One thing that I didn't mention earlier, that deserves some consideration is that you can weld up a hole in a john boat. I don't know if there's a permanent fix for a hole in a yak.
Damion Kidd LIKED above post
Pros & cons to each craft. Here's my two cents based on my experience.
I use a sit inside kayak for pulling crankbaits 90% of the time I fish. Running slower by paddle power has caused me to study breaklines, channels, points, and dropoffs more thoroughly, but it takes lots longer to get where I'm going...especially in a thunderstorm. I catch more fish because I only have three speeds; slow, slower, and stop, and that forces me to pay closer attention. I sure do miss being able to bring friends or family along. Like others said, it sure is a pain loading and unloading before and after each trip. No such thing as standing up in it either.
I also caught tons of fish from my old jon boat. Without a proper seat, my heels were too close to my backside. Even a cushion gets old after a while. The 6 H.P. motor and trolling motor helped me get where I wanted to be. A surprise storm with high winds nearly swamped and scared the fool out of me. It made me upgrade boats & pay closer attention to weather forecasts. I really loved having space for a cooler and friends. The coil in my motor chose possibly the worst time the quit and strand me miles from the truck.
Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes being able to get miles from where you parked in a hurry is great. Other times fishing on a paddle, peddle, or electric only lake can soothe the soul. I hope whichever one you choose gives you years of fun, enjoyment, and adventure, Plus tons of fish!
Jim
Well, I done went and did it. Guy is coming to buy the NuCanoe F12 tomorrow, and there is a well-used 14 ft aluminum jonboat sitting in the driveway on a trailer, courtesy of a CDC member and good friend. Waiting on a few parts and things, some wire, and a mount for my Terrova iPilot to finish rigging it. I also need to mount my Millennium B-100 seat and my Garmin 93svUHD and PLS. For LiveScope I am using a Fishing Specialties Bowducer mount, the 3 foot kayak model, which will be about perfect on the jon.
Oh man. Look out, all y'all electric-only reservoir fish. It is fixing to get real now. Should be on the water by Tuesday!
I loved my F12, and will miss it, but this will do nicely, and go pretty much anywhere the NuCanoe did.
"Alive without breath, as cold as death; never thirsty, ever drinking, all in mail never clinking."
I don’t know why I sold my pimped up 14’ Jon boat that equipped with 15HP, trolling motor and a full desk. I do have kayak float tube and jonboat but hardly use any of these. I still prefer bank fish just got in and out quick and I still can find fish along the shoreline. I think I sold it because I had to pay about 150 a year for my lake registration and fee ( we have two boat my 14’ jonboat and my wife 21’ pontoon)
If I have to pick, jonboat is the way to go more room and can get where you want it fast. Just to remind you, jonboat is not good in the wind, learn how to use anchor effectively.
S10CHEVY LIKED above post
They both have their pros and cons. It came down to ease of deployment and recovery for me at a particular lake, electric-only, where I have been catching some real nice fish, without dealing with the annoying sport-Os and other maxi-zoom dweebies on the huge nearby USACOE reservoir, Lake Lanier.
This lake is 20 minutes from my house, and it is far faster to hook up the trailer and use the ramp, instead of muscling the NuCanoe from truck to bank, along with all the gear. I also wanted something I could take a guest in. Sure, fishing by yourself is great, but fishing in fellowship with a friend or daughter or son is really great.
Another factor that is very important is, a good friend and fishing buddy, a really good guy, fantastic fisherman, CDC member, and fellow JDM UL fanatic, to whom I mentioned I was selling the kayak and buying a jon, said "why don't you come and get my jon boat and trailer, I'm not using it".
When you got good friends, you're as rich as you can be, because
Money can't buy what your friends will do for free
- Mike Morgan and the Crawl
"Alive without breath, as cold as death; never thirsty, ever drinking, all in mail never clinking."SuperDave336, Damion Kidd LIKED above post
I've got a 15' Jon boat w/20hp motor. Cost me $3000 used. But I also have a canoe I've never put in the water, they are not over stable! Think about a kayak a lot but at my age those seat's might be a bit low for me. I fish for crappie on a coupe large reservoir's and the Jon boat get's me around real well and will operate in 3' of water, never tried less than that. About fixing a broken plastic boat, my canoe is plastic, Coleman, and I got it with some big breaks in it. Propane torch and soldering iron and fixed, I melted wire screen over the tears first then used plastic milk jugs to fill in Did outside and inside on each crack. Haven't had it in the water but with a lot of water in it, it doesn't leak now! I think ya have to have the wire screen to hold the breaks together and I think it's best inside and out. Got it done and spray painted over the repairs and you need to look the notice them