posted 02-25-2004 09:50 AM ET (US)            

Stows well and cleans up easily.

posted 02-25-2004 12:37 PM ET (US)            

There is a simple way to make your own livewell that completely removes from your Montauk, without drilling a single hole.

Mount an Aqua World 500 transom mounted bait pump to your transom using 3m 4200. It doesn't take much to hold the bracket in place, and the pump will disengage from the bracket, leaving only the small bracket on the transom when not in use..
http://www.boatus-store.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=20002&langId=-1&catalogId=20002&productId=73344

Run the 3/4" pump tube to the top of a 15-20 gallon round trash can (I prefer a nice, white color can with a secure lid), with a nipple fitting mounted 5-6" from the lip of the tank. Mount an elbow on the inside, directing waterflow downward.

Run a 1.25' tube from the top of the tank ( 1" BELOW the level of the intake tube) to your splashwell. Put a screen on the outflow fitting.

Buy a Perkos male plug from Wests, and use your stern light socket as a powersource. If you have a on/off (two position) push/pull switch for your running lights, replace it with a 3-position switch so that the first position is off, the second position is stern light/baitwell, and third position is bow/stern/baitwell lights.

Bungee your well into an aft corner using the lifting eye and the sternrail as anchors.

posted 02-25-2004 08:48 PM ET (US)            

When I bought my Boston Whaler it came with some giant circular bait tank that occupied the best place in the cockpit and was always in the way. I must have been a 25-30 gallon tank--Huge thing! I think my wife put it out with the trash—I have not seen it in four years. I removed all the water pickup plumbing and a really nice 12-Vdc pump mounted under the gunwale. I am still trying to figure out what to do with the pump. But that big fish tank gizmo, I really don't have a clue where that went.

posted 02-25-2004 09:10 PM ET (US)            

Lots of Montauks have Kodiak PF-14 to PF-32 mounted in the rear of the cockpit. Raw water pickup on the transom (1100gph is best) with the fill hose and drain going over the splash well. 12v DC to the battery and you are good to go!
Let me know what you need and I will point you in the right direction. Lots of good deals out there and some with free shipping.

BTW, I am less than 40 min from you and can help if you need.

posted 02-26-2004 08:18 AM ET (US)            

I use the 5gal bucket and bubbler all the time. It works fine for shrimp and mud minnows here on the east coast. Shrimp are pretty sensitive, and it keeps them alive. The only time it's a problem is when it's really hot out. The water in the bucket gets hot and starts killing the bait. I've read on the local fishing web page you can put one of those blue ice things in the bucket to help cool off the water and help the bait last longer. I plan on trying it this summer.

I use to live in So. Cal. so I know anchovies are a little bigger bait. Are you sure the bucket won't work for them, have you tried it?

One thing nice about using buckets is you can have one on each end of the boat so the guy fishing in the front doesn't have to keep running to the back for fresh bait.

posted 02-26-2004 08:42 AM ET (US)            

A change to the water works well by parts and the bubbler works fine.

So I dont' see the issue.... It is portable it works well and the best part is mobile.

Good thing is you can put 24 Pin fish and 24 shrimp in each bucket NO PROBLEM!

understand?