Standing in Jon Boat

[TDG]

I am considering buying a 12 ft Jon boat with a 36 inch wide bottom.

Will I be able stand and fish in a boat this size?

[Ben]

If you're 57, 6'1" and weigh 210 like me, I wouldn't recommend it. I stand and move around in my Lowe 1436 pond boat. It's not something I do comfortably like in my bass boat but it's not that unstable either.

I have an old 12' boat also (1232), and would highly recommend you go with a 1436 over a 1236 if you have a trailer to haul it on. The 1236 is easier to haul around in the back of a pickup but the 1436 gives you so much more room when two people are in the boat. Without a trailer the 14' gets to be a bit much sticking out the back of a shortbed pickup.

In the average jon like you buy at Wally World, you will also find the 12 is usaully on rated for about 5hp where the 14 is usaully rated for about 10. With a little extra bracing I run a 25 Merc on the back of mine unless in lakes/rivers with 10 hp max, then I run 9.9 which will still move it along pretty good. Electric TM will also move the 14 about as well as the 12.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

i'm small but I all but run laps in my 12,lol

[Guest argyll]

My boat partner's boat is a 14' Seastrike aluminum jonboat. He weighs 280lbs and has no problem standing and fishing with two others in the boat. I wouldnt like to see him do it in a much smaller boat, but a jonboat size for size is more stable in calm water conditions than a comparative size V-hull. In rougher water the V-hull is safer.

[Muddpuppy]

I had a 12' flatbottom when I was young that was narrower then some.  I am not sure anymore of the span.  I believe it was pretty wobbly, but we did alot of fishing with it and could go almost anywhere.

[roadwarrior]

I wouldn't advise it. I hooked-up with el_jewapo a few weeks ago on a little lake over in Arkansas. He's a big guy and I'm medium size. We were having a pretty good time until I stood up and we both went in. It was a hot summer evening and we recovered most of our equipment, but under other conditions it might have been serious.

He didn't post this story, which was nice, and I kinda hate telling bad stories on myself, but I feel like I ought to warn you, it's potentially dangerous. (Or maybe I'm just an idiot!)

[Mo_Tick]

i have a Landau 1447, 14' long 47" wide at it widest. i have stood up pretty easy in it and felt comfortible. now with another person with me i dont know.

just make sure you can swim, and know where your gear might go and do it in "TEST" mode, close to shore in daylight so you know.

[hipster_dufus]

i had a 12 footer i wouldnt stand up in, my new one is a g3 1444,width a 44 inch bottom and a front casting deck. handles two people standing quite well. sae your money and look for a wide(44-48) bottom, these make great fishing platforms

[TDG]

Thanks for the replys...

what if it was set up like "low budget hooker's" boat is that looks like a comfortable setup.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

The big thing with mine is real simple.  Getting the floors flat eliminates most of ther things (like ribs) that would cause you to trip.  

Also, with a boat that size, everything needs to have a place from tackle boxes to pliers.

Again, I am small but both my partner and I rotate between standing and sitting alllll night with no problems ever.  One thing about my antique is that although it's only 12 ft long, it's 48" wide.  Wider than many 14"s

Again though, the floors are the key.  read my post.  I used 3/8 cdx and coated w/ poly resin then carpet.  The thin plywood molds nicely to the floor , is lighter, and will not wear out before the carpet.

[fireandice]

Low budget has the whole key there.  The wide beam makes tons of difference for standing or decking a jon boat.  My parents still have a Lowe-Line 12 foot boat.  I'm not sure of the beam on it but I believe it's about 36-38 inches.  These boats are easy to pack in a pickup bed because they are narrow...but to stand and fish from that boat, you'd better not set the hook very hard or you're going in.  Like low budget said, a lot of the older jon boats had wider beams.  I reccomend a 14-16 ft. jon boat if you're wanting to stand and fish at all, or be up off of the stock flat seats.  Plus if you have a 14 -16 ft. and your third buddy wants to go along, it can actually be done.  A 12 foot boat with 3 people and gear is very small.  

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

The 3rd person is a pain regardless of what 12 you get but we stand in my buddys 1236 no problem. Not as stable as mine but definately do-able.

I had a light duty 12 once where adding the seats did make it a bit tipsy. I had 15 inch pedestals but when I changed them to 7", it was much better.

The pic below is the old light duty w/ the higher pedestals. THis boat is a no-no. Lower pedestals were a must. This boat was like riding a skateboard on ice.  Just looking at this old pic makes me want to catch my balance!!

[TDG]

Well I took everyones advice and found a G3 1544 modified V  all weld jon with a raised front platform and pre wired with light and trolling motor,seats and trailer.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

oooooh son. Stylin' now.  Good luck with it!!  Got a pic?

[TDG]

I just posted pictures on this forum area.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Where?  I cant see them.

[fireandice]

I went and checked out some Alumacraft jon boats today.  I was pretty surprised.  They seemed to be priced decent here in KS.  They had a 1644 with a livewell for 1100.00.  Or they had a 1236 for 500.00.  Not anything in between though.  I found a ski boat that I may just upgrade to and make a decent little fish/ski combo.  I'm pretty torn because I like to ski about as much as I like to fish, but I'm not crazy about most fish/ski combos.  If everything pans out, we'll see where my skills take me and I'll post pics of the whole project.  Just gotta make sure I can find the $$$.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

My partner has a 1236. No problem standing, but space is limited. Although those are incredible prices (cheapest 1236 in RI is $830) I would go with the 12 if you are looking to make life easier. The 16 definately needs a trailer.

My partners 1236. Yea, that's snow and ice,lol

[fireandice]

Hey, that will work.  Not a bad setup for a 1236.  I guess my family and I just don't have good enough balance, because standing and fishing for us was somewhat of a problem.  I do like the seat heights that you have on that boat.  Maybe we couldn't stand up very well for all the crap that we had rolling around inside our boat. LOL.  Nice boat man.