Tomcat Fishbox filling up

W

Westie

New member
Hi there,
I am experiencing an issue with one of my fishboxes on a Tomcat 255. My macerator pump has stopped working and I think it is because a bunch of small, hard shells fell out of my crab traps and got stuck on the pump.

Now there seems to be water filling the box. I'm assuming this is because the pump is basically jammed. Does that sounds right?

I'm thinking about opening a hole in the back of the box so I can get at the pump. It's is a tight spot. I would fit the round hatch in place of the hole.

Any other ideas?
 
The macerator pumps are hard to access as you know. But if at all possible try and get to the back end of the motor with a screwdriver. Most of the macerator pumps have a slot in the end of the shaft, and you can free a jam by turning a screwdriver in this slot. There are two impellers--one is rubber, and if it is compromised you may have to rebuild the pump….

Sine the boat is 8 to 9 years old, it is likely that you will have to remove the pump, and even replace it. I believe that some folks have done this from the aft, but I agree that putting in an access port (6") will be easiest. You will want to cut the hole the exact size of the inner ring of the access port (6.5"). I believe that there is no core on the back of the fish boxes, so you will just have to seal the outer edge of the plate rim and the screws you use to hold it in place.
 
I had both pumps fail early on, I think due to freezing. Rather than replace them I disconnected the hoses and let the fishboxes drain into the bilge where the bilge pumps did their thing. I used the boxes for storage only however so there was no shells, fish guts etc. draining out. This worked for me and as far as I know for the new owner.
 
I've replaced the macerator pumps in each fish box twice (4 pumps total). I started out using the Johnson macerator pumps but I couldn't seem to get more than 1-2 seasons out of the dang things. After a ton of research online in which I found that almost all fishermen have similar problems with almost all macerator pumps, I replaced them both with Whale gulper grouper diaphragm pumps. These are claimed by most to last a lot longer. My have been in for 1 and 2 years so far so we'll see how it goes. These pumps are a good bit slower than the macerator pumps they replaced but they are designed to pump out sewage without clogging so they can handle scales etc.
 
First thing to try is forcing water into the outlet. The macerator for the head on my boat seems to seize up if not used frequently and the garden hose with a nozzle stuck into the discharge gets it working every time so far. The hose at the dock has a lot of pressure so I need to stand back when I do it, but it works for me. Free and easy and nothing to lose.
 
I have looked everywhere for a fuse and cannot find one. I've called the dealer who wired it when new....looked and looked. The fuse is a true mystery to me.
 
The fuse on mine, was back by the batteries, and was in one of those rubber capped blade fuse inserts. They may be different on each boat, since there were many ways the batteries, and wiring was done aft--depending on if the area under the seat was a bait tank, storage well, or battery holder. As I recollect, there was a separate fuse for each of the macerators, and they will blow if the macerator loads up. The back flush is an excellent idea. But check for the fuse first. Trace the wire back from the switch to the battery, and I suspect you will find it. I don't remember if it was 20 or 30 amps. (The manual specs a 20 amp fuse, and #10 wire at least.) I have one on the RV, and I use #8 wire and a 30 amp fuse, for times I don't have a "Dump" station.
 
My fuses are the same as Westie's...ain't got none.
Instead have a Blue Seas Weatherdeck switch panel by the transom which includes pop-out circuit breakers that pop out into the opaque bubble when tripped. They don't look like regular circuit breakers. Push the bubbles to reset. Does it look like this?

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/blue-sea- ... 73_003_519

I don't know the ABYC rules (Dr. Bob does), but I assumed that if you have the circuits protected by breakers within x feet of the battery then you don't need fuses in addition to breakers on the same circuit.

I also have a 30A fuse in the fuse box under the helm labeled 'pumps'. I assume it's wired to the freshwater and sewage macerator pumps, since the rawwater washdown and 2 fishbox macerator pumps seem to run off the transom breaker/switch panel. The bilge pumps run off a 24/7 15A breaker on the battery switch box. Those are the only 7 pumps on the boat that I am aware of, except when The Blonde is wearing hers. (They ding the nonskid, so I discourage it, but she refuses to be outdone by other Blondes on a 6 mile summer beach hike).
I hope that during your prepurchase research on this site that you came to realize that the TC255 fishboxes were designed to fill with rainwater, or seawater if a couple of Good Ol' Boys are standing by the scuppers. Rainwater, seawater, spilled beer, fine wine, Heron urine, unleaded gas...Tom Cat fishboxes enthusiastically suck 'em all down. If your fishboxes fill with water, then you know they are working properly. Over the millennium, many theories have been proposed on why Tom Cat fishboxes ingest water better than fish. Consider changing the title of your post to "Tom Cat fishboxes filling with water...Thank Goodness!" to make it easier for folks searching the site regarding this subject.
Like Pat, we disconnected at the macerator pumps (mine have an inline pre filter so you might want to check for that) and buy fillets at the fish market.
Cheers!
John
 
I hope not to completely derail the thread, but I have always wanted fishboxes on my 24' Tomcat. On my boat the Fuel tanks are in the location where the fish boxes are located on the newer models.

My question is - on a Tomcat 25' where are the fuel tanks? Are they moved forward under the cabin area?

If, God Forbid, my fuel tanks were to be replaced, It would be interesting to think about building in some fish boxes, as I would love the extra storage below deck. Also, sliding the fuel tanks forward would reduce the amount of weight in the aft of the boat.

Redbaronace-
I love the idea of the below deck live wells. If you end up doing this, I would love to see your progress. I plumbed the area below the seat in my 24' and modified it to create a divided bait tank. It holds about 50 gallons of water and keeps bait alive all day.
 
trpsurf":xcwkq5u6 said:
I hope not to completely derail the thread, but I have always wanted fishboxes on my 24' Tomcat. On my boat the Fuel tanks are in the location where the fish boxes are located on the newer models.

My question is - on a Tomcat 25' where are the fuel tanks? Are they moved forward under the cabin area?

If, God Forbid, my fuel tanks were to be replaced, It would be interesting to think about building in some fish boxes, as I would love the extra storage below deck. Also, sliding the fuel tanks forward would reduce the amount of weight in the aft of the boat.

Redbaronace-
I love the idea of the below deck live wells. If you end up doing this, I would love to see your progress. I plumbed the area below the seat in my 24' and modified it to create a divided bait tank. It holds about 50 gallons of water and keeps bait alive all day.
Click to expand...

Sure will keep you posted on the livewell / fishbox if we ever create it.

The basic idea would be to use the port side fish box as a live well and somehow plum the water intake from the existing raw water washdown which is already on that side. We would drain using the pvc with holes in it (like factory live well) to determine water height while still keeping the macerator and drain which is already existing. Main thing is the plumbing of fresh water and the aerator / switch for the livewell.

We fished for halibut and ling cod this weekend and ended up putting the halibut, lingcod and flounder in starboard fishbox and using the port side for fish which we might use for bait alive (sanddabs). This was in addition to the frabil (mini battery operated) livewell we used for smaller bait.

Can you please show photos of your 24 livewell.
 
The Aluminum fuel tanks in the Tom Cat 255 begin about where the step is, and go forward under the galley and the dinette in each hull. You can reach the fuel fill, pickup and vent hoses thru the inspection plates just aft of the main cabin aft bulkhead.

You don't really want leaking fish boxes. I don't know of any lids such as the Armstong aluminum man hole plates, which will be totally water tight.
 
I think the fish boxes would make pretty poor live wells (especially if you want to use them for bait). Most bait wells are designed to be taller than the are wide in order to reduce sloshing of the water within. Sloshing will damage bait pretty quickly. Also, most live wells are oval or round to make it easier for the bait to school. The fish boxes are shallow, long and rectangular - all bad features for keeping bait in good shape.
 
Roger I can appreciate your advice and thanks for responding. Our primary use for the live well is keeping crabs alive to maintain freshness. We would also use it to hold flounder (sand dabs) for catching ling cod. The flounder do not seem to be bothered by the sloshing around.

we do have a battery operated bucket live well by Frabil which seems to do well for sand dabs.

Curious as to your setup.
 
I thought I would follow up. I found the fuse after another check. It was in the battery compartment exactly where I should have found it the first time.

I bailed out the water and unscrewed the white cage over the fish box drain. I blasted it with water but none came out of the port. I blasted the port and a huge bubble came up the drain hole. Changed the fuse and HMMMMMMM. Worked perfect.

I really appreciate all the knowledge shared on this site!
 
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