Jon Boat Live Well Help

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rubberglass

rubberglass

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Hey all. This is my first jon boat and I’m confused about this live well. I have a drain plug in but there is a small hole that circumvents it. How is this intended to work? I thought I’d be able to plug it completely.

Also, when I put water into the livewell I get water into the main boat cavity, I’m guessing through one of the welded seams. What’s the best way to diagnose and repair that?

Any help or suggestion is welcome including a low cost full solution to include a bubbler for bait or keeping fish.

Thanks.

IMG_5232.jpegimage.jpg
 
Last edited:
This post finally got approved as I’m new. Bumping to see if I can get some help. Thanks.
 
I'm not sure what I'm looking at in the first pic (plug in the vertical tube). Is that from inside a live well? Where does it drain? What model Jon boat? Maybe someone with the same one can help.

Second pic looks like a typical transom drain.

Not much help I'm afraid.
 
I'd say someone drilled that hole so the livewell would drain fully, without it, you'd always have an inch of water in the bottom.

To find leaks in a livewell, cork the drain where it exits the boat and dump a bucket of water in it. Start looking in the bilge for streams. Chances are the livewell will need to removed for repairs.

If you can access it from underneath, I'd cut that stub off and install a bulkhead fitting with a standpipe. It would drain most of the way then, and the standpipe will prevent it from overflowing.
 
The small hole needs to be repaired. The livewell is designed so that when you have the plug in the livewell is dry. When you remove the plug the water will enter and fill to the level of the water on the side of the boat. Then put plug back in and the water will stay inside when on plane. With the hole the water is free to enter and exit the livewell as the level of the water on the side of the boat changes (ie when sitting vs when on plane)

To diagnose the issue of water entering the boat from the livewell just start filling the boat with water and watch the inside of the livewell seams. When the water inside boat gets to where the leaking sea is the water should start entering the livewell and you will have found the leak.
 
MDCrappie said:
The small hole needs to be repaired. The livewell is designed so that when you have the plug in the livewell is dry. When you remove the plug the water will enter and fill to the level of the water on the side of the boat. Then put plug back in and the water will stay inside when on plane. With the hole the water is free to enter and exit the livewell as the level of the water on the side of the boat changes (ie when sitting vs when on plane)

To diagnose the issue of water entering the boat from the livewell just start filling the boat with water and watch the inside of the livewell seams. When the water inside boat gets to where the leaking sea is the water should start entering the livewell and you will have found the leak.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I did diagnose the leaking seams inside the livewell. What would be a decent way to repair them? Would marine adhesive/sealant be sufficient?
 
oxygencube said:
Thanks. I did diagnose the leaking seams inside the livewell. What would be a decent way to repair them? Would marine adhesive/sealant be sufficient?
Click to expand...
Depends on how big the leak is. If not spread apart I would think that JB Weld should work well applied on the inside.
 
LDUBS said:
I'm not sure what I'm looking at in the first pic (plug in the vertical tube). Is that from inside a live well? Where does it drain? What model Jon boat? Maybe someone with the same one can help.

Second pic looks like a typical transom drain.

Not much help I'm afraid.
Click to expand...
Thanks! It looks like that helped it gain traction. It’s an Allumacraft 1442LW. This is the livewell in the center bench seat.

MDCrappie said:
Depends on how big the leak is. If not spread apart I would think that JB Weld should work well applied on the inside.
Click to expand...
Yea, they look like hairline cracks/leaks. I’ll give JB Weld a try. It also looks like these two rivets are leaking. Thoughts on drilling out and replacing them v/s patching with sealant/JB Weld?
 

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oxygencube said:
Thanks! It looks like that helped it gain traction. It’s an Allumacraft 1442LW. This is the livewell in the center bench seat.


Yea, they look like hairline cracks/leaks. I’ll give JB Weld a try. It also looks like these two rivets are leaking. Thoughts on drilling out and replacing them v/s patching with sealant/JB Weld?
Click to expand...
Guessing they hold the livewell to bottom of boat? If so I'd put a big hammer against back side of rivet and "buck" it.
 

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