My 15.5' Jon boat project

[Bantam1]

I thought I would share this as I used some ideas that I saw on this board before I started posting. I purchased this boat from a local tackle shop owner. It was used on a small private lake and it just sat on his dock rotting away. I paid $250 for this 1979 Sea Nymph that had decent paint on the hull under all the lake scum that had built up over the years.

I built a front and rear deck and extended the front deck to make room for 3 people to fish. I used all 3/4" plywood and weather treated it before adding carpet. I braced everything with 2x4's under for added support. I weigh 250 pounds so I made sure it would not buckle

I added tackle compartments, a small live well, dry storage and a few other goodies like a Lowrance LMS 332C and a Motorguide Tour 82 w/ transducer. This boat will do almost 5 mph on the trolling motor. The 8hp Mariner is completely rebuilt on the inside and I freshly painted it last year. Overall this boat is awesome and considering what I have into it I can't beat it.

Here it is right after I finished the deck

Here's the front deck and compartments. The middle compartment is used for my cooler, ropes and rain gear.

Here is my switch panel and timer for the livewell. I have lights, bilge and aerator with recirculation for the livewell. Fish stay feisty in my livewell

My tackle compartments are rediculously oversized. They will hold 16 370 sized trays. I use one side for trays and the other for bags of plastics, swimbaits and anything else that does not go into a tackle tray.

My future plans are to recess the pedal and add locks to the compartments. Maybe add a small rod locker if I can figure out the proper spacing. I love this boat and it fishes very well for a Jon. I use it in the local bays and harbors here and at some lakes. I just need a little more HP for the bigger lakes. 10 pounders like to come to my deck too Some boats get bit better than others and this one gets bit.

[brgbassmaster]

That looks awesome.

[Elite Image Fishing]

I have an 85 landau handler, I would LOVE to do this same thing to it. It is a good boat, but it has no storage space and I would love to extend the front platform... any suggestions. How much did you spend on wood and carpet?

[Bantam1]

I spent around $200-250 on wood and carpet. I bought the carpet from Lowes because they had the better rubber backed Marine carpet in stock. I think it was around $6 per 1'x6' lenghts. I bought 16' and it was more than enough to do everything. I did spend a little more on some better quality plywood. I think it was a burch and maple mix? That was around $50 per sheet and I used three sheets. I had some 2x4's that I got from a freind so I didn't pay for that.

You can use other things for the bracing under the deck. I really wanted to use Aluminum angle bar stock and rivet it to the hull. I just didn't have enough time. Where I live there is an accociation and they gave me 4 days to work on the boat in my driveway (Yes CA sucks...). I built the deck and carpeted it in a weekend. I spent one day wiring, plumbing and adjusting the compartment doors. Day 4 was making the riser for the trolling motor and installing that. I was on the water that afternoon  

Here was a link that I used for some ideas too:

http://www.secretweaponlures.com/odf/odfsite.html I just didn't have the time to do it this way.

[Grey Wolf]

You did an excellant job on that boat.

[Muddy]

Nice work, enjoy it ! 8-)

[fastcasterjo]

Wow VERY NICE.  The scary thing is i am doing a 16 footer and my front deck design is almost the exact same layout. I am assuming that the white cover is a livew :ell. If so that almost my exact design. Now if I can only get mine to look like yours.

BTW I am having a little trouble with my livewell. :-? What did you do with yours. (As far as the plumbing goes) Thanks in advance

[Bantam1]

What kind of problem are you having with the livewell? I used a 500GPH pump and bought a kit from Cabela's or Bass Pro for the recirculation system. I added the timer also to save on battery power. A lid full of Rejuvinate helps a lot too.

[wagn]

Awesome boat. I really like the layout

[fastcasterjo]

Well, I was wondering how you get the water in and out. Do you bucket it in or do you use a livewell pump? I am not quite sure how I want to do the livewell plumbing and I want to see what others have done before I start poking holes, cutting pipe, etc.  

[Bantam1]

I cut a hole in the transom for the aerator pump. I sealed it with clear silicone. It does not leak a drop. I used a hole saw to cut the hole and it turned out very clean.

I added a drain in the bottom of the livewell and used a plastic water/sprinkler valve to open the drain. I ran a tube from the drain to the transom and placed the valve at the back near the boat drain plug. When I pull my boat out of the water I pull the drain plug for the boat and open the valve. This allows the livewell to drain and pour right out of the drain plug hole in the transom. Its very simple and uses gravity to drain.

Here's a simple blueprint. The red is the water inlet from the aerator pump. The green is the overflow and the blue is the drain. I cut holes through the bracing on the floor to run the tubing through. This way it cannot get stepped on, crushed or anything else that may cause issues. The overflow is higher than the water line to allow proper draining.

Here is the livewell drain, overflow and recirculation pick up and spray head. The steel strainer is on the pick up and the drain is just a simple plastic drain with holes.

[fastcasterjo]

Thanks a ton for all the help. I really do appreciateit. Thanks for the picutures too. A picture's worth a thousand words, but only if you can understand it. And your pictures are easy to understand, your explanations helped a lot too. Now I am ready to begin my livewell. Thanks and have fun with your boat.

JOE

[Bantam1]

No problem. If you run into any issues just ask!

[DaveHawkins]

Very nice job!

[Sharkbite]

Dam nice work I would love to do something liike that but I am worried that it'll tip b/c my bottom is round not flat.