Thread: Livewell DIY - water intake problems

Originally Posted by Charly

Before I installed my DIY LW I did allot of youtube video watching. I soon realized I wouldn't have enough room to add a intake since my tank was long. I think I will go and watch all the videos I can find that install a water intake.

I now think the problem is when the water comes in it has to go up about 1" then down. In doing that I think a air bubble forms in that elbow bend. A couple times today I did get the pump to run intake water 1-2 sec. but I seen a small air bubble go thru and then it would stop pumping.

Once it is pumping water, it should continue to pump water unless it is sucking air into the system and losing prime. I can see where the system being air locked would prevent it from starting to pump. Once the air lock is cleared and a fluid path established it should continue to draw water at long as the pump runs given the intake remains in the water.

Originally Posted by Dutch552

I know you said you didn’t want to use another pump but something like this style of Rule livewell pump with an angled threaded intake looks like it would be the bee’s knees for your application given your photos. Enlarge intake hole, install pump with threaded intake through hull and thru-hull fitting tightened down onto threaded pump intake. Then you can run your hose from the pump to livewell. Just throwing another idea around for you.

That’s exactly the kind of pump I was referencing..

Originally Posted by Dutch552

I know you said you didn’t want to use another pump but something like this style of Rule livewell pump with an angled threaded intake looks like it would be the bee’s knees for your application given your photos. Enlarge intake hole, install pump with threaded intake through hull and thru-hull fitting tightened down onto threaded pump intake. Then you can run your hose from the pump to livewell. Just throwing another idea around for you.

Run two pumps???Maybe, this one through hull to the original pump,use both to fill, run original pump for circulation,emptying ect.

Run two pumps???Maybe, this one through hull to the original pump,use both to fill, run original pump for circulation,emptying ect.

tks for the input but adding another pump means more $, would have to run wires across the boat from left side my battery wires run down the right, and would have to install another switch.

I cut a hole in the bottom for intake line. Tomorrow I'll find out if the problem was the intake not completely below water line, I had misjudged the water line. Where it was I had to lean on the left side a little. Doing that raised the pump on the right side which put the pump a little above the water line. Instead of having to plug the first hole I ran my flush hose to it.

Let us know if that fixed it

No more bucket filling the LW. After launch the water came in slow by gravity, after about a minute I turned on the pump and had a couple trinkles out the aerator tube. I leaned a little on the right side(where the pump is) and it started full spray out all holes. Later on I completely emptied it so I could time it filling, it took 3-1/2 minutes. Its 15gal when full so that figures 4.28 gpm or 256 gph. The intake hole is 1/2", the rest of the line is 3/4" so the 1/2" hole probably restricts the flow a little but its fast enough for me.