What would you do? Bait tank stuff

[uglyducky]

Working on getting this long overdue build done on my whaler. My transom is 24” and I’ve had a custom seating setup and will have bait tank glassed in to transom.
Options now are:
1) glass in flush height bait tank with 40 gallon capacity but look super rad, reduce weight near motors
2) glass in 36” tall tank (10” over transom and seats) and get 68 gallon capacity

 

[Fishbones]

Extra 600+ pounds in the transom?
No thanks...

 

[uglyducky]

Extra 600+ pounds in the transom?
No thanks...

gotta go in the transom, no other options. boat is plenty beefy and overbuilt as it's a commercial grade brunswick whaler

 

[knot keely]

How do you fish? Heavy on the live bait? Overnighters? Lotsa buddies? I’d go bigger.

If you’re mostly an inshore or artificial guy then go smaller.

Any way you could make it a split tank in case you want to carry squid and finbait?

 

[uglyducky]

How do you fish? Heavy on the live bait? Overnighters? Lotsa buddies? I’d go bigger.

If you’re mostly an inshore or artificial guy then go smaller.

Any way you could make it a split tank in case you want to carry squid and finbait?

Not without making a custom order which I can’t do at this point. I do both islands/inshore and will be doing lots of overnight and multi day trips in this boat

 

[#WHERESTHEKELPPADDY]

There is a saying in the Bible that goes something like - “thee who has the most bait wins!”

68 gal - it’s a must have for overnights especially if you for a bunch of buddies - will allow you to have options - run the tank half full with a scoop and race to the grounds or load up with 3-4 scoops and stay over night - they fish are always happy with more room - make sure you have the right pump and power.

 

[The Right Kind]

Is there any way to sink the larger tank into the deck to flush it out with the gunnels? Flush obviously looks best but bait capacity is important too.
On another note, the last several years it's been all about the big BF and big loads of bait aren't necessary. Maybe find a way to add a second tank later?

 

[Derby]

Skip the custom seats. Do split tanks and bean bags.

 

[uglyducky]

Skip the custom seats. Do split tanks and bean bags.

That ship has sailed. Way too deep to make a pivot like that.

 

[Derby]

Mock it up and see what it looks like.

More is better.

Any chance you can add a second tank on swimstep for longer trips?

 

[uglyducky]

Is there any way to sink the larger tank into the deck to flush it out with the gunnels? Flush obviously looks best but bait capacity is important too.
On another note, the last several years it's been all about the big BF and big loads of bait aren't necessary. Maybe find a way to add a second tank later?

There may be a way to do this. While the big BFT are great, I also enjoy paddy hopping and jamming around looking for other pelagics. This is to say I don’t set a target on BFT exclusively

 

[Hismosa]

Would suck to have to tear it out later and go bigger. Go big and forget about it. One and done.

But are those seats going to be very usable with all the sloshing? Hopefully your buds all have slickers.

 

[Reel 007]

More information is needed, what power do you have, on a bracket or notched transom, I/O, diesel or gas.
68 gallons plus the weight of the tank is a lot that far back, do you have scruppers in the back of the boat, is the cockpit self draining, how will it affect your handling.

How much tab will you need to get the bow down with all that weight in the transom.
Try and answer all those questions before moving forward.
More bait capacity is wonderful but at what price, get 600 plus pounds of sand bags put them on the transom and go for a run, head seas, following seas see how the boat handle.
Good luck.

 

[uglyducky]

Would suck to have to tear it out later and go bigger. Go big and forget about it. One and done.

But are those seats going to be very usable with all the sloshing? Hopefully your buds all have slickers.

Tank will have a pressure sealing top Plus all these tanks can be filled half or full

 

[uglyducky]

More information is needed, what power do you have, on a bracket or notched transom, I/O, diesel or gas.
68 gallons plus the weight of the tank is a lot that far back, do you have scruppers in the back of the boat, is the cockpit self draining, how will it affect your handling.

How much tab will you need to get the bow down with all that weight in the transom.
Try and answer all those questions before moving forward.
More bait capacity is wonderful but at what price, get 600 plus pounds of sand bags put them on the transom and go for a run, head seas, following seas see how the boat handle.
Good luck.

Positive flotation bracket and twin 300’s. Scuppers which drain the deck are port and starboard about 12” forward of transom. Boat is getting built out right now so not plausible to run tests unfortunately. Good thing is these tanks can be run full or half capacity

 

[Hismosa]

Tank will have a pressure sealing top Plus all these tanks can be filled half or full

Good call on the pressure seal. Go big

 

[Tomictime]

cool project, which model Whaler ? i almost bought a 32’ Vigilant as a project......

 

[uglyducky]

cool project, which model Whaler ? i almost bought a 32’ Vigilant as a project......

27’ challenger

 

[The Right Kind]

Is this the 68 gl tank?

 

[gecsr1]

looks like a pretty wide transom to fish over with the seats and the bait tank and then the motors on the bracket... , I can see lots of line in the props.....and lost fish...
Oh well good luck....

 

[uglyducky]

looks like a pretty wide transom to fish over with the seats and the bait tank and then the motors on the bracket... , I can see lots of line in the props.....and lost fish...
Oh well good luck....

that's how the boat was built. not much i can do about that. had i not made the seats, the transom would be same width. bracket will be an open swim step so step over to it when needed

 

[uglyducky]

Is this the 68 gl tank?

View attachment 1257247

yessir