Pump for fish box?

[Sundance]

My '91 V-20 has a fish box in the floor located between the seats. It had some type of pump at one time but was removed when I bought the boat. I currently use it for storage but would like to use it for fish. Does anyone know what type of pump would have been used. My boat guy says I need a macerator pump but the drain hose is too small. Would a bilge pump work if I put some type of strainer over the drain to stop scales, etc. ? There is a switch on the dash for this pump and the discharge is located next to the bilge discharge. I tried an baitwell type pump but it would not pump when the water level in the fish box got lower than the pump. Thanks, Barry

[reelapeelin]

Sundance, I wouldn't use a ''bilge'' type pump on a fish-box...think you're settin' yourself up for disappointment...even w/a strainer B4 the pump, the impeller on a bilge pump isn't designed to pump the stuff that WILL get thru...JMHO

How you likin' your Honda??...

[willy]

I'm getting ready to refit my livewell and fish box set up my self and I have had the regulat type bilge pumps and strainers a few times in the past, pain in the a$$ going to find some way to hook up one of those macerator pumps instead, they are designed to handle fish crap and similar.

[lucky_strike]

Sundance, I too have a '91 V-20 with the orininal
fishbox/pump setup as you discribe. The original pump
looks like a small baitwell pump (not self priming)
and was just barely working when I bought the boat.
I have since bought a Jabsco Water Puppy flexible
rubber impeller (self priming) pump. Since it is self
priming, it can be installed anywhere in the discharge line.
I haven't installed mine yet, I've had some down time over the last several months; I lost my job back in
December, took a new job in January. Four days into the job I fell off a ladder and broke my ankle (needed
surgury to repair). I'm still recovering from that and won't be able to work on the boat until sometime next month. When I do install the pump, I'll let you know how it works out.

[EngstromNK]

I just got my V20 in September. I can hear that pump but it doesn't do anything. Where is it located and what did it origonally do? The fishbox in the floor has a strainer built-in so you can't plug it. It just wasn't making sence to this newbee.

Keith

[reelapeelin]

Lucky Strike touched on the difference w/the ''rubber impellar''...a ''bilge'' pump has rigid blades on the impellar, great for movin' WATER, but comin' outta the fish-box there's gonna be more than just water(guts, scales, poop) that a flexible blade can handle... ;)...

But a MACERATOR will CHOP anything that goes thru it...THAT'S what needs to go w/a fish-box... ;)...

[Sundance]

There is a small access hole in the rear of the fishbox. The pump in mine was attached to the outside of the gas tank compartment just behind the access cover. It would be tough to replace or install a new pump. Its not much room to work.

[willy]

Like I said I have tried the bait well pumps from different manufactures, each will work for awhile, they will need to be replaced though, pretty frequently if you use them a lot. The only problems with macerator pumps are they do not self prime well so there needs to be a drop or decent of some type in the line, at least in the ones I've found so far. the other problem is they are more expensive. That should be off set by the fact that they are longer lasting and are designed to be opened and cleaned if something un-chewable (?) gets in there and jams them

[reelapeelin]

If it's difficult to get to, that's all the more reason to put a macerator in there...you will need some ''fall'' in the line, so to pump fills w/water, etc from the fish-box...do it once, do it right and enjoy life... ;)...

[macojoe]

I have 2 of these and will try one out this summer. I think it will be fine! and self priming

http://www.boatersworld.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&catalogId=10051&langI d=-1&productId=326208

[willy]

Is that pump designed to handle scales, muck and other assosiated fish crap MJ, I just don't want to buy another pump that gets screwed up by the sand and everything else that gets in the live/fish wells and I got to pick up something in the next few weeks

[reelapeelin]

Good pump MJ's got there...but while on that page, I searched ''macerators'''...up popped a Jabsco unit for exactly the same price ($129.99)...same $$, why not install what SUPPOSED to be in there...and will do the best job in that application...and MJ can sell me one of his washdown pumps ;)...

[macojoe]

well we use these pumps in are salt tanks, for Razor claming, they hold up well and self prime....I don't think that the macerators self prime??
I haven't found one yet??
But these pumps have some good power and with the strainer on there I bet it will never clog. JMO..we will see?

[reelapeelin]

There ya go...MJ's got a SPECIFIC use for the pumps he's got...if installed right, macerator should be below a general use fish-box...prime everytime!!!...

[Sundance]

There is nowhere to mount a pump that is lower than the fish box that is accessible on my ship. It would have to be some type of self priming pump. Thank you guys for all the responses. This may have been a Wellcraft screw-up and that's why there is no simple answer.

[willy]

Yea I'm thinking about that myself, being that Old School is closed (tarped) up I was not looking at it but I remember now that the in floor fish box , which is good sized has a pump mounted in the fish box itself, when you lift the floor cover it is sitting right there inside.
Is that how they came factory or are they hidden like others are saying under the floor in other boats?
My in floor live well in front of the transom has an outlet and a pump mounted outside and I should be able to put a macerator down hill of that but it is the fish box that get all the crapola in them

[reelapeelin]

Ok, oK...went back to MJ's site above; searched ''macerators'', clicked on info, then more info...Jabsco unit shown IS self-priming...says so TWICE in the text...go get that MACERATOR, Man and put it in that purdy V20!!... ;) ;D ;D ;D...

[macojoe]

there you go, thats what you need!! Now sto *****ing and start fixing!! ;D