Decking a jon boat, etc...

[fishbear]

I am sure this has been discussed a lot in this forum.  However, I have a 14ft. Fisher boat that I am going to deck and put in a live well, etc......  Any help or direction to articles and pictures would be great.... Especially on what materials work best, without breaking the budget.

Thanks in advance.  This is what I am starting out with, so any suggestions would be great.

[fishbear]

here is the other half of the boat....

[burleytog]

That boat is virtually identical to my Fisher. What model year is it? Mine is a 78.

As for decking the boat, I would recommend 1/2" or 3/4" CDX or marine plywood.  One sheet should almost fill your needs.

[fishbear]

I have no idea what year it is.  Georgia does not require titles on boats, just registration.  I bought the boat in July from a guy who bought it from someone who had it stored in a hay barn, with hay stacked inside lol......  and of course it had not been registered for about 5 yrs.   Still waiting on my paperwork back, hopefully that will tell me.

I am more than happy so far with it, I have 2 50 lb. TMs on the back and 1 more on the bow.  I just need to fix it up some, and get a deck on it, and I am ready for a few tourneys next year.

Thanks for the input.

[burleytog]

Last two digits of the hull ID number denotes model year.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

THAT'S MY BOAT!!

I bought the same boat but in a 12 ft version.  Mine is a 64.  

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1119359773/0

[NJfishinGuy]

i have thought very into making a bass boat from ajoh boat my uncle did it and its really nice. just dont go cheap use the right stuff and take your time. heres some links to some good pictures and a how to if u wanted. ive sense given it up and chosen to go with a bass tracker will cost me just a little more if any for an older one and then ill have a steering wheel and more stability.

http://www.myjonboat.com

http://www.bassjons.com/mycustompage0025.htm

http://userpages.sofnet.com/robertg/boat.htm

[ThomasL]

Or save the trouble and buy one with a deck already on it.

Lowe,alumacraft,war eagle,xpress,lots of others now

have full front decks on 1448's and larger

[fishbear]

LBH, wow, what a difference some work and paint make.... I am impressed.  Although I had to put on my sunglasses to look at it.   ;D  j/k.

Thank you for all the input so far.  I am developing ideas, and after I am thru fishing for the fall, will start in on it.  I have a good welding supply shop in town that carries aluminum stock and they will bend it or cut it for me.   I am thinking aluminum supports for everything to save weight.  

I am still not sure about a live well.  Whether to build one in, or just go with like a 50 gal. cooler with an aerator pump in it.  I guess finances will determine most of it.

I would love to paint the boat when I am doing the project, but again, finances.  I do not want to have to sleep in the boat, after the wife changes the locks on the house   ;D ;D

[SPEEDBEAD.]

do a search for hydrilla gorilla. I think it may be the same as the jon boat website mentioned above. All kinds of good info and you are able to buy a book w/ step by step instructions.

[NJfishinGuy]

man all you guys and the wife holding you back from your stuff, boy i could never deal with that, im glad my girl doesnt try and stop me from stuff like that,  just looks at me like im nuts and does her own thing lol

[Hale]

NJFishingGuy:

Thats how girlfriends become wives!!!!

[Raul]

Weeelllll Low_budget beat me to it.  :-/

[fishbear]

NJFishingguy,

My wife puts up with me spending about 3 grand every year to go elk hunting with my brother for 2 weeks, plus I bought the boat this year, and I have had to add everything, since it came just as the picture shows.  

Plus, she does go fishing with me once in a while, so I am not complaining... more joking than serious, whenever I talk like that about my wife.....

So she no more holds me back than I do myself.   Heck, I know guys who have to ask permission to go fishing god forbid,, lol....

[NJfishinGuy]

yeah thats how it sounded for you, well im glad shes not like that i dont think i would tolerate that crap if mine did and id say cya later or tuff im doin it anyway lol. luckily she has her things like her animals and animal junk and i have my fishin and cars and fishin junk and performance parts lol. she thinks im nuts but i feel the same about her. i asked her yesterday how she would feel if i ever made it pro bass fishing. she was like oh i wouldnt care great for you. i said oh yeah you do realize id travel the country sometimes and fish for like 100-200 days a year. and you get lonely when i go for 1 day a week now lol.

[Rose_Jackets67]

John - That is my boat, exactly too - Just in a little bit better shape :-) I never decked mine out, just stripped it and painted it early this summer, and it went right back to being ugly in about 3 trips out.

As far as the hydrilla gorilla/jon boat book, I suggest you don't waste your money. I have a copy you can look at, but I wasn't impressed at all. One look at one of the converted boats on here tells you more than that book could. Also, go to BPS or any boat dealer and look one of the nice aluminum Tracker bass boats over - there are some neat ideas to be had just snoopin around inside of a Tournament 17.

adam

[fishbear]

Adam,

Thanks.  Those Fisher boats are actually made by Tracker, from what I have been told.  And trust me, I am going over every picture I can find with a fine tooth comb, looking for ideas, or something different that made a difference.   I already have a great idea for more storage, and not having to add anything else to the boat, but a couple of piano hinges.  We should have lots to talk about when we get out on the water together.  I do know that I am not going to deck the entire boat, to save weight.

Maybe we can make a dual project out of this, and do yours and mine at the same time.  

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

All I know is back in 1964 they were sold by Sears and registered as a Sears.  Was Fisher around back that far ?  Anyone who owns one of these spots the tell tale signs right away, the lipped seats, the stowage in the bow, the shape and line of the channel on the sides, Th lipped motor mount, the angle of the stern gussets,etc.  

These are definatley from the same pattern, if not factory.  Heavy duty, no nonsense jons.  Mine weighs more than any other 12 I've owned by far but the benefits are numerous!

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Back to the original question.  If you are "top decking" it and going on top of the seats, use the 3/4 inch.  If you are looking for floors like in mine, use the cheaper 3/8 cdx.  They actually mold slightly after a month or so of use and have a custum type fit to them   Very Nice and allows for maximum leg room in a jon with 7" shorty pedestal while keeping center of gravity as low as possible.

Also keeps middle section of boat wide open for use however you need it.  A Cooler livewell on tourny day. Picnic with thye family, or just your tackle when fishing with a bud.  Nice to have the versatility instead of closed up compartments IMO.  

[fishbear]

LBH,

Thanks for the tips.  I am going to deck the front half of the boat, up to seat level.   I would like to leave the middle open for storage, etc...... Just put a floor in it like yours.   The back half, will probably be left alone, except for maybe a pedestal.  That is my idea so far, but that is subject to change once I get started.....