Don't shoot me: Jon 1432 adding stability

[DoubleBarS]

Hey Guys,

I'm new to the board so please be kind. I have been spending the last few days reading all the old posts looking for some information, but couldn't find what I was looking for.

I was given a 1958 model 14' x 32" wide (at bottom) jon boat that is in excelent shape. I already built a trailer for it, and will be doing a few other modifications. My question is this: I am thinking of adding some "redneckery" to this to add some stability. Has anyone ever seen a jon boat with outriggers? I'm thinking of building some outriggers for this so it doesn't feel so much like riding a 2x4 on the water. I can't quite decide what to build them out of, i.e. PVC, fiberglass, etc.

I'm sure homemade stabilizers will look retarded, but it is either this or use the boat like it is, and I don't really care if people point and laugh (as long as they are doing it from the shore). My wife has already told me a bigger boat is out of the question. She does the bills and for some reason, she thinks house payments, food, and other bills are more important than a fishing boat. I tried telling her I'll be able to put food on the table with a bigger boat, but it didn't work.

Thanks for any input.

By the way, I will only be using this on a 1500 acre narrow lake, and will be adding a 5hp outboard and trolling motor.

[CJ]

Welome to Bass Resource!

I'm not much on boat restoration. You will probally get better feedback posting this in Bass Boating and more.

CJ

[MA1232]

I was thinking along the same line.  I have 1232 only, so I will be sitting down.  But here is an idea ... over in  castlecraft website.

Sorry, I can't post link yet because I have not made ten posts!

You can use high density form.

good luck

[Grey Wolf]

I was thinking along the same line. I have 1232 only, so I will be sitting down. But here is an idea ... over in castlecraft website.

Sorry, I can't post link yet because I have not made ten posts!

You can use high density form.

good luck

www.castlecraft.com

Oh by the way. WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

My main question would be "Why?"

That is a very stable boat as it is.

and WELCOME ABOARD!!

[SPEEDBEAD.]

My main question would be "Why?"

That is a very stable boat as it is.

and WELCOME ABOARD!!

Maybe he weighs more than a sack of feathers  

Welcome aboard.  I feel ya on the stability thing, but honestly once you get out in it I am pretty sure you will get some "sea legs" and you will be just fine.

[Olebiker]

I am a pretty chunky monkey at 240 pounds and I was able to stand in my 12 foot jon boat with few problems.  I think you might want to try standing in this boat before adding the outriggers.

[skillet]

 Pretty big fella myself (6'4" and 210) and don't have a problem with that size especially after getting and out a few times and WELCOME to the forums!!!

                                As Ever,

                                 skillet

[fishbear]

Welcome!!!!!!!!

I am a big guy, 300 lbs. and 6'4"  I fish out of a 14 ft. Fisher, that is only 42 wide, and it is plenty stable even with 2 guys in it.  

I am lowering my front deck, for myself, because of medical reasons, not because it was unstable..

By the time you get batteries, motors, gear and yourself in the boat, it will stabilize nicely.

[_tyler_wright_]

I built a sunk-in deck and floors and transom cover on my 1432 and it is VERY stabls. Not as stable as a 1436 but a whole lot more stable than when it was just me and some paddles in the boat.

[MA1232]

Thanks!

I will try to get more post in to by pass this limit.  

Sang

I was thinking along the same line.  I have 1232 only, so I will be sitting down.  But here is an idea ... over in  castlecraft website.

Sorry, I can't post link yet because I have not made ten posts!

You can use high density form.

good luck

Oh by the way. WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MA1232]

I built a sunk-in deck and floors and transom cover on my 1432 and it is VERY stabls. Not as stable as a 1436 but a whole lot more stable than when it was just me and some paddles in the boat.

Tyler, are you saying that it get more stable after you added extra weight ( sunk-in deck etc...)?

Sorry, I'm new to Jon boat.  I can't wait for warmer weather to take my "Client #9" out.  

Sang

[_tyler_wright_]

Yes it get's more stable to a certain point. But under my deck is flotation foam which supports the extra weight. What I'm trying to say is you need to try to keep your lowest center of gravity when you built the sunk deck when at the same time it is adding stabilty. I can give you some pics if you want

[MA1232]

Yes, please pm me the pictures.

Did I get this wrong?  Add foam under the deck help with the stability?  or it is just to reduce the decking frame weight?

I'm new to Jon boat so please forgive me if my questions are old.  

I'm going to use it for 1 season and mod it in the fall.  Using LBH as a model.

[_tyler_wright_]

Check your PM's

[Just Add Water]

Add foam under the deck help with the stability?

No.

The foam is for keeping the boat from sinking.

The more weight you add to the boat, lowers the boat water line, the weight puts presure on the side of the boat to stability it.

But to much weight in the boat is not good, inch's away from the water line. bad bad bad You stand up and move about and your in the water.

[_tyler_wright_]

Haha that's so funny Just Add Water, i just read what you said and in the PM i sent him it is almost word for word what i told him. 2 great minds think alike lol

[DoubleBarS]

I built a sunk-in deck and floors and transom cover on my 1432 and it is VERY stabls. Not as stable as a 1436 but a whole lot more stable than when it was just me and some paddles in the boat.

Thanks for all the welcomes. Everyone seems to be very nice around here.

I think I'll start building the "sunk-in" deck either tomorrow or Friday and see how it does. As is stands it is just bare boat with a couple of oars,  and it feels like if I lean over too far to fart, I might fall out. I am a big guy (5'11", 250lbs), so I tend to make the boat a little top heavy.... Still, if I'm not happy with the stability, what do ya'll think about the outrigger idea? I have "doodled" some plans on how to build it so it will be completly adjustable. I'll be able to drop them down into the water when needed, and when cruising I'll be able to swing them up. I think I can even build it so they will swing straight up when trailering. Again, I know this will probably look retarded, but if it will help, it might be worth it.

Does anybody have any idea who might have built this boat back in '58? The only tag on the boat has a serial number.

Thanks again for welcoming me to this site.

[DoubleBarS]

I was thinking along the same line. I have 1232 only, so I will be sitting down. But here is an idea ... over in castlecraft website.

Sorry, I can't post link yet because I have not made ten posts!

You can use high density form.

good luck

I've seen that site before, and I think I can build it better. I have a lot of experience fabricating all sorts of things, and I believe I can build a better frame and adjustment system. I'm not an expert fabricator or anything, I can just build almost anything as long as I have a few beers out in my shop.

Thanks again.

[_tyler_wright_]

PM me the serial number and i'll try to find out who makes it.

[MA1232]

How about adding the 2" or 3" foam on the outside of the starboard and port of the boat?  Effectively making you Jon a 36" or 38" wide.  This will give you more weight capacity and Increase Stability.   I think you can paint those foam too.  

Tyler, thanks for the PM.  

Just add water...

My thought exactly the foam is to reduce the decking weight.  If my boat were to go under the last thing I wanted to depend on is the decking.  Just my 2 cents!

Again, I have not take her out.  So, all my research and planning may go out the window when time come to do the mod in the fall.

[Just Add Water]

_tyler_wright_

2 great minds think alike lol .

You are the man

And MA1232, DoubleBarS forgot some thing

[DoubleBarS]

Hey Guys,

I wanted to give everyone an update on my skinny jon boat. I have built the sunk in decks, and have built...well everything else I could think of. I was able to keep the budget for everything under $400, which includes building the trailer, used trolling motor, new marine battery/battery box, 2 boat seats with pedestals/swivels, carpet/glue, wood, and material for outriggers. I haven't painted the boat itself yet, but that will have to wait. My wife has grounded me from spending any more money on: "that stupid boat"....

Even though some people say this is a stable boat, and the more I used it the more stable it would feel, it never felt comfortable to me.

So, I ended up building the outriggers. Believe it or not, it makes a big difference. Without them, I can only stand up in the middle section of the boat. With them installed, I can stand on every part of the floors I built. I did get a couple of funny looks from people fishing on the shore, but hey, I'm on the lake and they are just next to it.

I'm thinking of building a different design for the adjustment portion of the outriggers, but for now, it will work just fine.

Also, I don't have pictures yet, but I will be taking some tomorrow. I might need some help on how to post them though.

Thanks for everybody's help. This has been a very helpful site.

[Popeye]

These are a snap to build and are very adjustable and remove easily for transport:

full construcion details are available here: www.kayakfishingstuff.com

Click on Articles and then on outriggers in the far right menu. You can get Lobster bouys which provide more floatation than the Noodles I used and look much better too!!

[bob9035]

Sounds like a good idea to me... I fish out of a Landau 1432 and it can be pretty shacky at times.... Let me know what you do as I have thought many times about adding outriggers to my jon --simular to that on a hobie cat.   Should stabalize very well and double the weight capacity