Thread: 10' Poly Plastic "jon" boat ?

Originally Posted by Clint

Has anyone fished out of one of the 10' plastic "jon" boats? If so, how stable are they? I'm getting older and my balance is not what it used to be.
I am considering re-doing my 10' aluminum Jon or just getting one of the plastic jons that are available from a few different sources.
I welcome any insight anyone has.
Thanks

Haven’t fished out of the plastic ones, but probably heavier than aluminum. Either way, hope you get out and slay the slabs friend!

The plastic Jon boats (open middle, flat bottom) aren’t very stable.

A much better choice (a lot more stable) would be the dual pontoon style plastic boats. I’ve owned the 8’ Bass Pro Shops Pond Prowler and it was a good one, but I prefer my current 10’ Pelican Bass Raider. My buddy and I (both 200 + lbs at the time) fished out of the Bass Pro Pond Prowler. I usually fish out of my Pelican Bass Raider alone, but that’s only due to the setup I put in it. I could easily reconfigure it to fish two with no issues. Much more stable than any Jon boat I’ve been in - aluminum or plastic.

All the best,
Glenn

Pro 102 Two Person Small Fishing Boat - Sun Dolphin Boats[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]/

I had one of these years ago. Not a [emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]’er, sorry it’s a ’er. It was quite stable.


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I fished out of a Pelican Predator 2 man bass boat for years and it was a stable boat. You couldn't stand up and cast from it but I don't I could tip it over even if I tried. I have a 5hp outboard on the back and a 40lb thrust trolling motor on the front. To be honest with the waters I fish I seldom use the outboard. I typically fish coves, creeks and bridges crossing the main lake. I now have a bigger boat but I still use my little Pelican every year.

Thanks to all. I found a very informative YT video that lays out the differences very well. The consensus is that the pontoon type (i.e. Pond Prowler) is much more stable.

Originally Posted by Clint

Thanks to all. I found a very informative YT video that lays out the differences very well. The consensus is that the pontoon type (i.e. Pond Prowler) is much more stable.

I would disagree with that. I have fished from both and the two man bass boat style is more stable because it is wider.

Originally Posted by Grainraiser

I would disagree with that. I have fished from both and the two man bass boat style is more stable because it is wider.

Not sure which one you fished out of, but the widths are all pretty close, and I found the dual pontoon style to be much more stable because of the heavier pontoons on each side. It’s much harder to flip one like that because the pontoon on the other side acts as a counter balance. A flat bottom doesn’t offer that. Lean over too far and there is nothing to keep it from going over. The plastic Jon boat style tend to be longer. Most are 12’.

Pontoon style:
10’ Pelican Bass Raider, 50” wide, 600 lb capacity
10’ Bass Pro Pond Prowler, 49.5” wide, 525 lbs capacity
8’ Bass Pro Pond Prowler, 48” wide, 515 lbs capacity

Plastic Jon boat / dingy style:
12’ Bass Pro Prowler, 52” wide, 532 lbs capacity
12’ Pelican Intruder, 48” wide, 420 lb capacity
12’ Sun Dolphin, 52” wide, 532 lb capacity
12’ Quest Sportsman, 52” wide, 532 lbs capacity
12’ West Marine Dingy, 52” wide, 532 lbs capacity
12’ West Marine Dingy, 55” wide, 439 lbs capacity

All the best,
Glenn

I'm comparing at 10ft Pelican Bass Raider to a 10ft Pelican Predator. The Predator is 61 inches wide and takes a max 7hp while the Bass Raider takes a 3.5hp. I have fished from both the Predator is a more stable boat because it is 11 inches wider. This is the reason it will accept a much larger outboard. The boats you listed are basically plastic flat bottom boats.