posted 01-13-2009 07:49 PM ET (US)     

In the event of shipping of an unusual volume of water into the Montauks, the optional live well facing would considerably slow and/or block the flow of a large volume of water to the sump/pump.
It would also appear that the enlarged sump/pump capacity was intended to compensate for this flow restriction by holding more deck water and pumping out water at a higher rate but are they efficient enough ?

The only work around by BW, to compensate for this flow restriction by the live well appears to be only one pair of very shallow port/starboard swales in the deck at the lower edge of the stern boarding steps that pass under the lower edge of the live well.
There is no other pathway. However, this design element does not take into consideration, the potential for the complete blockage/restriction of these small swales by debris or other materials and zero water flow to the sump/pump and possible vessel instability.

The slowing/blocking/restricting of the exit pathway of an unstable volume of water to the sump/pump is an unsafe condition in need of a design fix.
It’s clear that not opting for a live well on the Montauks may be the safer choice until this potential for zero flow is resolved.