question: making jon boat more stable

[Mak]

im about to buy a jon boat 14'x32'' and i want to add some things like 2 bass seats, electronics, ect. and i wanted to add a small deck on the front about 6 feet long, but im pretty sure the boat will tip way to easily. is there any way to make the boat more stable, or should i just wait to find a wider boat.

thanks

kyle

[Grey Wolf]

I'd wait and find at least a 14' x 48" semi-v if I were you.

[T_Dot]

im about to buy a jon boat 14'x32'' and i want to add some things like 2 bass seats, electronics, ect. and i wanted to add a small deck on the front about 6 feet long, but im pretty sure the boat will tip way to easily. is there any way to make the boat more stable, or should i just wait to find a wider boat.

thanks

kyle

if you are about to buy it, i would suggest fishing from it first.  that way you know how much weight you can add.  you will also know how much leg room you will need.

on that note, wider is always better

[Gatorbassman]

How about some outriggers.

http://www.castlecraft.com/stabilizers.htm

[SteveFinMD]

I would vote (1) wait for a wider boat, (2) add outriggers if you get the narrow one.  You don't want to see all of your gear going to the bottom if the boat tips over.  Good luck with whatever you get.

[ohio_bassin]

I own a 1436 jon and wouldn't even think of decking it, to me just standing up in it is uncomfortable. I'd just put some clamp on seats in it and maybe carpet the floor. I'm sure there are guys who are comfortable decking these out, but to me it's just one step up from a canoe. On the other side of the coin I also own a 1448 which is decked front and rear and is ALOT more stable. Buy the wider boat you will not be sorry. The rear deck on the 1448 is 60", and I promice my next boat will be even wider. "Wider is better"

[dampeoples]

I wouldn't dream of decking a 1432, but I've got a 1436 that's been decked since about an hour after bringing it home in 1998

http://www.thejbfc.com/breslingang.html

Never had a scary moment, but it would be nicer if it were wider, in jon boats, the length has nothing to do with the stability when you go changing the center of gravity, it's all in the width.

[Gatorbassman]

I decked a 1436 two years ago and then sold it to Senko77. I road out three foot waves several times. It was great. But a 1432 is a little small. I would also put an over powered foot control motor on it. At least a 46lb. It helps in the wind and waves.

[Mak]

i called the guy i was gonna buy the boat from back today and told him i wasnt interested anymore.  and it didnt bother him because he had 2 more people looking at it.  im gonna buy a copy of the local trading post on the first day it comes out and look for a boat with about a 40 inch or more width, i dont think i need any more width than that because im only 130 pounds.

thanks for all the help tho. and those outriggers cost more than some of the boats i was looking at.

and i know that most of the time v hulls are wider than flat bottoms, but does that mean that theyre more stable?

[cart7t]

and i know that most of the time v hulls are wider than flat bottoms, but does that mean that theyre more stable?

Depends on the hull design.  BTW, take a Vhull and a johnboat of the same width and the Vhull will not be more stable.

[Mak]

ok

thanks