Bait well layout on a 1975 23cc

take a potter · #1 07-08-2015, 01:21 PM

Hello All,

I have 1975 23' center console outboard that has had a number of modifications done to it over the years. The one I am trying to reconcile currently is the live well in the floor of the motor well. When I got it the oil reservoir was located in the live well sitting on a metal (yes it rusted to powder) shelf. I have moved the reservoir to another spot and now would like to rehabilitate the live well. Unfortunately this one currently has many holes in it that have been added over the years. Can anyone explain to me how it was initially set up. One part that I know for sure is that there is a transom plug that drains the well, when the boat is out of the water. I have attached a couple of pictures of the overall motor well configuration.

Thanks,
Michael

take a potter · #2 08-16-2015, 09:47 PM

Lets try this one more time just in case.

77SceptreOB · #3 08-16-2015, 10:46 PM

First of all the weir gate in the middle of the splash well is not original and was added by someone later. Does the motor tilt all the way up with it in there?

The pie plates are original design and it looks like you have the original baitwell fiberglass top which was originally hinged from the rear and open toward the front.

There should be two holes in the bottom of the baitwell with two vertical pipes. The forward one is inlet the aft one is discharge. There should be a rectangular bronze through hull fitting on the bottom of the boat with forward and aft rectangular ports.

take a potter · #4 08-17-2015, 01:05 PM

I figured that the weir was an add on just because I have not seen a picture in all of the rebuild threads that looked like that. Thank you so much for confirming it. When whoever built the weir did the work, the panel that in your picture looks to be attached with four screws on corners and runs all the way back to the transom was glassed over on mine. As a mater of fact I did not know it existed until this morning when I was grinding in preparation to glass a gap that was between what turns out to be that panel and the transom. I wanted to glass the gap because it was a direct path to the bait well.
Now in front of the weir is my bait well hatch which just sits on a ledge. No gutter or anything, and not hinged. As to the actual bait well thanks for the information. Honestly, the only hole that looks factory in the well is the brass drain pipe the goes thru the transom, that can be plugged, either from in side the well(glad I have long arms) or from the outside. Other than that there are about 8 other holes many of which where for wiring as well as the oil reservoir lines. There where 3 battery switches located in the well, now consolidated to 1 switch in the console. So no thru hull on the bottom of the boat in the bait well. And only the one hole in the bottom half of the well.

I guess I will just install a stand pipe to fit in the drain hole and feed raw water in thru a fitting that I can plumb to my wash down pump, which does have a thru hull with a clam shell strainer pointed forward.

As to the tilt, no it does not tilt up all the way. Probably the only good thing about it being a trailer boat, is that I do not need it up all the way very often.

DonV · #5 08-17-2015, 03:48 PM

I give Jim, what's that orange thing?

77SceptreOB · #6 08-17-2015, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonV

I give Jim, what's that orange thing?

Special lure to catch BFT in my lake...LOL!

Terry England · #7 08-17-2015, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77SceptreOB

Special lure to catch BFT in my lake...LOL!

Bass,
Fluke,
Trout????
Who would'a thunk!

Bigshrimpin · #8 08-20-2015, 11:08 AM

Wow . . . I like that splashgate setup. It's got potential. You could bolt on a fixed jack plate and probably get the full tilt out of the engine.

I've got an original 1973 setup like 77SceptreOB's splashwell and there's always water coming over the transom during a drift. When you fill the baitwell it's so bad you feel like you are going to sink. That gate and glassing over removable cover makes a lot of sense if you want to keep the livewell functional.

77SceptreOB · #9 08-20-2015, 01:47 PM

Quote:

I've got an original 1973 setup like 77SceptreOB's splashwell and there's always water coming over the transom during a drift. When you fill the baitwell it's so bad you feel like you are going to sink. That gate and glassing over removable cover makes a lot of sense if you want to keep the livewell functional.

That's interesting. I never seem to feel that way and I only have a 25" transom. But I only have a lightweight 2 stroke Single OB on my transom. What power are you running? Twin 4 stroke V-6's? My bait well is always full of water too, no problems.

Bigshrimpin · #10 08-20-2015, 03:21 PM

I think the 23 sceptre has more weight forward that the 23 CC, so it's not as much of an issue.

I have a single Merc 175 2.4L under 400lb with a 9.9 two stroke kicker (60lbs). I did recently add a original fiberglass cooler seat that is full of fishing tackle, but the batteries are in the pilot console.