Getting a custom Jon boat built for next year. Primary use is fishing on Mississippi and small/medium lakes, second use is duck hunting. As space and an open floorplan is desired, would you include a livewell or just use a cooler for your catch? So far, the boat is specified to be a 20 footer. Dual mud motors and trying to see if they can find room on the transom for a 9.9 kicker for trolling. Thoughts?
I use a cooler, even when i have a livewell.
My preference.
I prefer a livewell during the colder months of the year and a cooler in the heat of summer.
I did use a portable livewell but I sold it due to the fact it just didn’t fit in my boat that good and a cooler didn’t either. I just feel wen u have a boxy figure in the boat that’s not formed to the boat that there is a lot of waisted space. Plus anything portable can be difficult to secure to the boat. I had a custom aluminum livewell built for my boat that is formed nicely to the boat and looks like it came from the factory. Plus no Moore water spilling out at take off like previous cooler/portable livewells.
I got my livewell made at arc kings in shokoppee mn. I’ll try and post a pic wen I can.
Would think it depends on how many fish you usually keep. I keep very few but like my beverages cold while fishing. Cooler for me.
I’d go with a live well so you can keep your bait health. You’re going to kill your catch anyway so it doesn’t matter if you kill them when you catch them and throw them on ice or kill them at the end of the trip.
As space and an open floorplan is desired, would you include a livewell or just use a cooler for your catch? Thoughts?
Put the live well in including plumbing. When you do this, allow for, and insulate, completely all around and under it. Use it as a cooler when you want a cooler—– use it as a live well when you want a live well.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JD Winston wrote:</div>
As space and an open floorplan is desired, would you include a livewell or just use a cooler for your catch? Thoughts?Put the live well in including plumbing. When you do this, allow for, and insulate, completely all around and under it. Use it as a cooler when you want a cooler—– use it as a live well when you want a live well.
Ahhh!!! That is a great idea!
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JD Winston wrote:</div>
As space and an open floorplan is desired, would you include a livewell or just use a cooler for your catch? Thoughts?Put the live well in including plumbing. When you do this, allow for, and insulate, completely all around and under it. Use it as a cooler when you want a cooler—– use it as a live well when you want a live well.
Totally agree. Best of both worlds and I loved the built in cooler that a past boat had because it was so easy. Dump in the ice, dump in the drinks, pull the plug when done.
Don’t forget the lid needs to be insulated! Otherwise the hot sun beating down on the lid melts all the ice. I would include a foil-backed foam piece in the lid, as the foil Is tremendous at stopping radiant heat.
Grouse
As mentioned just insulate a live well. Buy the LW and have it spray foamed.
Darn near any aluminum (some FG) can easily remove their current LW and take it to a business that does spray foam insulating. The company may do it onsite or keep it and take it to their next job and spray it then, it depends.
My solution has been a soft-sided cooler. I have a tiller and it sits behind the driver’s seat. Soft sided can wedge into about any space and be out of the way. Its big enough to get a limit of eater sized walleyes in it, when done just rise, fold, or crumple it up and store it. Works for me ~
Dual mud motors…
I’m intrigued by this. Do you mean two mud motors side-by-side on the transom???
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