I started off with a 10 foot jon. didn t have it have enough to deck it or else it would have been. If I was you id cut a door inthat front deck for storage. The only problems I had with the 10 footer was storage I have way too much stuff in such a small boat. I ended up, upgrading toa 1436 tracker jon which is now moded. started off stock, then front deck and small low deck in the middle for a sturdy platform, now front and back deck, had it fully decked for 2 days.
I stood in my 10 foot jon many times and had 3 and 4 people out in it we swam out of it and climbed back in with out any troubles.