds like original setup,woud like to see more detail on this,my 85 23 had no hatch aft of the console,when I got it.it was totally glassed over.I am ready for the aft part of the deck to finish it up, and want to incorporate something nice back there.any more on how the livewell was back then..we will use it a lot.maybe above deck is the way to go...didn't want to do it mako way, but....