Seal off livewell?

[trasbeck]

Has anyone closed off the livewell to incoming water? I don't fish anymore and would like to use it for storage, but there is always a few inches of water that i assume backs in from the overflow. I guess the best way would be to remove the outlet hose and plug the thru hull fitting somehow. I am searching for leaks and I
don't want to add another one.

[tfink]

Can't you just shut off the valve by the livewell pump?

[Putershark]

I do it from time to help save on the resting draft of the hull during our extreme winter tides. All I do is shove one of those pratice golf balls (same ones I came up with to plug up deck drains years ago) into the pick up for the live well back at the stern.

Cheep and simple to install, and easy to remove when needed...

[HighTechRedneck]

I only use my livewell to hold the life vests. I ground down a rubber bilge plug to plug the drain and I installed a y fitting in the livewell fill line with one end going to the live well and the other to a hose I use as a raw water washdown. on the rare occation that i use the livewell it can still be used but i practice catch and release allmost all of the time.

[NCangler]

I checked with the factory for you on this and here was their response:

Depending on the model year there may or may not be a seacock under the
bait well pump that can be closed. Also the fill in the bait well is a
threaded valve that can be closed. And the boat should have come with a
plug for the drain.

Water backing up is not where your water is coming from.
Remember, that compartment is not dry storage and condensation and
rain water can enter the compartment.

[trasbeck]

Thanks for checking with the factory. I'm sure they know best, but I highly doubt the 1 or 2 inches of water that's always there comes from rainwater, since the console is always covered when not in use and the seat is always dry. I wonder what type of plug the company supplies with the boat. I purchased mine used and the only thing in the drain was the L shaped overflow tube. I'll try a few plugs to seal the hole up.

Thanks again.

[MolarBoater]

You could simply keep the overflow tube in place and the seacock valve closed. Or use a plug and/or seal with Rule Elastomeric. All completely reversible if you sell the boat or change your mind later.

[fundybay]

I'd love to have a washdown hose
can't get my dog to wipe her feet
to my knowledge the 195 DC doesn't come with one
I do use the livewell but would it be that hard to put in some kind of a diverter so I could use the livewell pump for both the livewell and the hose?

[fridaysoff]

Fundybay,
My intake line in my livewell has a threaded pipe on it. If yours has the same you could screw a hose on it for washdown duties.
JD