Amanda Knapp
Jon boats are ideal for shallow waters, swamps and mudflats. They are specially designed for inland water activities and can carry up to five people. Jon boats can be fitted with a livewell, which is a simple construction that can be added to the boat. The livewell is a standard transom-mounted pump with a strainer that goes to both the livewell and catchwell. The pump out is a transom pump mounted inside the livewell with a strainer and the recirculate is a bilge pump mounted inside the livewell with a spray bar on it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Size | 8-20 feet |
| Capacity | 5 people |
| Hull type | Flat |
| Pump type | Standard transom mounted pump with a strainer |
| Pump location | Inside the livewell |
| Recirculation | Bilge pump with a spray bar |
| Drainage | Pull the standpipe while under way |
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What You'll Learn
Jon boats are ideal for shallow waters, mudflats, swamps and other similar areas
Jon boats are generally between 8 and 20 feet long and can carry around five people. They are highly stable, especially when fitted with a longtail boat motor or a surface drive, which also improves performance.
Adding a livewell to a jon boat can be done in several ways, depending on the desired level of complexity. A simple livewell can be constructed with a standard transom-mounted pump with a strainer that goes to both the livewell and catchwell. The pump out is a transom pump mounted inside the livewell with a strainer, and the recirculate is a bilge pump mounted inside the livewell with a spray bar. This setup allows for easy drainage and refilling of the livewell.
Alternatively, a more complex setup might involve using a pump that acts as a thru-hull fitting, with the intake outside the boat and the motor mounted inside. This type of pump can be challenging to find, however. Another option is to pull the standpipe while underway, which will drain the water completely. Remembering to reinsert the standpipe before coming off plane is crucial, or the livewell will refill to the lake level.
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Jon boats range from 8 to 20 feet in size and can carry around five people
Livewells can be added to jon boats. The in is a standard transom-mounted pump with a strainer that goes to both the livewell and the catchwell. The pump out is a transom pump mounted inside the livewell with a strainer, and the recirculate is a bilge pump mounted inside the livewell with a spray bar. The in/out are on a double throw switch.
If you pull the standpipe while under way, the water will drain completely. You just need to stick the standpipe back in before you come off the plane or it will refill to the lake level. No pump is necessary for this, but be aware that this will affect the boat's stability.
There are many different types of pumps available for livewells, and it can be confusing to choose the right one. Some pumps act as the thru-hull fitting, with the intake outside the boat and the motor mounted inside.
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Livewells can be added to jon boats
Livewells are used to keep fish alive, and can be added to jon boats using pumps and wiring. The simplest way to add a livewell is to visit a local boat dealer and observe how they are constructed.
One user on a boating forum described their livewell setup as follows:
> The in is a standard transom-mounted pump with a strainer that goes to both livewell and catchwell, the pump out is a transom pump mounted inside the livewell with a strainer and the recirculate is a bilge pump mounted inside the livewell with a spray bar on it, the in/out are on a double throw switch that was originally a nav light switch, up is in down is out.
Another user asked about the possibility of using a one-way valve to let water out of the livewell without letting lake water flow back in. They also described a pump that acts as a thru-hull fitting, with the intake outside the boat and the motor mounted inside.
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Livewells can be drained by pulling the standpipe
The livewell can also be drained by using a pump. One user added a pump out last because they got tired of having to stick their hand in the water to get it to drain. They also mentioned that when they get to the launch, they hit the switch and pump it out, then hit the switch the other way and it fills with fresh water while they are parking the truck.
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Livewells can be drained by using a pump
If you want to avoid using a pump, you can pull the standpipe while under way, which will cause the water to drain completely. However, you will need to stick the standpipe back in before you come off plane or it will refill to the lake level.
There are many different types of pumps available, and it can be confusing to choose the right one. It is recommended to take a trip to your local boat dealer and look at how simple live wells are constructed.
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Frequently asked questions
A livewell is a simple construction that can be added to a jon boat. It uses a pump and a strainer to drain water.
You can use a standard transom-mounted pump with a strainer.
You can either use a pump or pull the standpipe while the boat is under way, which will drain the water completely.
You can buy a livewell from your local boat dealer.
