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revtro.
I have an 04 PIII. It seems every week I forget that I’m pumping fresh water into the livewells until they are too full. Then I have to pump them out manually to lower the levels to the right level. There are overflows, but they run directly into the bilge. There are valves at the end of the pipes in the bilge, so I closed them off because it doesn’t seem right that the livewells should overflow into the bilge.
It seems like other boats have the overflows run out to drains in the back of the boat into the lake and not into the bilge. So why this design? It doesn’t make sense to me. Is it intended that they livewells should overflow into the bilge so that the automatic bilge pump can pump out the excess? Or should there be hoses leading out to a drain in the back? Was this something that was missed from BCB when the boat was shipped? This is confusing. Can anyone shed some light for me?
Your livewells do have overflows. What you closed were the flush valves which are used to clear the spraybars, and yes they do dump into the bilge, but when you use them you know they’re dumping there and pump out, or flush with clean water and drain while on the trailer. D.
Your overflows should run outside the boat and not into the bilge. If this is not the case be sure to check with your dealer or give our service dept a call. We think you are mistaking the overflow with the flush valves. The livewell flush valves that you see at the end of the plumping will send water into the bilge, and you want to keep those closed off.
I think we’ve answered your question, if not there is a post in the FAQ section that explains how to use your livewells.
Read that and get back to us on what you need.
BCB
Ok, read the FAQ. I still have some questions. When I leave those valves that drain into the bilge open, they act as an overflow. When the livewells get too full, the water comes out those valves and into the bilge. So, then I closed them. Now when I fill the livewells and forget to turn the “freshwater in” off they overfill. They are not acting like they have overflows because the water fills all the way up to the top and overflows at the seam at the top of the livewell into the boat, bilge, etc. So now this makes me wonder if the livewell overflow is clogged?? However, it has done this since day 1, so I kind of doubt it. I’ll try to run water with a hose into the overflow and see where it drains if at all. Is there a plumbing diagram anywhere to help me with all this?
There is a white threaded fitting poking thru the back of the livewell, that is your overflow. Those drain to the big white thru hull fitting on the flat spot overhead from the drain plug…you probably never noticed unless you looked down there.
If you turn the ProAir fill and the aerators on the overflow cannot keep up with that much water being pumped into the livewell and it will overflow. Nothing wrong with your livewell system except great pumps.
You have to keep an eye on this and just use the ProAir fill and pump outs as just that, fill and pump outs. Use the aerators and recirc pumps once the livewell is full that will help you.
I hope this helps…you definitely do not want those valves turned open unless you are cleaning the spray bars, that is all they are for.
Judd Lasiter
Judd is right, the FreshWater pump is a fill pump only. The overflow looks pretty large, though it will not handle all of the water pumped in on all the pumps running.
Only use the fresh water in to fill the livewells or for culling use, which is the purpose of the system.
BCB
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That’s what I’m doing. I’m using the Freshwater In pump to fill the livewells. But if I forget that I turned them on, the livewells overflow into the boat and bilge. Are you saying that the overflow can’t keep up with the Freshwater In pump?
Exactly Revtro ! Just fill the livewells and activate the aerators/recirculators, and turn the freshwater fill OFF ! We’ve all done this one time by the way ! D.
If it helps, I push the fill livewell lever and run the fill pump about 30 seconds or so after I catch a keeper fish. Once the aerator or recirc pump is turned on it will take care of the fish until the livewell fills through the fill valve. Your pumps must be super quiet as I can hear the hum when mine are running…
Grr. I seem to forget to turn the freshwater in off every time. I get to fishing and forget that I’m filling. I wish the overflow could keep up when this happens. Oh well. I guess I need to tie a string to my finger or something.
Yeah, mine are so quiet that you can’t know they’re on unless you see the light on the switch. Easy to forget once you start fishing.
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