Hi all—for someone that fishes Biscayne and Florida Bay, it’s nice to keep some skrimps, or throw the net time to time. Can anyone provide insight as to the live well set up on the 17 Evo? Seems kinda strange with the well inside the back hatch? Is the well plenty large enough, watertight, kinda a pain to keep going into? I’m assuming with their knowledge and expertise they’ve got a system down… Tight lines!
Welcome aboard @Telltail Glad to have you.
@rovster has an East Cape and uses his live well on occasion. I’m probably forgetting others as well. Hopefully someone will chime in with some input.
I have the Evo 18 so different layout altogether. The livewell on the 18 is awesome. 30 gallons round and insulated. I’ve had it blacked out with pilchards. I think the 17 has one big rear hatch and I believe one of the buckets is a well. I’m sure for occasional use it’s ok but hard to compare to the 18 well. You probably won’t black it out with pilchards but some will be fine and skrimps are definitely OK.
To the OP the Evo 18 is a fantastic SoFlo boat. Won’t get as skinny as the 17 but as an all purpose skiff it’s hard to beat. Handles that Biscayne slop really well👍
Oh and as a side note, my livewell is so overkill for shrimp that I have a small portable well with a bubbler that will keep 5 dozen shrimp alive all day for my dad and or kid when we do get some.
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Hi—thanks! Yes, I’m specifically talking about the 17 Evo. Just seems out of sorts to have the bucket inside the back hatch, as opposed to a dedicated well. But, that’s why I’m asking. I’ve looked online, and did not see anything specifically detailing the back hatch setup. I believe I saw EC has used this system before with their Glide? However, that’s more of a true poling microskiff-so really how often would you fill it. The 17 Evo V is their true “Keys” skiff to compete with the Mirages, etc, as I see it. Not everyday is throwing flies and artis—especially with client’s/friends. So, a semi decent live well is a factor for me. Thanks!
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It was designed to be able to be trimed out so that the guys that didn’t want it would have a large rear storage compartment with no buckets. If you did want to use the well it can be plumed and is very. Functional but I would not say it’s as functional as the 18s live well. I have recently ran 2/3 live bait trips in my boat and a small piece of me regrets cutting the well out but on the other hand the portable frabil well has got the job done.
No idea on the live well issue, I just wanted to stick my head in the door and say WELCOME ABOARD! @Telltail
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Ive been wondering if they could plumb the jump seat cooler as a small livewell on the 17. Might be worth asking East cape directly.
The livewell is my biggest gripe with the EVO 17. Not everyone strictly fly fishes. I’m leaning towards 18 for hatch layout but prefer size and hull of 17. When I spoke with Kevin he mentioned he could plumb front jump seat for livewell.
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