Installing a Flow Rite livewell pumpout/aerator kit.
Submitted by Jim Brown

 

I recently installed a Flow Rite livewell pumpout/aerator system in my boat and documented it for the grab bag. Its not a very hard project to do, you just need the proper tools and parts. The total install took me about 30 min.
As always read the instructions that come with the kit should you decide to do this yourself, this article may not contain all the information you need to complete the installation on your boat.

Subject Boat:  2000 NX 882

List of materials and tools

Installation

Flow Rite makes two different pumpout styles. The one I installed is a replacement aerator that also acts as a pumpout. The other type is a new valve,  cable,  and control. I decided to go with the aerator style mainly due to cost. The kit cost me $21 plus shipping and about ten dollars for the hose and clamps and about $15 for the two different types of sealers.. The other system would have cost almost $120 for everything I needed here is a picture of the kit I purchased. You can buy it one line direct from Flow Rite at http://www.flow-rite.com/marine. All the other parts I needed were purchased at the Home Depot, I purchased the aquarium sealant at pet smart and the 3M5200 at Wal-Mart..

Here is a shot of the boat before I drilled the hole for the thru-hill fitting. I decided to put the fitting next to the bilge pump fitting. after some careful measuring I determined the distance from the rub rail to the center of the bilge fitting and used the same measurement for the center of the pumpout fitting. I also put about 1" spacing between the two fittings. The masking tape I used is to keep the gel coat from chipping while I drill the hole. 

Here is a shot of the hole drilled in the hull for the fitting. I used a 1" hole saw to drill the hole. 

Here is a shot of the fitting installed. I put some 3M 5200 on the back of the fitting to seal it and also on the nut that screws on the back of the fitting. The next step is to run the hose from the thru hull fitting to your livewell. You need to make sure you run the hose to the aerator that recirculates in the livewell. I had to install an elbow in the hose to I could get it from the thru hull fitting heading towards the bow of the boat. If I didn't use an elbow the bend would have been too sharp and the hose would kink. I don't have a picture of this. When I ran the hose I found that it was very stiff and wanted to stay curled up. to help make it straight I put it in the dryer for a minute or two to soften it up. I also used a heat gun to soften it and make it easier to put onto the fittings.  I put a hose clamp on each fitting as I installed the hose.
On my 882 I have two aerators one is fresh water pump in and the other is both fresh water pump in and also recirc. On my 882 the way it came from the factory the recirc was on the port or passengers side of the boat. The drain was also on the same side as well . Last year I swapped it over to the Starboard or driver side to make more flow in the livewell. Since I installed the fitting on the Starboard side I only had to run from the fitting to the livewell.  

 

Here is a shot of the old aerator fitting from outside the livewell. This fitting needs to be removed. To remove it remove the air bar and the nut on the inside of the livewell, then remove the hose. 

Here is a shot of the new fitting. I installed both hoses before I installed it in the livewell. I put some aquarium sealant on both of the nuts that hold the fitting in place. Don't use normal silicone on these fittings. From what I am told normal silicone can be poisonous to the fish even when cured. aquarium sealant is safe for the fish when cured and is suitable for use in a livewell. 

 

Here is a picture of the fitting installed. Make sure when you tighten it up that there in enough threads showing inside of the livewell to screw the aerator head on. After the fitting is installed install the aerator head and its done.  I wanted to take a picture of this but my livewells are very dark inside and the pictures didn't come out.

                              

 

Here are some pictures of how the system works, I borrowed them from the Flow Rite website. To use the pumpout all you need to do is put the livewell on recirc and pull the aerator head. it slides out about an inch. to go back to recirc mode push it back in. The kit was pretty easy to install and after some on the water testing it seems to work quite well. It should install into any boat that has a recirc system on the livewell.