I am purchasing a 1994 Tiara and was wondering how the livewell that comes from the factory performs. I noticed it is located next to the large fish box but being square, does it have enough flow to keep the bait fish lively? How many can it accommodate? Currently the space is empty so I have to decide if I want to re-install one or go with another option. I've seen some owners that have placed them on the swim platform. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
The factory live well in the small fishbox is small (12 gallons or so). It is great for a few dozen shrimp or a dozen small to medium pilchards or goggle eyes, but not much else. If you need to keep more or larger bait alive, then you will need to install a larger portable livewell on the deck or platform. If you just use shrimp, pilchards or goggle eyes, then a tall narrow live well (round or slight oval) will work just fine. If you want to keep ballyhoo alive, you are going to have to go with a larger oval design. I would go down to the local bait shop or if you have a charterboat row, you can talk with the fishing charter captains about what size you need to keep your bait of choice alive. Take some measurements and see where a convenient spot is to place the tank. Keep in mind, you don't want to block the transom door or the fish boxes. You will need to place it forward in the cockpit or on the platform. If you place it in the cockpit, you are going to need to figure out how to drain it. I would run the overflow through a hose to one of the cockpit scuppers. If you place it on the platform, you can just let it overflow overboard. I would hard mount the live well pump and thruhull fitting in the lazarette with the outlet placed in the cockpit near the livewell. Place the switch near the outlet for convenience.
Hate to give wrong advice but the as far as I know, the small box that's by the transom door isn't a live baitwell, but a bait box. meaning if you have frozen bait, like rig Ballywhoo or Squid... you would place it in that box with some ice. or maybe some cut up bait. I never seen one that has bait well pump???? I have the 29 open 1995
The 31 Tiara did have the option of using that smaller fish box as a livewell. The 29 Open did not however as the box is about 50% smaller than the 31 and the 31 box is already small. The 29 had an option for a livewell behind the helm seat inlieu of the aft facing seat. The issue with this was that if the livewell leaked, it dripped directly on top of the Starboard engine. If allowed to leak for long periods of time, the Starboard engine could the water leaking from the live well. I have seen 29s that required engine replacement because of this issue.
If you want to use the small the fish box as a live well on the 31, you have to install a few componants. First is an overflow line directly from the aft part of the fish box straight out the transom. You are very close to the waterline, so this has to be done carefully and up to coast guard standards with heavy hose, double clamps and the requisite height above the waterline for the thru-hull. The bottom drain must be plumbed to an overboard discharge macerator (the factory installation plumbed both boxes to the macerator with a T fitting) and you have to have a plug for it when using it as a livewell. Then you have to install a livewell pump, stainer & thru-hull (with shut off valve - double clamp everything) for the fill.
An aftermarket livewell would be less expensive to install if you do not have the fishbox macerator option as the on deck or on platform tank does not require a macerator to drain it.
It seems like my best bet would be to put a large oval live well on the swim platform. I'd like to be able to at least keep a half dozen bunker alive. That small in deck livewell won;t do the trick. Would it be difficult to install one that could be easily removed for cruising/tubing days so we have more room for play? Any one who has done this, I would love to see pics.
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