Portable Live Wells

[Blah1234]

Does anyone have any experience using portable live wells? Have heard they all basically suck and aren't worth buying though am still curious to hear what others think. Friend has a 35' cruising style boat but wants to be able to fish with it every once in awhile. His wife was a hard no on installing a permanent live well. Trying to help him with a solution if possible...

 

[mullet]

His wife was a hard no on installing a permanent live well.

Tell him to either grow a pair or invest in frozen squid .

 

[CI_SeaWolf]

You could rig up a trash can style that you can take off when you’re done with it. Minimal wiring and plumbing but not the best for bait

 

[MikeC.]

might work if he wants to fish next to the bait barge so he can keep going back buying new bait every few minutes

 

[Blackfish]

Does anyone have any experience using portable live wells? Have heard they all basically suck and aren't worth buying though am still curious to hear what others think. Friend has a 35' cruising style boat but wants to be able to fish with it every once in awhile. His wife was a hard no on installing a permanent live well. Trying to help him with a solution if possible...

I used one like this 32-gallon on my 24' cuddy for 12 years. It worked great. I kept it on my swim step. It was early removed if we were going to the lake or needed the swim step free when we went diving or just wanted to have the swim step to sit on.

https://www.google.com/shopping/pro...&ved=0ahUKEwjN96_Ioqv_AhV6JEQIHeenBiQQ9pwGCAg

You can see it here. I didn't always remove it to dive, because i would fish. .

 

[Blah1234]

You could rig up a trash can style that you can take off when you’re done with it. Minimal

I used one like this 32-gallon on my 24' cuddy for 12 years. It worked great. I kept it on my swim step. It was early removed if we were going to the lake or needed the swim step free when we went diving or just wanted to have the swim step to sit on.

https://www.google.com/shopping/pro...&ved=0ahUKEwjN96_Ioqv_AhV6JEQIHeenBiQQ9pwGCAg

View attachment 1491303

You can see it here. I didn't always remove it to dive, because i would fish. .

How did you mount it to transom?

Thanks!

 

[Blackfish]

How did you mount it to transom?

Thanks!

It has "L" brackets to mount the tank to your deck or swimstep, and is easy to remove with a screwdriver. Ran a brass thru-hall out the bottom, for the bait pump with a brass ball valve, ran the hose to a bulkhead in the the stern above the water line, then a hose from the bulkhead to the tank.

 

[stanky1]

This bait tank should get his wife’s approval:

 

[wts]

I`ve been using bait bags for years.
I take them off when not in use.
My trips are usually less than 24 hours but I have kept bait alive in my slip for a few days.
Mako Matt Marine is where I purchased my last one.

 

[eat'm_raw]

Awww, shucks. Someone beat me to it! Nevermind, nothing to see here.

 

[Blah1234]

This bait tank should get his wife’s approval:

View attachment 1491490

F his wife…it gets my approval and I wouldn’t even show it to him!

 

[Blah1234]

I`ve been using bait bags for years.
I take them off when not in use.
My trips are usually less than 24 hours but I have kept bait alive in my slip for a few days.
Mako Matt Marine is where I purchased my last one.

Thanks

 

[sickcat]

Certainly a difference between portable and removeable.

The 32 Kodiak style like Blackfishys is a great tank. If you put on the swimstep its a little easier since you don't have to plumb the drain but putting it in the cockpit is not hard either. Two bulkhead fittings and the mounting bolts that go into the deck are flush - no obstructions when the tank is removed.

If he has an existing thru hull that he can run the pump from thats a good start. Adding a scoop if the thru hull doesn't have one is very doable without hauling the boat (assuming it is not a cored hull).

Since there is family debate about having a bait tank on a powerboat I'd guess explaining a yard bill for plumbing one would be tough.

Teach your daughters to fish and take them often!!