Livewell Capacities ~ visited ~ how many gallons?
Picture a 55 gallon drum on the back deck of your boat... We have shyed away from discussion of live well capacities and have for decades not wanted to publish our capacity of livewells. Most frequently because the competition tries to label a livewell as overall volume, instead of only that area below the overflow.
We have long supported quality oxygen and have a proven track record to the best system on the market. Of course this all matters none when faced with numbers, that may be fictitious, and whos to tell anyone otherwise. Have you measured your actual livewells? Today we are about to mention the actual triangle livewells capacities.
The Jaguar, Puma FTD, Cougar FTD, Eyra and Caracal all have the newer triangle livewells that are huge. The images below support that. Of course the dimensional aspects are hard to wrap in as the complexity of the troughs, sump, angles and offsets is all to gain maximum capacity, while trying to not loose function. then we have to accommodate everything and a square box just doesnt easily allow that. One competitive manufacturer we know is very realistic in giving their actual docile livewell dimensions, though most are not.
Most manufacturers want to include the dead air space below the overflows, and that space does not hold fish. Sure you can pump it up there, though be realistic. Many tout a 50, 55 or 60 gallon well and we often have said, where under that deck does it look like a 55 gallon drum will fit? Let alone with the rear storages, across the sump fuel tanks, 4 - batteries, power pole pumps, battery charger and more. That all compressed in that rear deck area, and a 55 gallon livewell in that deck also? Imagine a 55 gallon drum simply standing, or laying, on a back deck?
The triangle livewells on the Premium models of Bass Cat are between 47 and 44 gallons of total capacity to the brim. And there are three (3) different versions of this well design today. That is not the capacity below the overflows. A simple math format bring us to reality on how difficult a 6" size change is to bring into this and complexity of size. An 18" square box (18" x 18" x 18") rim full will hold approximately 25 gallons of water. That 6" larger square box which is 24" in size (24" x 24" x 24") will hold approximately 60 gallons (59.84) of water.
Thus a 6" Smaller box all the way around shortens that capacity by around 35 gallons. Inches, corners, sumps and cubby holes matter greatly. Things get dimensionally challenged by the existing space limitations and that space which is required to meet the numbers suggested. Adding the overflow location in the equation bring in a whole new paradigm. We have worked extremely hard on the reduction of ammonia, improved oxygen, pounds per gallon, cooler temperatures (draw latches) balanced PH levels and more to improve the quality of retained fish.
No manufacturer has done more than we have in that effort. Since the days of Doug Hannon and Loren Hill, on through to Gene Gilliland, later TPW studies and more, research has been ongoing to improve the survival of livewell released bass. Many of the studies and data will be listed as links below. The images of a Jaguar livewell are also enclosed these images have been public information a long time. We just want an honest playing field with integrity by those we compete against. This has not been the case to date for many of those.
We hope this helps everyone to understand more about livewell sizes and why we have been hesitant.
Its pretty simple math really!
TP&W libvewell data PPT:
http://www.slideshare.net/raminlandfish ... on-8773301
http://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/did ... ells.phtmlTP&W thorough study: https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwd ... ds-199.pdf
Miss State study with Gene Gilliland: http://fwrc.msstate.edu/pubs/lmbv.pdf
TN Tournament Info:http://www.tnfish.org/TournamentFishing ... e_TWRA.pdf
Bassmaster - Keeping Bass Alive:https://www.bassmaster.com/tips/keeping-bass-alive
Last edited by Bass Cat Boats on May 25th, 2016, 12:17 pm, edited 8 times in total.
Reset copy on 8.24.2020
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they are big. you learn “REAL” quick to pin a bobber in the lip if you want to easily get a fish out to cull. its like a black hole, only w/ water in its belly.
This is a good read and great info. There was discussion on another forum about the N boat. Owners were complaining that they advertised each live well at 20 gallons each but when checked it was only 15 to the overflow. BCB live wells are mega size.
That is great info and thanks for posting. This has been questioned many times over the 8 years I have been a BCB owner. I fished a tournament out of a bug this past weekend and one of our fish died costing us a 1/2 lb penalty. Also, earlier this year (Feb) in the same boat 3 of the 5 died before weigh in. We were left wondering if something was in the water that led to them dying or some other unknown reason. We still dont know but he did wash everything out and thoroughly clean the wells afterward. He has made the comment when in my boat that he can barely even see the fish because the live wells are so deep.2017 Eyra / 250 Merc Pro XS
Thanks for the great write up. Lots of information that makes it very clear why BCB are so respected. I do have a question though, I was told that the triangle doors are designed to help avoid fish from jumping out of the livewell, but I am not sure why the livewell tanks are triangular? Last question is a manufacturing process, are the livewell tank walls insulated? I wrapped mine with layers of foam and it keeps the livewell water cooler during the hot sunny days especially when I drop in frozen water bottles in every hour or so. Thanks again for your time and effort to keep us informed, its so rare to have companies that actually care after sales.Practice Angling CPRCatchPictureRelease2010 PIV 200SHO
The triangle lids are because the wells are triangular, square peg and round hole thing. The back wall is not insulated or isolated because it exposes to the bilge. The wells are triangle shaped to increase amount of water in wells, reduce spillage and sloshing and thus improve survival, improve room in the sump, design an area for pole pumps, maximize storage and get everything in a tight space. Square boxes are conventional and easy, we always try to improve and no a triangle box with house or wedge shaped aligning storages, odd shape lids and multiple fittings necessary is not easy.
I know the livewells in my New Sabre are plain awesome…. Although it led to a panic attack in the first tourney I fished when I couldnt “find” a fish…… He was down at the very bottom just chillin but I couldnt find him until most of the water was pumped out. Keep up the good work!
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