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One of the downsides of the Montauk is that there is no live bait well. I currently use a flow troll for mud minnows but i need something bigger for menhaden and some of the larger mullet that i have been using. I am considering a 5gal bucket with an areator. However i dont really know the best place to put it or how to secure it so it does not slide around.

I would like to hear from others what type of live well they they use and where and how it is secured.
thanks!

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I have the same problem with my Montauk 17. I have used a 5 gallon bucket with an aerator and it just doesn't keep the bait alive vey long even if I change water frequently. I also tried a 20 gallon Rubbermaid garbage can with an aerator I made from a bilge pump. It was cheap and worked well but it is just too big.

Marine Metal Products makes a 10 gallon bait well (about $90) that comes with a good aerator that has cables and heavy duty clips that connect to the battery posts. My friend has used this system on his Montauk 17 for a long time and it works well in keeping the bait alive but he must keep the aerator going all the time and changes the water two or three times a day. He carries a second battery just for this purpose. He places the baitwell on the deck into that rounded nook that is at each corner of the transom. He keeps it in place with bungee cords hooked to the side rails.

I am going to go with the Marine Metal Products 10 gallon baitwell which is the best compromise I have seen for the Montauk 17.

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I have a Newport 17 ( same hull as Montauk) I have been using the 5 gallon bucket with an aerator I got at Toby's on John's Island. It is big enough for me, but the pump beats the snot out of the bait. I like the ones on Marine Metal's site . I might just get the aerator for the 5 gal....
Thanks for the heads up!

http://www.marinemetal.com/mmpweb5.html

B.G.

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Thanks for the suggestions. Has anybody ever used the cooler seat as a well? I saw this kit, which mounts inside a cooler.

marine metal super saver kit

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I considered it but decided that the cooler with he low profile takes too much floor/deck space for the amount of water it holds and the cost of the cooler. The round bucket bait wells are taller and so take less space on the deck.

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i got a Kodiak Marine 22 gallon oblong tank with a transom intake. it is the best tank ever. bait never dies. it weighs 200+ full, but hardly noticible. since it's oblong, it fits into the back corner and somewaht reaches towards the middle by the bilge. there is plenty of room and you dont need to shuffle by it. I got a great deal with their blemished tanks. perfect but not good enough for the showroom. saved about 40%. hope this helps. mike

http://www.kodiakmarine.com/pro-flow.html

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Went by Boaters world last night and picked up a kit that converts a cooler to a live well. an adaptor allows the air hose to run thru the drain plug of the cooler. I will let you know how it goes...

http://www.longerlifebaitkits.com/pro...tkit01.htm

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I've used a Cool Bubbles from Marine Metals Products for years with great success in my Montauk. They are sold everywhere. Because all of the sizes are round they fit great in the stern corners. I don't feel the need to secure it but if I did I'd use a bungee cord around it secured to a lifting eye. Buy the Cool Bubbles model vs. the regular one. The difference is the Cool Bubbles bucket is insulated. If you go on the cheap and buy the uninsulated model drop a plastic water bottle that you've pre-frozen in it to keep your water cold, DON'T add ice to the water, it will kill your bait. I use shrimp most of the time and routinely keep it for 24 hours...

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I use an igloo brand marine cube -- see the attached link.

http://www.igloo-store.com/product_detail.asp?T1=IGL+ICECUBE+MARINE&HDR=icecubeseries

I added a good recirculating pump that attaches to the rear battery in my boat with clips. The marine UV cooler is better insulated and stays very cool. I have kept bait live all day -- I keep a plastic beer pitcher in the console and add fresh water a few times through the heat of the day. The nice thing is you can pull it out of the boat -- I only take bait when the kids are with me. Most of the time I throw artificial so do not have it in the boat anyway. It sits very well in the rear of the boat unrestrained and with the top you get no spills.

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I use a 12 gal oval baitwell (Cabela's) and it snugs right into the curve of my splashwell and never moves. I started using an O2 system about 10 years ago and would highly recommend purchasing one. You won't need a battery, the bait is always frisky and we can keep live bait for 3 days (changing the water every few hours) even in South Tx heat. It will keep bait alive and kicking when traditional aerators won't plus we are 3 hours away from the baitstand so we buy enough bait to last all weekend. I use a 6in diffusing stone and an oxygen bottle that you can buy/recharge from AirGas. You can also pick them up from any medical supply. The initial cost is $200-300 for a good regulator, diffusing stone and bottle, but it will run for a lonnnng time (3-4 wekend trips) on one bottle and keeps the water a few degrees cooler as well. I made a little cradle out of 6" pvc, foam and wood to hold the bottle next to the livewell. Don't set the O2 levels too high as it is toxic in high levels. No more batteries to fuss with. Cabelas has many sizes and configurations of livewells. Paul

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Here is a good site to visit for livewells that may fit. Good luck! Paul
www.aquaworld-products.com/tech.html/tech.html

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One more thing, they are made in NY and if you go to the "about us" section on the homepage, you can see one sitting in the back of a new 170 Montauk. PT

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I think that is Warrens boat?