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Teach Me About Jon Boats

Edisto_Tiger

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I think this rig proved to me that a 12 foot is not too tippy with seats that sit this high. That's what I'm trying to figure out, I want a small one to fit in a garage but I weight 240 and don't want an unstable boat.

@Edisto_Tiger how do you get a foot control set up? Is that an add on to any electric motor? As I don't want to mess with 2 motors and batteries why can't I just mount it on the back like an outboard?

You would have to buy a new foot controlled motor. You can't convert tiller handles over to foot control.

And you can certainly use your transom mount motor, if that's what you're accustom too. The foot pedal just lets you drive the boat "hands-free."
 

Darrell Green Fan

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You would have to buy a new foot controlled motor. You can't convert tiller handles over to foot control.

And you can certainly use your transom mount motor, if that's what you're accustom too. The foot pedal just lets you drive the boat "hands-free."

Thanks for the reply, and I'm really liking that idea of a foot pedal. But can I get away with just one, mounted on the front and use it to get where I'm going as well as while fishing? I have no idea where I'll be taking it but I don't see huge lakes with a lot of water to travel. What about this one?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Minn-Kot...66001f5-623ad9e7-edc9c837ecf1a371&athena=true
 

Edisto_Tiger

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Thanks for the reply, and I'm really liking that idea of a foot pedal. But can I get away with just one, mounted on the front and use it to get where I'm going as well as while fishing? I have no idea where I'll be taking it but I don't see huge lakes with a lot of water to travel. What about this one?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Minn-Kot...66001f5-623ad9e7-edc9c837ecf1a371&athena=true

Yes, you will only need the one. It will get you any where you need to go. I fish a 45-50 acre pond/lake regularly on mine.

Not only is it nice to be able to fish and drive the boat, but with the motor up front, pulling the boat, the wind won't blow the bow around. That is the main reason I bought a bow mount foot pedal. I fish a lot by myself and I would be in the back of the boat with my transom mount trolling motor, so all the weight was in the back of the boat and if the wind got gusty it would blow the front of the boat around. That won't happen with a bow mount.
 

Edisto_Tiger

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And that trolling motor you listed will be plenty for a jon boat.
 

Darrell Green Fan

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Great info, thanks again. Last question: will a 14 foot say 36" wide be stable on a lake that size in the wind?
 

Edisto_Tiger

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Great info, thanks again. Last question: will a 14 foot say 36" wide be stable on a lake that size in the wind?
Now that I can not answer. I fish in a 16' X 42". And it's an old gamefisher boat that I took the outboard off of and it's beyond stable.

Screen Shot 2018-05-13 at 3.55.05 PM.png
 

Bridgeburner

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Great info, thanks again. Last question: will a 14 foot say 36" wide be stable on a lake that size in the wind?
Just get yourself a kayak.

Maybe we can get a deal if we order (2) Big Rigs. Come one. We can be fish-buddies. We'll hold hands n shit. 1 coke, 2 straws.
 

Darrell Green Fan

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Just get yourself a kayak.

Maybe we can get a deal if we order (2) Big Rigs. Come one. We can be fish-buddies. We'll hold hands n shit. 1 coke, 2 straws.

Where I came from coke and straws had a different connotation.

I'm actually thinking about getting 2 open kayaks. Wife was a big kayaker, she had a sea kayak. But I'm tall and I just can't get in and out of those things well. I think I could fish from a kayak while she paddles around and does girl shit. She won't let me fish when I'm near her, something about hooks flying through the air or some such nonsense.
 

Bridgeburner

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Where I came from coke and straws had a different connotation.

I'm actually thinking about getting 2 open kayaks. Wife was a big kayaker, she had a sea kayak. But I'm tall and I just can't get in and out of those things well. I think I could fish from a kayak while she paddles around and does girl shit. She won't let me fish when I'm near her, something about hooks flying through the air or some such nonsense.
You need to look into some fishing kayaks my man. You aren't too tall. Google:

Jackson Big Rig
Diablo Amigo
FeelFree Lure

They're nearly the size of a jon boat but lighter and easier to transport. Like 3' wide and 12-13' long. Comfy chairs. Stability.
 

Bridgeburner

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My wife refuses to fish too. But still wants a yak. Probably so she can follow me around on the water bitching and saying irritating shit like "where are your pants" or "stop smelling that".
 

Darrell Green Fan

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You need to look into some fishing kayaks my man. You aren't too tall. Google:

Jackson Big Rig
Diablo Amigo
FeelFree Lure

They're nearly the size of a jon boat but lighter and easier to transport. Like 3' wide and 12-13' long. Comfy chairs. Stability.

If I'm gonna drop that kind of coin I may as well get a jon boat.
 

Darrell Green Fan

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Well, they're about the same size, and cost. The yak will just be more stable (assuming roughly the same size), lighter, and more comfortable.

The open plastic ones say they have a 225 limit, yeah I'm 25 over that. I think I"ll be alright. If I'm getting a yak I want one that's easy to transport, if I want something as big as your suggestion I'll get a jon boat and trailer,
 

Bridgeburner

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The open plastic ones say they have a 225 limit, yeah I'm 25 over that. I think I"ll be alright. If I'm getting a yak I want one that's easy to transport, if I want something as big as your suggestion I'll get a jon boat and trailer,
It's all what you are looking for my man. Just throwing options at you.
 

Bridgeburner

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I've looked into jon boats myself thinking that something like that would work for my boy and I. I'm just not seeing the kind of stability I want in a smaller jon (less than 48" wide). And when you get to the 48" point it starts getting expensive. I think I would need a 1648 to be happy with the performance and at that point you are in the area of 5k. And honestly my boy is 6'-3" and 280 now (plays DE for his high school). He's a big bastard. That sucks up a lot of the weight limit on a smaller jon.

For us, 2 kayaks seem to be the ticket. I can throw them in the back of the truck without a trailer too.
 

amszete

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Yeah, I don't think there are any mass produced electric outboard motors. I actually did just a bunch of research on this for my inflatable boat that I just bought. The more thrust pounds the better but you aren't going to get outboard motor performance out of an electric trolling motor. I just got a 12v 40lb thrust motor and from reviews of my boat at full speed it will do about 4/5mph. The more volts (12, 24 or 36) gets you more power, but you'll also need 2 or 3 more batteries to run the higher ones. Looking around, it seems most people using a trolling motor as the main power for their boat typically only have 12v units anywhere from 30-60lbs of thrust. That will get you going 5-ish mph at top speed.

For the battery, pay attention to the Amp Hours. The larger that number, the longer the motor will run. Again, get the biggest one you can afford.

For the record, this is the one I just purchased:
Minn Kota Endura C2 40 Freshwater Transom Mounted Trolling Motor (36" Shaft)
Hey Maize,

How is the electric motor doing for you? Do you still like it? How would this thing do on a river? I was thinking of getting something like this to pilot my Final Attack boat that could do ponds, lakes and creek areas of rivers. Thoughts?
 

MAIZEandBLUE09

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Hey Maize,

How is the electric motor doing for you? Do you still like it? How would this thing do on a river? I was thinking of getting something like this to pilot my Final Attack boat that could do ponds, lakes and creek areas of rivers. Thoughts?
Embarrassingly, I haven't actually taken it out for a full test run yet. Michigan makes you register anything you put a motor on, so I still have to go get it registered to be legal. I still haven't gotten to take it all out yet. I'm hoping to do that before the end of Fall. I've taken the boat down the river a few times sans motor, and I love it.
 

Kaplony

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Hey Maize,

How is the electric motor doing for you? Do you still like it? How would this thing do on a river? I was thinking of getting something like this to pilot my Final Attack boat that could do ponds, lakes and creek areas of rivers. Thoughts?

I have a similar motor I use on my 10ft Pelican plastic bass boat. It pushes it pretty good with me, my wife and our gear. I've fished several coves at Lake Marion, the sub-impoundment at Lake Monticello, and Parr Reservoir with it and only really have trouble when the winds get up to 15mph or so. IMO that has more to do with the lightweight boat being pushed around more than the motor itself.

I wouldn't take it in big water chasing stripers in lake Murray or in the timber at Lake Marion like I did when I had my 14' fiberglass jonboat, and I wouldn't take it in the Saluda River below Lake Murray because of the swift current but as long as you aren't in a river with a lot of whitewater it should be more than enough for your Final Attack. It's what most guys I know run on their Sneak Boats if they have something other than paddle propulsion.
 

amszete

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I have a similar motor I use on my 10ft Pelican plastic bass boat. It pushes it pretty good with me, my wife and our gear. I've fished several coves at Lake Marion, the sub-impoundment at Lake Monticello, and Parr Reservoir with it and only really have trouble when the winds get up to 15mph or so. IMO that has more to do with the lightweight boat being pushed around more than the motor itself.

I wouldn't take it in big water chasing stripers in lake Murray or in the timber at Lake Marion like I did when I had my 14' fiberglass jonboat, and I wouldn't take it in the Saluda River below Lake Murray because of the swift current but as long as you aren't in a river with a lot of whitewater it should be more than enough for your Final Attack. It's what most guys I know run on their Sneak Boats if they have something other than paddle propulsion.
Thanks man!
 

da55bums

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I've got 3 jon boats.

Go for 14 feet. You'll appreciate the extra 2 feet.

Get marine grade aluminum, welded, not riveted and you should be good to go.

That's what mine is, and I can load it in the bed of my truck by myself.

You can get a good 30 pound thrust trolling motor for not much more than a c note, and that should be more than enough for any lakes you'll want to go to. And get the proper battery, a regular car battery will make you have to paddle to shore.

nailed it, had a 10 ft was fine by myself, a dog would just make it frustrating every trip. went to a 16 ft, great for the dog, me and easily another, problem was rivet leakage, but broke ice with it many times duck hunting, so I magnified the issue. Fishing shouldn't be a problem for rivets but over time the off and on the trailer will wear a few down, easy fix though, 1 person with a hammer on top and 1 person with a hammer on bottom...hit the rivet at the same time if it comes up.
 
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