Lonnie Clemens Posted June 4, 2017 Posted June 4, 2017 Hi Folks, 6 weeks ago I bought a 12 ft semi-V jon boat. Was excited about the purchase, it gets me out on the water, and it is functional. But it is not the boat that my 14 foot flat bottom jon boat was. It is wobbly on the water. Even when I'm sitting still in a cove, it is wobbly. When I open up at high speed on the lake. I have to sit in the direct center of the boat or it will tip to one side and possibly take on water. Yesterday while fishing in a cove I decided to shove my adjustable seat clear against the side of the boat. I wanted to set back and rest my legs up on the bench while sitting back on the seat. I heard a noise and looked down to my left and the boat was taking on water. Have noticed when I make a sharp turn with this boat. I feel like I am going to fall out of it. But when I had my 14 foot jon boat. I never took on water from leaning back and relaxing. It was never unusually wobbly even while sitting still. On my jon boat I could shove my seat clear over to the side of the bench, rest my legs on the rest of the bench, and navigate the boat perfectly with a 9.9 h.p. Johnson. This little semi-v is doing what it's supposed to do. I just have to be extra careful with it. But you can be sure that I will be looking for a bargain on a used 14 or 16 foot flat bottom jon next spring. Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted June 4, 2017 Global Moderator Posted June 4, 2017 That lack of stability is the main reason I never even glanced at an ad for a V bottom john when I was on the search for one. It's better than nothing though. 1 Quote
Super User fishwizzard Posted June 5, 2017 Super User Posted June 5, 2017 I am just dipping my toe into boat stuff, so this is I am sure a dumb question, but what makes a V less stable than a flat bottom? I live by the Chesapeake Bay and I see far more V jons around here then flat bottomed ones, I assumed it was somehow more stable as the bay and it's rivers can get fairly rough. 1 Quote
Scarborough817 Posted June 5, 2017 Posted June 5, 2017 21 minutes ago, Bunnielab said: I am just dipping my toe into boat stuff, so this is I am sure a dumb question, but what makes a V less stable than a flat bottom? I live by the Chesapeake Bay and I see far more V jons around here then flat bottomed ones, I assumed it was somehow more stable as the bay and it's rivers can get fairly rough. it cuts through waves better which is probably why you see them more there but think of it like standing on a mountain point verses standing on flat ground one you are trying to stabilize yourself on a much smaller point where the other has your weight distributed over a larger flat surface thus the reason a flat bottom jon boat doesnt tip like a v when you are near the side 2 Quote
Super User fishwizzard Posted June 5, 2017 Super User Posted June 5, 2017 Ah, that makes perfect sense. Thanks! 1 Quote
Tim Kelly Posted June 5, 2017 Posted June 5, 2017 That trailer looks really wrong too. Be careful out there! I have a little 13ft glass boat and have the same issue you're probably having with weight distribution. The main motor, trolling motor and me are all at the back of the boat, so weight distribution is difficult to get right. As the boat is short it exaggerates the problem. Try putting some heavy stuff as far forward in the boat as you can to see if that helps you. It's the nature of the beast though, especially with light ali boats. A friend of mine has a 12 ft Sea Nymph, which is very like yours and it is pretty tippy and gets blown around by the wind a lot. 1 Quote
FreddoB Posted June 9, 2017 Posted June 9, 2017 For sure move heavier stuff up front. Maybe your trolling motor battery can go up there. Years ago I had a 14' Sea Nymph. With my 9.9 Mariner and gas tank in the back (I didn't have a heavy seat), and me at about 120 lbs back the, if I opened it up on a lake, most of the boat was out of the water. it never happened but I "thought" a a stiff gust under the boat would have flipped me. My son has an "old" alum. semi-v and it's only about 11' but HEAVY!!! It's pretty stable so it also might have to do with the width of the boat too! Having never owned a jon boat, I can't speak for them. But after reading through this thread, I'd consider one. In the mean-time, distribute weight as best you can. Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted June 9, 2017 Global Moderator Posted June 9, 2017 If you can swing it I'd look for a boat in the fall instead of spring. I see better deals in the fall with people who want to get rid of their boat and don't want to store it or winterize it just to sell in the spring. 3 Quote
Super User slonezp Posted June 9, 2017 Super User Posted June 9, 2017 On 6/5/2017 at 0:12 AM, Tim Kelly said: That trailer looks really wrong too. Be careful out there! I have a little 13ft glass boat and have the same issue you're probably having with weight distribution. The main motor, trolling motor and me are all at the back of the boat, so weight distribution is difficult to get right. As the boat is short it exaggerates the problem. Try putting some heavy stuff as far forward in the boat as you can to see if that helps you. It's the nature of the beast though, especially with light ali boats. A friend of mine has a 12 ft Sea Nymph, which is very like yours and it is pretty tippy and gets blown around by the wind a lot. It's a tilt trailer. Designed that way. They normally move the axle forward and extend the tongue. 1 Quote
Tim Kelly Posted June 10, 2017 Posted June 10, 2017 Really, wow. How do you get any tongue weight? My trailer has a tipping cradle of rollers at the back and I can launch or recover from virtually no water, but the wheels are in the right place. 1 Quote
Super User slonezp Posted June 10, 2017 Super User Posted June 10, 2017 13 hours ago, Tim Kelly said: Really, wow. How do you get any tongue weight? My trailer has a tipping cradle of rollers at the back and I can launch or recover from virtually no water, but the wheels are in the right place. On older tilt trailers, you would remove a pin where the tongue was attached to the trailer frame and tilt the entire back end up. In addition, many had an "adjustable" neck for 10-16ft boats. You could slide the neck 4ft forward or back depending on the size boat you have. So a 10ft boat could have 6 extra feet of tongue in front of it. 1 Quote
Tim Kelly Posted June 10, 2017 Posted June 10, 2017 Interesting. Sounds terrible, but interesting. 1 Quote
Lonnie Clemens Posted June 10, 2017 Author Posted June 10, 2017 6 minutes ago, Tim Kelly said: Interesting. Sounds terrible, but interesting. Hi Tim, The boat is nice. But it's just too small for me. I will use it this summer and enjoy it. Will be keeping my eye open for a 14 or 16 foot jon boat for next year. It is good to hear other people's opinions. Quote
Tim Kelly Posted June 10, 2017 Posted June 10, 2017 I was talking about the trailer, but it doesn't sound like the ideal boat for you. I expect you could improve things with some weight at the front, but I expect you're right to look to swap it for something more suitable when the opportunity arises. 1 Quote
frosty Posted June 11, 2017 Posted June 11, 2017 I'm in the same proverbial boat. I bought a little bass raider cause everybody spoke so highly of them. With my big butt, my gear, and the battery and trolling motor, it's a pain in the neck to control it. I've only had it out twice but both times were pretty aggravating. I'm hoping that ditching the idea of using the trolling motor for control and just anchoring down will improve my odds a little. Quote
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