Just goal setting/ seeking input

[basham1988]

Within the next year I plan on purchasing a universal Jon that I can use at all bodies of water in my area. I live in NE Ohio so there is the Lake Erie coast, several rivers and a bunch of inland lakes. 

 

I've done some research on what kind of set-up may be best and here is my conclusion:

Tracker 1436 w/trailer

55 lb thrust trolling motor and possible 9.9 2 stroke

Casting deck on front half.

 

I've seen some set-ups pretty close to what I described such as pics posted below but I'm just not sure how well I could balance on a casting deck on a boat that is only 36"wide. It would mostly be just me (5'10" 190 lbs) out on the water and maybe the occasional buddy. 

 

Thoughts on this?

 

Any input/direction would be appreciated

[heavyduty]

You will regret getting a jon that is not at least a 1648 with the different water types you plan to fish. World of difference in stability from a 36" to a 48". And with the front casting deck raising center of gravity, you'll be fighting a 36" all day. My experience is 14' is too short with 2 people casting. The 1648 is going to draft better in rivers. You, plus gas, motor, battery, tackle, cooler, anchor, TM, etc; a 1436 fills up fast and will leave you wishing you'd gone bigger. I did.

[basham1988]

I'd like to keep the motor down to a 9.9. Would you say that could still move a 1648 at a fair speed?

[heavyduty]

It should as long as you are upsizing for stability and not to put more "stuff" in the boat. Most important is weight of what you will carry and then distribute that weight to allow the 9.9 to get on plane.

[Way2slow]

If you want a second opinion.  I had a 1448 and sold it because it was a little too wide.  I then bought the 1436 and that was a mistake also.  It's a little smaller and no where near as stable as the 1448 was.  It actually makes me feel a little uncomfortable working around blow downs and trees when it gets broadside in the fast currents of some of the rivers I fish.  Now, I'm looking at the 1442.  I think it will have the stability I want and the mobility I was lacking in the 1448. 

 

As for your 9.9 motor.  While they won't be as fast, the wider jons will actually get on plane better with a small motor than the 1436 because the have more surface area to lift the boat rather than just cut into the water.  The biggest problem with a 9.9 on the bigger boats is because it is a bigger boat, you have a tendency to over load them much more so than the smaller boat.  Then the 9.9 seems to suck, but it's not it's fault.  You can always do like I do, I have a 9.9 and a 25 and just use the one that fits the place I want to go best.

[WRB]

Most 9.9 and 15 hp OB's use the same power head and weigh the same.

Tom

[fishnkamp]

Over the last 40 years my wife and I have owned 11 boats. These included jon boats, canoes, aluminum and fiberglass bass boats. Often times we changed boats to better fit the water we fished. We moved several times during that time and that caused us to change the type of water we fished.  Here is the deal. If you intend to fish small to mid sized rivers and streams, as well as ponds and small lakes the 1448 to 1648 jon  or mod vee will work well enough.  If the rivers are larger than look at a 14 to 16 foot v hull like the old Starcrafts, Grumman's, Lunds, Alumacrafts etc. The V hull will handle the rougher water.  As for Erie forget it in this size boat. I have fished Erie in a 20 foot fiberglass bass boat.  I would not venture there in less than an 18 foot high sided V hull again, like the larger Lund, Polar Kraft, AlumaCraft G3 etc.  When I lived in PA (north of Harrisburg) the most popular boat combo on the river (this was before the engine manufacturers started selling "jet" packaged outboards) was a 16 foot "wide bodied" jon and a 9.9 or 15 hp 2 stroke tiller engine.  I actually ran the first "jet" on the Susqy. I purchased the jet unit and installed it on my Merc 35 HP bass boat.  A nice compromise boat for you might be a boat like the Alumacraft Crappie Deluxe. It comes in the tiller and stick steer versions. I used to own a Polar Kraft exactly like it in the stick steer. The stick stick steer takes some getting used to. These are "sit in" boats not stand on ones. That is okay my wife and I used it in lakes and caught a lot of fish sitting comfortably in it.

[basham1988]

Thanks for the input!

 

I guess realistically I'll be mainly on inland lakes as I've never had luck pulling any bass out of Erie. Not to mention being a novice, such a big body of water is intimidating to me. 

 

And I suppose I don't usually like to fish with any company, haha..

 

I should also mention an idea that I had which this would be the first of 2 boats. This one being more for electric only ponds and later down the road pick up a fancier model that'd be more in tune to a competition level.

 

At any rate, I still have some time to weigh my options. I also have a lot to learn yet.

 

BUT we'll see what happens. All I know is that I'm hooked in the sport and look forward to catching many bass and want to be able to have every affordable advantage available. 

[Way2slow]

Financial wise, the 1436 is the cheapest way to go.  Not familiar with your neck of the woods but down south, come spring time and the Lowe L1436's will start showing up all over the place in the $800 price range.  Of course now, that's just the boat, nothing else. 

 

However, if you start now, checking Craig's list and local adds, from now till Feb is the best time of the year to get some great deals (steals) on boats.   I just looked and in my area, there are a number of 14' jons with trailer's for less than $1,000.  You have to remember, a new trailer is going to cost almost as much as the boat and that's probably a little more boat than you want to be trying to slide in and out of a pickup by yourself.

[davecon]

I know it's not a Jon boat and it may be hard to find one in your neck of the woods but check out a Gheenoe. They are wildly popular here in Florida where they are made, are versatile, customizable, unbelievably stable, handle a small chop reasonably well, etc.

 

For years I had a smaller boat (16 foot Fisher Marine) while at the same time a full sized fiberglass bass boat that ran an honest 82 mph. The small boat died so I bought a used Gheenoe and fixed it up. 

 

After fishing in the Gheenoe it dawned on me that I had not had the big boat out but twice in 18 months. Sold the big boat and have never looked back. 

 

Check out "Customgheenoe.com".

 

You may be surprised.

[fishnkamp]

Those Gheenoes are neet boats. I saw one at a show a few years back.

[basham1988]

I just checked into the Gheenoe and that is a pretty slick looking boat. 

 

For some reason I'm stuck on the 1436. I've even considered the idea of removable pvc outriggers if it proved to be a little squirrelly. 

 

But I may look more into the Gheenoe 

[davecon]

I have the old 15"6' Classic Gheenoe. No outriggers necessary. I put my knees on the gunnels and pee over the side and even doing this it doesn't feel tippy.

[Goldstar225]

I owned and fished out of two 14' X 36" jon's in the past.  The were long enough for two people to fish out of but I resolved that any jon boat I bought afterwards would have a 48" bottom for stability. 

[basham1988]

Do you recall is it was a 1542 or a 1548

[Team9nine]

Like others have expressed on size, here's my 1648 I fished out of for 8 years, in all types of waters, and with all types of people/loads. Had an honest 9.9hp 4-stroke and would move me just fine. Never felt unsafe in this boat and landed tens of thousands of fish out of it

 

-T9