I hear you about kneeling to get bait.
Insulating is a great idea although most days I reach for a beer more than bait.
I'm also putting a leaning post and I can fit a livewell there and use the space under the deck for cooler that may work out good. That bulkhead I'm installing is going to seal that compartment. Then extending pvc pipe drain from fwd box to aft bilge. Then install a fitting to a mascerator to pump out the compartment.
Or- I could seal the compartment, keep the drain from fwd box and use mascerator to empty both, then put a plug or valve to close off fwd box when I don't want it to drain.
Thanks for your ideas and experiences.

Just make sure that mascerator is easy to access. On another boat we've been through 3 in 5yrs. All different brands, never been able to find one that will last and hold up. Maybe its us but we've had terrible luck with em.
Here is my livewell solution. Cut the bottom outta the old one and kept the hatch. I keep all my pumps under there now.....Cant tell you how nice it is to have your own livewell in the corner. Keeps everyone from bum-rushin the center of the boat for bait......
http://http://i542.photobucket.com/albums/g...ps4584623c.jpg

I have that same livewell. Going to put in boat and measure after I can dig it out of the snow in a dockbox in back yard. I saw a pump made by Whale at the Mesco show this fall that was all plastic and sealed. I'll let you know how it works. The metal body pumps seem to last 2 yrs max if there near saltwater.

Wow man that's a clean hull. I used a gulper pump instead of a macerator for my fish box. It's going on 4 years old and pulls a better prime than the macerator pump did. Are you gonna do a t-top? I know you were talking about a 200 hpdi but did you ever consider an optimax? I just rigged a 150 on my dad's new v20 and I was very impressed with the power it had. We picked it up at Almar's for $8995 new in the box.

Thanks Pete, Gelcoat is SO thick on this boat, I was able to do 2 coats of super duty compound, 2 coats finess it #2 and 2 coats of Colonite wax. And it still looks like that after being oiled and beat by Sandy.
I was thinking Yamaha b/c I have new control box and full rigging including fuel mgmt. I haven't run too many OPTI's. How's the noise level, smoke and fuel usage? I want my wife and daughter to be able to not get nauseous. Next month I will be agressively looking for a 25" motor. Hopefully a deal where it needs work or something.

I have a 225 Opti on my boat. It is a little louder than the carbed 150 Yamaha I used to have. But it actually gets better fuel economy. I only get a puff of smoke when getting up on plane after a lot of idle speed. If you already have most of the rigging than the HPDI is the way to go. A lot of people are repowering with the new F200. So I'm sure a 200 HPDI will turn up soon. If you need a hand checking out a motor just let me know. I can bring the laptop to see what kind of run history and fault history it has.

Thanks for the download offer, I may take you up on that when i find one.
From your other post, might do a t-top next year after the deck is repaired and I see how the boat rides. I haven't run this boat since I got it so I'm not sure if I'm goin to need a t-top. I also have a Wellcraft 250 Coastal for nasty days and family trips. so probably not going to much on the v20 for a top. both boats have gunnel mount outriggers and the v20 will have leaning post with rodholders.

Been making progress slowly but surely. Getting in the shop between everything else going on. I've put 9 layers of 1708 biaxial and will be putting 2 layers of mat on the outer transom. Been patching unneeded holes and stress cracks with leftover material. I'm hoping to spray gelcoat by the end of next week.:beer:

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/v...ps60349835.jpg
http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/v...ps3efcfa5b.jpg

Lookin' good Johnson!