Livewell Question

[vermilionfox]

I have a mid 1980 Smokercraft Sport Angler walkthrough. It's my first boat, and I'm a little bit confused on how to use the livewell. It has an inlet near the bottom that gets pumped water from the back of the boat, and two overflow outlets that go to the outside of the hull above the waterline. The pump pumps water to it fine. The well sits sideways in the bow just in front of the consoles. My question is, what keeps the water in the well? There are no pipes or plugs. What I'm used to (from rentals)is the type well where you put a standpipe in a bottom drain hole and the water pumps in from another inlet. The standpipe serves as a level control. What do I need to do to make the well on my boat functional? I appreciate any help I can get.

[harvey lee]

Is there a valve in the boat to open the drain?You have the water pumping in and the two overflow drains,and you could have another pull knob to open the drain line.Do you have another hole in the back of the boat?

[vermilionfox]

There is just one hole in the back of the boat, and one hole in the bottom of the well. No valves that I can see. The two outlets are at the top of the well, and look like overflows. If I fill the well as is and move the water leaves due to the venturi effect.

[Hookmaster]

I am not familiar with that boat brand. in all other boats I've seen the hole in the bottom is the drain hole and there is a plug for it. Pull the plug and it drains out. The inlet is usually higher in the livewell at or above the level of the overflows. Are you sure when it fills it is coming into the livewell from the bottom hole?

[vermilionfox]

I'm pretty sure that is the only hole. I can check it. Maybe it is hooked up wrong.

[garytheguide]

hey fox...sounds like you are missing a plug?....i still have the minn-kota for sale....are you bringing the boat up here this summer?....well ..hope you get it figured out...

[kunk]

You're missing the plug in the livewell. I have a '95 Smokercraft and it sounds like the same setup. With the plug in place in the livewell, you can pump the livewell full. The outlets on the sides allow you to bring in fresh water while the excess drains back out. In the livewell there should be an attachment that aereates from the bottom of the well. Excess drains from the top. When you have the fish out, pull the plug. Mine works quite well.