My old 88 Cajun Maverick (my first bass boat) has a livewell in the stern and a small baitwell in the bow.  It looks like they each have an input pipe, and of course an overflow hole and a drain.  The livewell pump switch is in the front, and it has two settings, on, and automatic.

 

I've never used it.  I'm mostly an C&R guy.  But if I do, what should I do?  I'm assuming it simply circulates fresh water into the well. It doesn't appear to have an aerator.  What does "automatic" do, circulate occasionally, whereas on circulates continuously?

When my livewell switch is set to auto it kicks on the pump for a few seconds every 4-5 minutes. I have no idea if the timer function is built into the pump or the switch wiring somehow.

36 minutes ago, Elkins45 said:

When my livewell switch is set to auto it kicks on the pump for a few seconds every 4-5 minutes. I have no idea if the timer function is built into the pump or the switch wiring somehow.

It's in the switch - I did electronics design and construction years ago and a timing circuit is fairly simple and small even using analog parts. With the new programmable, digital chips - one chip to rule them all.

If you are on the water for 4 or 5 hrs, it automatic the best way to go?  I don't know how much of a drain a livewell pump can be.

Use automatic if it's 75+ degrees out. The drain on your battery is minimal. 

What does the temp matter?

8 minutes ago, billmac said:

What does the temp matter?

The higher the water temp, the less oxygen it holds. Adding fresh water through the aerator increases the oxygen content. 

Gotcha. Thanks.

19 hours ago, billmac said:

If you are on the water for 4 or 5 hrs, it automatic the best way to go?  I don't know how much of a drain a livewell pump can be.

If your battery can’t handle the very minimal drain of a livewell pump kicking on a few times an hour then it’s probably not trustworthy enough to reliably crank your starter at the end of the day.