Another option for electric only boat, not jon?

[bckpack]

After a 5 year break from fishing (family sold lake home) I have been bitten by the bass bug again and have budgeted for a boat.  My needs (wants) vary almost daily but I have come to the conclusion that I will get much more use out of an electric only boat.  There's 5 or more electric only or low HP lakes within an hours drive (outside of Atlanta).  If I went with even a small bass boat I'd have to drive an hour to an hour and a half to put it in the water.

I have been on the lookout for a nice converted jon.  It seems like Ive just missed a few good ones but I'm not finding much in general.  Rigging one up myself wouldn't be a problem but I'm ready to fish now, not in a few months.  

In my boat search I have come across a number of aluminum bass boats (Tracker or Lowe style) with missing or broken outboards.  Would it be feasible to convert one of these to an electric boat?  I figure the weights would be about the same by the time all the extras are added to a jon the the bass boats already have a built in livewell, storage and casting decks.  For my needs I would probably remove the console too and add a wiring panel.

Any drawbacks to this idea?  Are the basic hulls different from say a Tracker jon boat and a Tracker Pro Team 170 that would cause an issue?  Thanks.

[SteveFinMD]

If it has a trolling motor is is already a dual use boat.  I would just add a transom electric motor to the stern and go fishing.  I don't know about GA but up here in MD you can take a bass boat on any electric only water as long as you don't fire up the outboard.  You ought to check and see if that isn't the case down there as well.  Good luck.

[bckpack]

Well, one of the lakes has a 25hp limit, a couple are 9hp, a couple are electric only with unused outboard ok and 1 or 2 don't allow outboards at all. I'd like to configure something usable at all of them.

[SteveFinMD]

I think that if you bought a bass boat with a working or nonworking outboard and only used your trolling motor you would be fine on any of those waters.

[MarVaBC]

I think the idea of using a bass boat w/ broken or no motor will be fine.  Just remove the old/broken outboard if you are going to be on electric only lakes, and you should be good to go.  As metioned before, get a high pound thrust trolling motor on the transom for getting around, and a bow mounted one for fishing.  Removing the steering console and replacing with control panel, storage, whatever sounds like a good idea too.  Good luck!  Post some pics of whatever you go with.  I just got a jon boat for electric only lakes here in MD.  Thought about the bass boat route too, but never saw any w/ broken engines on my hunt, so I went with a 16 ft tracker grizzly jon boat.  

[BOOYAH]

if you get a boat without a motor you can always add a 9 hp later on.  them things are light an can be easily removed or put back on when you want. I fish a few electric only lakes too , and just purchased a 10hp kicker for the limit lakes. get one that you can add to, you will then be able to fish where you want WHEN you want.

[bassboy1]

Name some of those lakes. I live in Cartersville and am looking for some more restricted HP lakes.

[striperone]

bckpack, What you have in mind is a good idea. Buy an aluminum bass boat with a either no, or a trashed outboard motor and discard it. Other then the weight of the boat, and perhaps some supper shallow water restrictions, there is not really any disadvantages in buying a bass boat vs a jon boat, that is if your going to trailer the boat anyway.

If your going to use electric only, then save your money for the biggest, baddest electric motor and batteries that you can afford. You will tire quickly of a slow boat.

Others here have suggested to buy a small gas outboard later if and when you figured you needed it. This makes sense and gives you all of the options you are looking for.

An electric outboard option for you would be to look into a Ray Electric outboard motor. These motors are very expensive when compared to a gasoline outboard, (5000.00+) but if it's what you want or have to use, you will find no better. Believe it or not, they have more "pounds of thrust" then a  9.9 gas engine.

Let us know what you buy...

[fishbear]

I think that if you bought a bass boat with a working or nonworking outboard and only used your trolling motor you would be fine on any of those waters.

That would get you a ticket on Varner.  No gas engines allowed period.  Even if it doesnt work.  Almost all of the drinking water resevoirs are that way....  St. Mtn. is one that allows limited hp, as does I believe Fort Yargo.

bckpack, pm me if you are interested in doing some fishing... I have a boat, and live 10 min. from Varner.

[senko_77]

You can really convert any boat into a electric only boat.  If you buy a tracker or any kind of bass style boat, I would sugegst ripping all the decking out and just have the shell and internal structures like benches, aluminum decking frame, rod locker, livewell, etc.  Just make sure all wood and carpet is gone.  Usually old wood is waterlogged and it can add a tremendous ammount of weight.  Once you have a stripped shell, then make a decking plan.  What do you want?  Extended front deck, large back deck, even across the entire top, storage, etc.  For the bracing of the deck use a combination of aluminum stripping and 2 x2's or 2 x4's.  The aluminum is alot lighter than wood.  After your deck is built, then you should think about motors.  Usually a 12v 46-55 bow mount is good for a electric only.  A 65 is good to just because it lasts longer becasue it requires 2 batteries.  For the back motors I would go with 2 82's or a 101.  These have the power to move a heavy boat at a decent speed.  The 24v and 36v are also alot better on battery.  

You also should check out weight placement.  On some trackers, if you put more weight in the front of the boat it goes faster.  

[Gatorbassman]

You have come to the right place. Many of us fish the lakes you are talking about. I have built a few of those boats and many of my friends have them. We prefer the Tracker for many reasons. If you want to be on the lakes as soon as possible then get a boat with the decking still intact and get rid of the motor and the steering console. Make sure you have enough room for at least four large batteries. (We use six) An 80lb thrust transom mount motor and a 65 to 80lb foot controle will do you just fine. I would suggest connecting a Hot Foot switch to your transom motor so you can turn it on and off from the front of the boat. We have found that the best place to store you batteries in order to get the best speed out of the Trackers is under the front deck. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

[bckpack]

You have come to the right place. Many of us fish the lakes you are talking about.  

I found out about some of the lakes in question after I stumbled in here.  One question about Varner, outboards aren't allowed and I've heard that gas tanks aren't either, is that correct?  I have been unable to confirm this.  If so, does that mean the gas tank would have to be removed from a Tracker if I converted one to electric only?  Is that even possible without ripping up the floor?

I'm selling an extra vehicle this weekend and will then be ready to pick up a boat very soon.

[Gatorbassman]

The gas tank has to go to. It can be removed but it's tough.

[bassboy1]

Why don't you start with something like this.  It already has a deck, so you could go fishing as soon as you clamp on a trolling motor.  Then, in the future, you could add in storage and stuff at your own pace.

http://www.trackerboats.com/boat/index.cfm?boat=2281

But, if you do go get an old tracker, don't just throw away the motor.  They have a ton of scrap value do  to all the aluminum used.  Take off the lower unit and sell it on ebay if it spins freely and take everything apart, sorting it between aluminum copper steel and plastics and such which are trash.  

[Gatorbassman]

Why don't you start with something like this. It already has a deck, so you could go fishing as soon as you clamp on a trolling motor. Then, in the future, you could add in storage and stuff at your own pace.

http://www.trackerboats.com/boat/index.cfm?boat=2281

But, if you do go get an old tracker, don't just throw away the motor. They have a ton of scrap value do to all the aluminum used. Take off the lower unit and sell it on ebay if it spins freely and take everything apart, sorting it between aluminum copper steel and plastics and such which are trash.

The only problem with the new Trackers Grizz's is they weigh to much. The older ones are made of a lighter gauged aluminum. You don't need the heavy gauge for the speeds that a trolling motor will be taking you.

[T_Dot]

You have come to the right place. Many of us fish the lakes you are talking about. I have built a few of those boats and many of my friends have them. We prefer the Tracker for many reasons. If you want to be on the lakes as soon as possible then get a boat with the decking still intact and get rid of the motor and the steering console. Make sure you have enough room for at least four large batteries. (We use six) An 80lb thrust transom mount motor and a 65 to 80lb foot controle will do you just fine. I would suggest connecting a Hot Foot switch to your transom motor so you can turn it on and off from the front of the boat. We have found that the best place to store you batteries in order to get the best speed out of the Trackers is under the front deck. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

can you please post pics of this setup for all to see?  im looking to go the same route

thanks

[T_Dot]

l

After a 5 year break from fishing (family sold lake home) I have been bitten by the bass bug again and have budgeted for a boat. My needs (wants) vary almost daily but I have come to the conclusion that I will get much more use out of an electric only boat. There's 5 or more electric only or low HP lakes within an hours drive (outside of Atlanta). If I went with even a small bass boat I'd have to drive an hour to an hour and a half to put it in the water.

I have been on the lookout for a nice converted jon. It seems like Ive just missed a few good ones but I'm not finding much in general. Rigging one up myself wouldn't be a problem but I'm ready to fish now, not in a few months.

In my boat search I have come across a number of aluminum bass boats (Tracker or Lowe style) with missing or broken outboards. Would it be feasible to convert one of these to an electric boat? I figure the weights would be about the same by the time all the extras are added to a jon the the bass boats already have a built in livewell, storage and casting decks. For my needs I would probably remove the console too and add a wiring panel.

Any drawbacks to this idea? Are the basic hulls different from say a Tracker jon boat and a Tracker Pro Team 170 that would cause an issue? Thanks.

im going to same route, and have purchased a 1432 alumacraft jon boat

im too am going electric only.  no only to save on fuel costs, but it has zero emissions.

in the beginning i use to power my boat with 1 30 lbs trust minn kota trolling motor, using 2 batteries.  later one i found this setup too slow especially if i wanted to move from location to location, or if the winds were higher.  later in the year i borrowed a buddies trolling motor, which was also a 30 lbs trust minn kota.

with 2 batteries, i was able to maneuver the boat around the largest lake i fished.  this setup lasted me the whole day and into the night as well.

i am now in the process of stepping it up a little, and going with 2 55 lbs trust minn kota motors.  this is the biggest motor that will only need a 12 volt battery.

later on, i plan on adding a few solar panels for charging purposes.  especially if i plan on going to remote places without any power.

[Gatorbassman]

can you please post pics of this setup for all to see? im looking to go the same route

thanks

You will have to give me till sometime next week. I am about to start on another build and all I have in my yard is an empty hull. But I will be fishing out of one of the boats next week and I'll get some pics for ya.

[T_Dot]

You will have to give me till sometime next week. I am about to start on another build and all I have in my yard is an empty hull. But I will be fishing out of one of the boats next week and I'll get some pics for ya.

great thanks

im looking to go with something simliar to this setup, and learn better from pictures rather than words

thanks again

[Chris at Tech]

Yeah, I'm going this route as well.  I'm <THIS> close to pulling the trigger on a G3 1548 with some work done by B&B Marine in Conyers.  d**n boat monkey...

[bassmasta7]

I've got a bass-style boat with a center console and a 50hp johnson motor. I can only fish electric only lakes around me so I am deciding to sell of the big motor and make my boat electric only. I dont know how much I could get for the motor but it will make my boat a lot lighter for now. Im gonna take that money from the motor (plus more) and buy either 1 101# or 2 60s. Right now I only have a 40# tm on the front which is slow but gets me where i want.