DIY Kayak Livewell

Nov 13

Written by Ryan

Welcome to the Salty Kayak DIY Kayak Livewell project.

This project is open-sourced and provided free of charge, with generous support from our sponsor, Flow-Rite (https://www.flow-rite.com/). Flow-Rite has supplied the fittings, hoses, and electronics for this build. Please consider supporting them by using the links provided below to purchase parts for your livewell.

Please note that the information provided is intended solely as a guide. There is no guarantee that your final build will be functional or safe. Please assemble and use this project at your own risk and liability.

Chapter 1 - The Project

The primary scope of this project is to bring a recirculating livewell option to Native Watercraft kayak owners, specifically for the Native Slayer LTE. While this design can be adapted to other Native models, adapting it to kayaks from other manufacturers will be significantly more challenging.

One of my main goals was to eliminate the pump priming issues common with other livewell options. This requires mounting the pump inside a scupper hole so the pickup remains below the waterline. To my knowledge, only Native kayaks feature scupper holes large enough to accommodate this setup.

While it may be possible to mount the pump above a scupper hole on other kayak models, it would require an extended pickup tube and a priming system. Unfortunately, I am not planning to test this setup at this time.

Chapter 2 - The Tank

Sterilite 19 Qt. Gasket Box (Part #3932)

Picking a livewell tank isn’t always as simple as it seems, especially given the space constraints of a kayak.

While variables like size, shape, color, and accessibility are often debated among anglers, my experience traveling the East Coast has shown that shape and color don't significantly affect baits like mullet, menhaden, croaker, grunts, or pilchards. They simply need clean, oxygenated water.

I recommend choosing a tank that fits your kayak well, keeps your bait healthy, and supports the weight of the water without overloading your kayak. Water is heavy, so pay close attention to the overall size of the tank.

For my setup, I chose the Sterilite 19 Qt. Gasket Box (Part #3932). It fits well in the back of my Native Slayer LTE and holds approximately 4 gallons of water, which is ideal for my needs. It is durable, cost-effective, made in the USA, and provides plenty of room to mount fittings.

Chapter 3 - The Pump

The livewell pump is the heart of the system and the sole reason your bait stays alive and healthy.

Most livewell pumps are submersible but not self-priming, meaning they must be mounted below the waterline to function. While pickup tubes can be used to force water into the pump when pedaling the kayak forward, these systems can cause numerous frustrations.

Using a submersible, inline pump that fits directly inside a scupper hole allows the pump to prime instantly without outside influence. For this setup, I chose the Rule Slimline Submersible and Inline Pump rated for 500 GPH (Part #IL500P).

The IL500P pump fits inside the Native scupper hole with room to spare. It includes a pickup screen that installs flush with the bottom of the kayak, preventing pump damage and eliminating added drag while pedaling.