Pump for fish box?

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.

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... ;)...

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/w...oductId=326208