Boat Advice

[mighty]

I want to get me a little jon boat for crappie fishing. I am going to look at a 14ft they want about $300.

Is that good, and what size motor should I put on it that with do well on the TN river like gauntersville, and wheeler?

Also can You put seats on the benches?

I guess the question to ask is should I piece together a boat or buy one already put togther?

Thanx, any advice would be helpful.

[crappieseeker]

mighty if you are gonna get a 14 foot boat for the TN River, you better get the widest one you can get.... That river gets very rough at times. I get scared even in my boat. Yes you can put seats in them and somebody on here took one and built it up the way they wanted it and I was impressed. I dont remember the link or who done it, but it was a darn good job.

[cody]

here's a link to Keith Davis' Lowe 1448. i really like what he's done with the boat. well organized and very sanitary looking.

http://members.cox.net/keith.w.davis/

here's a few more sites ive found for modifying jonboats.

http://www.sofnet.com/~robertg/boat.htm

http://myweb.ecomplanet.com/bull2958...ompage0025.htm

http://www.acbassjons.com/mycustompage0028.htm

http://www.tritonmike.com/boat.html

[crappieseeker]

cody thats the one I was talking about, thanks for the link. He done an awesome job

[Crappie Reaper]

My vote goes to the 2nd link. This guy had it together for getting so much out of such a small boat. Aluminum framing, very little wood. That boat will last a very long time.
Kinda makes me want to start a new project. I have had my eye on a very old starcraft that I could prolly have just to haul it off. I have rivet guns, squeezes, all kinds of sheet metal tools. I've about had it with the fiberglass tri-hull slapping the crap out of the water in the lightest of winds. I really would like to come across a set of 24' Pontoons w/frame, and trailer. I will take it from there. If anyone knows where I could find one for dirt cheap, please lemme know. It would be nice to be able to take entire family out at same time (8 of us).

[Crappie Reaper]

Oh, and Mighty, you can do any modification to a small boat as long as you do not compromise the original integrity of the structure. So, if you take out any support brackets, you need to come up with something to replace them that will work as good. Sometimes OEM supports are in the way, and need reworked in some manner. I would definately take time to make sure every step in a modification is done right, so you don't have to spend fishing time to repair a poorly installed part. Also, try your best to keep the weight down. Consider "Spreading" the weight of anything you add so you don't make one end too heavy, or one side too heavy. Try to go with as high an HP motor the boat can handle safely. If you have alot of weight in your motor, fuel, and yourself, I suggest building a box somewhere in the bow to house your batteries.
Good Luck!

[mighty]

Hey fellas thanx for the advice and pics. I now wondering if I have the time to invest in it, and in the end if I spend 5K i might as well buy a boat.

Thanx

[3GIRLSDAD]

Very cool pics, now I"ve got the itch to re-do my boat. Some of those guys are very good. Don,t know if I have the ability to reproduce that kind of work , but definatly good some great new ideas. Thanks for to links.

3GD