I currently have a livewell pump that just fills up the livewell. I want to make one of my livewells a recirculating livewell. is it as simple as adding a recirculating pump? Obviously I need to keep the existing pump. Or do I. So many questions.

Snake Boy, thanks for your help. Looks like I just need to add the Recirc pump and some wiring.

I'd like to do the same thing. Can you share how you do this?

You will have to tee into the drain of the livewell and install a shutoff valve between the tee and transom drain fitting. Run pickup of pump to the tee and outlet to livewells fill fitting. Then install a seperate auto-manual switch to operate the resirculation pump. I would go ahead and do both livewells.

Start with this website. They supply BassPro and Ranger to name a few. Don't hesitate to call them. He is extremely helpful. They sell entire kites complete with cables, etc.

http://www.flow-rite.com/marine/systems.html?open_menu=1&sub_menu=1

I updated my '94 Ranger and bought the whole setup from Ranger for around $70. Valves, accuators, cables, whole 9 yards. All they did was gather the parts from Flow-Rite for me. I also installed a pumpout when I updated mine. They have that kit too.

The kit provides the necessary 3 position valves to address what Gary describes above. I'm assuming most livewells have manual/automatic pump modes already. If not, it's just a timer.

For what it's worth I updated all my pumps too. 750GPM to each livewell and updated the bilge pumps (both the auto and manual) to 1,000GPM. I used the cartridge style pumps you find at BPS. All my stuff is in the sump area and is a real pain to work on. I have to lay on my belly then reach down in the sump area after removing the onboard charger so I replaced most everything.

Ziptie everything in to hurricane proof standards. That stuff gets a real rough ride back there. Try to keep the bottom of the pumps off the floor of the boat. Do it either ziptying them up off the floor or turning them sideways. The bottoms are bad about getting hairline cracks when they bounce on the bottom of the boat. It leads to leaks that are way hard to locate. I learned the hard way.

Here's what it looks like before I replaced the bilge pumps. Those are the pumps you see here. The new livewell pumps are already installed and are tucked up in the hull. The very top of the pic is the transom.



This shows how the pumps attach to the valves. It should give you an idea of where the pumps end up once installed.



This is an example of one of the sneaky leaks you want to prevent. All the sudden your taking on water in the sump and play heck trying to figure out why. It won't sink you or anything but it's real irritating to anal mofos like me. Perfect often isn't good enough for me so I stay awake at night over little stuff like leaks/rattles/and all kinds of other silly insignificant things.



I have some pics of installing the pumpout too but there's really not much to it or to see. You replace one of the aeration sprayers in your livewell with one they supply. It is a 2 position valve too. Pushed in it pumps water into the well. Pulled out it pumps water out through a new drainage hole you drill in the side of the boat. I put it right by the bilge outlets/exits and ran a hose from the new sprayer to the outlet.

Lemme know if you want to drill a new hole in your boat and I'll share some tips with it too. Holes you say? Holes, smoles. I hacked a big hunk out of the deck and put a TM tray in it too. I might be picky but I ain't skeered. Now if I could figure out how to fish I'd be good to go.

The extra (above waterline) drain and shutoff valve is just to allow fill and drain from the console, correct? Doesn't seem absolutely necessary but probably worth doing depending on how much the shutoff valves cost.

Thanks guys, great info!

go to the flowrite web site they have everything you need including a pump out valve and a picture of the setup

I didn't check but I think the cost of a 3 vs 2 position valve is about the same but I could be wrong. The valve isn't necessary but will want to have it once you've finished.

Remember what the system does for you. You can retain water in the wells so you don't wash checmicals away and helps you control water temps in the well relative to the water temp of the lake. Sometimes it matters more than others. Summer is a good example.

Essentially that valve allows you to determine whether you want to pump fresh water in from the lake or just circulate what you have. Or, wash out the old water, add new, add new chemicals, ice, etc. Go back to recirculating your newly changed water. You have different options based on the condition of the fish and that's what it's all about right?

Yes, you want it at the console.