Livewell pump repair/replace question

[slothman]

I have a livewell pump for recirculating the water in my livewell. It is being very noisy/squeaky when it is turned on. I’ve been told that it probably has something sucked into the pump, or possibly the pump is going bad. 

I have been advised to replace the cartridge for the pump. Well, I get into the bilge area and started looking at it and I’m not sure I have a pump that has a replaceable cartridge. 

My question is, if I were to replace the entire pump, should I replace the hoses too? Or, can I just use the ones already in there?

Also, any recommendations for which pump to use if I replace the whole thing? It currently has a 500gph basspirator. 

[fishinwrench]

Basspirator's don't have replacement motor cartridges.  

If your hoses are still in good shape you can reuse them.  

Porter's in Laurie has that braided PVC though if you wanna refresh it all.   It's the best stuff ever for livewell plumbing.

[slothman]

13 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Basspirator's don't have replacement motor cartridges.  

If your hoses are still in good shape you can reuse them.  

Porter's in Laurie has that braided PVC though if you wanna refresh it all.   It's the best stuff ever for livewell plumbing.

I’m gonna put a new pump in. Any suggestions about which one you like? It is for the hydro pump (for recirculating water to add air bubbles in the livewell) in my Champion. I know west marine has the rule pumps. The Johnson pumps look good too.

[slothman]

I got the old pump out. It was a 600gph basspirator. I think I’m gonna put in a 750gph Johnson if I can get one. I think this is an easier job than I previously though it would be. Seems pretty simple really. The new cartridge systems do seem much better when it comes to replacing parts though. Hopefully I won’t need to change it out for a good many years, but it should be much easier when that day comes. 

[fishinwrench]

Personally I don't see a need for a recirc. pump unless your trying to keep fish alive while trailering or running from Warsaw back to PB2.  It's always better to keep fresh water coming in and old water going out vs. recirculating the piss water.  

As with everything else on a boat they'll last a long time if you use them.  Anything that seldom gets used will fail within a year or two.  The reason yours is squealing is probably because you never use it.

[fshndoug]

are you saying he rarely puts a fish in the boat.HaHa

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, fshndoug said:

are you saying he rarely puts a fish in the boat.HaHa

No, I'm saying that he probably uses the fill pump to aerate the livewell, like he should.  😉

[Ketchup]

use my recirc. all day anytime the water temp gets into 80's during tourneys. 20 pound bag of ice keeps fish very happy. 

[slothman]

I actually do use the recirc regularly in my boat. My “fill/empty” valve/switch is broken and has been since I bought the boat. I have always done what the guy before me did and just plug the livewell, fill it, and use the recirculated water to aerate the tank. Fixing the “fill/empty” valve is on my to-do list. I am SLOWLY getting all of the old worn out things in the boat fixed and replaced with newer, better working stuff.

[fishinwrench]

To each his own I reckon, I just always felt it was best to keep fresh water coming in and let the overflow take the piddle and doodle out.   If y'all wanna make your fish soak in their piddle....all I can say is that my fish are cleaner.  😄