Replacing Large Helm Live Well with Tackle Station on a Parker 2501 CC

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tackle station

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southofblock

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The 2018 Parker 2501 CC has two live wells, a smaller one in the transom, and a much larger one incorporated into the helm bench seat. The smaller well is sufficient for my needs, and would prefer handy tackle access. I am saving the large live well for future sale. That is, I do not want to alter it since it is very well built and a new owner may want to reinstall.



Figures of the existing stripped large live well shown. It wasn’t difficult to remove the aluminum powder-coated rod holder and bench seats. The powder-coating has some wear, blisters and chips. I am considering redoing powder-coat; are good alternatives now available?



The live well measures 38” overall length (includes 2” for the 1” bottom flange), overall width of 25” and a height of 17”. Does Parker make a helm seat tackle station for a one-to-one change out? Another option may be salvage yards – building from scratch will be expensive.



The only minor issue was removing the two seat pedestals. Maybe 5200? Anyways, tight fit, needed to get flexible putty blade under and used a rubber mallet to get an edge going. No scrapes, came right off after working blade around base. I have included a couple of photos of the underside of the large live well. It is well built. As shown, there is a ton of some type of sealant around the drain. I had to cut the drain hose. The kick bar is thru-bolted and backed and again covered with some type of adhesive caulk.



The deck beneath the live well was dry, dirty, though cleaned up fine. I did notice that Parker put a thick bead of caulk around the inside perimeter of the live well which I bet is used to prevent water seeping in. It was not holding together anything. The screws used to hold the live along the lower flange came out without effort. They were bone dry and some type of caulk had been used to seal. For now, I have left the cut drain hole in place. This I will deal with over the winter.



The deck cutout for the drain was entirely epoxied along edges, everything was bone dry beneath, no flexing anywhere. The long water inflow black hose is shown, top quality.



The toughest job will be gaining access to the white large diameter outflow hose and thru-hole (beneath the water line). The battery switch compartment was removed (which you appear to have to do) and that reveals the access plate to the hose and thru-hole. It is that white hose under the red battery cables. This will take some effort and planning. The white drain hose is double clamped, as all hoses are. I will have to disconnect the battery cables I believe to have better access. I don’t think cutting in a larger access port is wise. The surveyor said that this arrangement meets USCG regulation. All the other (2) below-the-water-line connections have seacocks (and are in easy reach). However, he said that since the end of the hose is sufficiently high above the water line and is connected to the live well, it meets code. Didn’t quite understand this, though surveyor was very knowledgeable.



Does anyone know the type of thru-hole used here? Is it molded plastic?
 

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Pictures tell the story...finished up in June. Still needs a bit more, like easier access interior and rear drains which can be closed. Mike at Custom Marine Plastics in Bristol, RI made the tackle station cabinets.
 

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Well done. Love this.
Can you explain the "needs a bit more like easier access interior and rear drains which can be closed."
 
Thank you! really nice to have.

The three drawers fit into the tackle station cabinet. The cabinet is screwed in around the cabinet edges to the helm bench. Once screwed in everything is ‘completely’ sealed. I cannot get inside unless I unscrew the tackle station. It’s only a matter of time before water gets in and it has no drainage. I plan, once season is over, to install two drains (which can be closed) at the bottom rear of the bench. Also, two additional cabinets which flip up from the sides for additional storage and access to the inside. Those helm benches are big.
 
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