Any tips for the Ultimate Jon Boat?

[john h]

if your looking for used cheaper boats maybe try ebay or craigslist....i seen some real cheap ones on there lately

ever think of one of them abs plastic pond boats..you can get em new for like 250 bucks and can get a cheap trolling motorfor bout 100 and they are manageable for 1 person

just ideas not sure what you trying to spend or how extravagant you want to get

[WRHaynes]

I would agree, there are times that I wish I could have afforded a bigger boat than my tracker. Mostly because of the storage and stability while the wind is blowing. On the other hand I can go places where bigger boats cant.

This is exactly my reasoning for going with a flat bottom jon boat as first choice as opposed a fancier v model. Seeing as how I panfish & crappie fish all of the time, there are some great fishing waters just infested with stumps that larger fancier boats just can't get to do to width/depth/size/etc.

I actually started to model this idea from a great book I read on panfishing and crappie fishing. The idea grew into some things I've read and seen over time, and now I have my own version in mind.

I mean I'm glad that the boat just happens to be cheap, but the primary reason is the size and ability to get into some really interesting places with it.

The tips I'm getting are great, and I appreciate all of the help, I've already seen quite a few things I'll be adding to my boat and ideas that I would like to apply to my setup based on some pics posted here and some things mentioned. By all means, if you have ideas, keep them coming, I just wanted to say thanks for all of the great advise!

[jlaughlin72]

This is exactly my reasoning for going with a flat bottom jon boat as first choice as opposed a fancier v model. Seeing as how I panfish & crappie fish all of the time, there are some great fishing waters just infested with stumps that larger fancier boats just can't get to do to width/depth/size/etc.

I have to agree with you on the size thing, I bought a 10ft jon several years ago for $400 brand new in Memphis and it is great for getting into tight places. I don't have a trolling motor on it cause it paddles so easy and I can go anywhere with it. Just throw it in the back of the truck and go. Works great for little canals and sloughs and if you get to a log across the water you just stand on the log and pull the boat over it. And I bought an old 5 or 6 horse(i don't remember) to put on the back of it for when I want to go down the river in it. It don't have enough size to add much to it, but all that stuff don't do you any good if you caint get where you want to go with it.