Fishing Tournaments in a RT188

[n2ratfishin]

Back when the limit was ten we were using boats with subpar live well systems compared to these new ones with pump out, recirculation and air systems. Keep the water moving and oxygenated.

[FlFedAngler]

I would suggest leaving the divider in place if you are tournament fishing. When I was a kid, my first boat was a tracker 175 and I had 2 3+ lb spots dart out when I opened the lid. One completely cleared the gunnel. I originally took it out for the same concerns, but replaced it after that happened. I think without the divider, they’re able to build up enough speed to go airborne.

I just purchased a RT 188 last week. The first thing I did was take the divider out. Then I thought, those fish can jump out now. So I cut some aluminum mesh (.06 thk) and now half of it is always covered when I open the lid. Just slide it back and forth and you can see through it.

[n2ratfishin]

Glory Bags will stop fish from jumping out and make it easy to retrieve them.

[Sammiew]

Thanks guys for replying, I have the V-T2 vents in the lid but my 2015 didn't come with a recirculating livewell. In the summer time I was worried about pulling in the hot surface water throughout the day. Anyways, you reply's were helpful so I feel better about trying to keep bass alive. I guess the best way is to go out and catch 5 good fish and test it out.

[RichW]

Thanks guys for replying, I have the V-T2 vents in the lid but my 2015 didn't come with a recirculating livewell. In the summer time I was worried about pulling in the hot surface water throughout the day. Anyways, you reply's were helpful so I feel better about trying to keep bass alive. I guess the best way is to go out and catch 5 good fish and test it out.

put an aerator in, recirculate & the bubbles reoxygenate the water

[Sammiew]

RichW, thought about checking to see what it would take to put a recirculating system in. Surely, they have a kit or something to give you an idea how to do it......thanks all for the comments.......

[Ranger391v]

'Sammiew' ....... I once had a boat (Xpress H50) that I wanted a recirculation system in. The boat had a very basic livewell system in it ..... drain plug bottom, water pumps in from the lake, overflow to let the excess out. I bought a timer switch, recirculation pump, intake screen, spray nozzle, 2 hose clamps and a small piece of clear tubing. I literally put a hole in the lower sidewall of the livewell to allow the pump to stick through it (instead of the transom like normally). I cut the threaded tube to fix, siliconed the plastic hull fitting nuts on both sides, and installed the screen on the threads on the inside of the livewell. I then put the spray nozzle through the livewell sidewall and siliconed. Connected the nozzle to the pump with the hose. Ran the pump's wires to the dash to the Livewell Timer swtch I bought.

Here's a link to my boast's build thread. http://www.bbcboards.net/showthread.php?t=312937
Looks like this project was in post #6. Sorry that Photobucket has goofed the pictures up, but hopefully you can make things out good enough though slightly blurry. This recirculation idea is the hose on the far left of the 3 if looking from inside the bilge area. The screen and nozzle is on the right of everything (middle of livwell) when looking at the picture that's inside the livewell.

It worked good! I would loan this boat out to a friend of mine who's son was fishing the high school club thing. They never lost a fish in it. The thing I always liked was that you can pump fresh water in from the lake and still keep it rolling with the recirculation pump at the same time. Again, I liked it. Granted it's not as 'clean' as a Ranger factory install with the flapper selector, etc. But then again, every fiberglass Ranger I've EVER owned (3 now), that dang flapper valve is KNOWN for goofing up as soon as trash gets into it.

Hope it helps.
-391v

[tcesni]

You can also buy a 12V recirculating aerator like the one in this link. I've kept one of these in my boats for about 20 years and I have my rigged with clips so that in hot weather or if I get a decent bag of fish swimming around the livewell I stick this in and hook it up and leave it running. Cheap insurance and it works well.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sea-Sense-5...0AAOSwxs1eKgSO

[Sammiew]

Thanks Ranger & tcesni,

When I get in from offshore I will check out your ideas.....thanks for your time.

[218_fishing]

Late to the party, but I have a 03 fish hawk with the standard big well, I run a bubbler and vt2 vents in my system, I also place the bubbler on a 9ah separate battery its runs all day and doesn't drain your battery.

[FlFedAngler]

The link below is the one I got to store in my boat in case the built in one fails during a tournament.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Fitzh20]

I have a 2010 Tracker Grizzly 1448, I fished tournaments for years with just a large cooler with the fish saver live well system. I never lost a fish or in my club it was a disqualification. I just used frozen lake water in small Gatorade bottles. I don’t think you would have any issues with the live well system in the RT 188.

[Bill Reynolds]

Sammie,
I sent you a PDF with more complete information, but these two pics address what you would have to do to update your RT to the factory Recirculation system.
First, the plumbing:
You would have to mount a 3 way valve and new pump near the existing pickup transom connector. Re-route the existing drain line and connect it to the output side of the new valve.
Mount the selector switch near the throttle lever. Route the control cable into the bilge and connect to the new valve.



You will also need to plug the transom where the old system’s drain line connected.



If it were me, I would go for one of the aftermarket add on recirculation systems.

If anyone is interested in a PDF that explains the 3 Ranger RT Series Livewell plumbing just click on this link to my cloud drive. Click download at the top right of the screen to download and open or save.

https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/sh...D4imFwwzwtXq1g