texaslawdog Posted February 16, 2020 Posted February 16, 2020 (edited) I am shopping for my first boat(aluminum utility or jon 14'-16') for fishing lakes and tidal rivers, so bear with me and my lack of wisdom. One of the most important things I can't understand is that everyone seems to not care about low transom height to accommodate short engine shaft length. To me, these boats aren't that high out of the water to begin with. Example, lets say a jon boat has a side height of 21"(which isn't that high to me), yet has a transom of 15"? That seems dangerous to me. The back of the boat may only be 10" above the water level! That's disastrous in my opinion. I want the back of the boat to be as high as the sides of the boat because that seems the most safe situation to me. One solution that I have noticed is that the manufacturers build false transoms outside the back of the boat in order for the real back to be as high as the sides. Good for them! Doesn't help me. I've thought about if I decide to get a boat with a lowered transom I would try to construct a fill-in to get the height back up to the height of the sides(I'm not putting a heavy gas motor on the boat but an electric transom motor which is light and has a long, adjustable shaft). Seems to me you encounter a little choppy water and whoops, water spills in the back of the boat!, ending up sinking the boat!!! OK, please tell me I'm overreacting and things will be just fine. I plan on using the boat on lakes(what size lakes are ok to use this size and type boat, I'm thinking at least up to medium size lakes ), and is this boat ok to use on tidal rivers? Thanks for bearing with me, I will get there, eventually! Edited February 16, 2020 by texaslawdog correction Quote
Super User Team9nine Posted February 17, 2020 Super User Posted February 17, 2020 Ok, you are overreacting ? Yes, you'll catch a wave or two here and there that makes it over the transom, usually from an inconsiderate wakeboat on high traffic days, but it’s the exception and not the rule unless you just get careless. Spent 8 years out of my converted jon with a 15” transom and never really felt in danger at any time, and I spent a lot of hours on the water. Quote
Super User WRB Posted February 17, 2020 Super User Posted February 17, 2020 99% of the time your boat bow is facing into the wind and waves or moving forward the Transum is away from approaching waves. Jon boats are not safe on windy lakes with big waves and most do nor have transums lower the the gunnel. V bottom boats, aluminum until it yor run about boats do have lower transums to accommodate standard shaft out boat engines and occasional wave can splash over into the boat when backing up into the wind, that is why have a splash well with a drain. When you tie your boat to a dock the bow should be facing into any waves that may roll in. Bottom line it isn't a problem. Tom 1 Quote
texaslawdog Posted February 17, 2020 Author Posted February 17, 2020 T9n and WRB, thanks for the comebacks, appreciate it. I think the more experience I get with these things the better I will understand and be able to get going with this. I'm excited to get this thing started, just have a few concerns that hopefully with more time and help like from this site as well. Thanks!!! Quote
texaslawdog Posted February 17, 2020 Author Posted February 17, 2020 ok, thinking about comment jon boats not safe on a windy day, that is worrisome as how can one change the weather 3 days from now when you next planned to go out? So, either don't buy a jon boat and buy a what? instead. What about a modified jon which is what I'm considering? Quote
Super User Team9nine Posted February 17, 2020 Super User Posted February 17, 2020 Mod jons are about the same IMO. A lot depends on the water available to you and common sense. Are you fishing big bodies of water (tens of thousands of acres), or smaller waters? Lots of available launch ramps or only one? You can go out in a lot of rough conditions if you have sheltered ramps and fishing locations available, and can use the bank as a windshield to move around. There will always be some days that you simply shouldn't be out on the water regardless. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted February 17, 2020 Super User Posted February 17, 2020 A mod-v or or semi-v of that length will also have a 15" transom for a short shaft OB. What type of water are you looking to fish, and what could you potentially get caught in? Quote
texaslawdog Posted February 17, 2020 Author Posted February 17, 2020 21 minutes ago, J Francho said: A mod-v or or semi-v of that length will also have a 15" transom for a short shaft OB. What type of water are you looking to fish, and what could you potentially get caught in? 29 minutes ago, Team9nine said: Mod jons are about the same IMO. A lot depends on the water available to you and common sense. Are you fishing big bodies of water (tens of thousands of acres), or smaller waters? Lots of available launch ramps or only one? You can go out in a lot of rough conditions if you have sheltered ramps and fishing locations available, and can use the bank as a windshield to move around. There will always be some days that you simply shouldn't be out on the water regardless. living around the bay, I plan on fishing lakes(don't know what is a small, med or large lake definition). also, would like to fish tidal rivers like Middle River. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted February 17, 2020 Super User Posted February 17, 2020 What kind of waves have you seen when those waters are at their worst? How much time do you have to react to changes in weather? How far from the ramp will you be fishing? These are what should drive your decision. If it's anything close to where I fish, a deep-v is probably your only option in all but the calmest days, close to the launch, for a small craft. I've been almost caught with my 22' bass boat a couple times, and was glad to have the speed to get back before it got really bad. Quote
texaslawdog Posted February 17, 2020 Author Posted February 17, 2020 38 minutes ago, J Francho said: What kind of waves have you seen when those waters are at their worst? How much time do you have to react to changes in weather? How far from the ramp will you be fishing? These are what should drive your decision. If it's anything close to where I fish, a deep-v is probably your only option in all but the calmest days, close to the launch, for a small craft. I've been almost caught with my 22' bass boat a couple times, and was glad to have the speed to get back before it got really bad. wow, that's all pretty scary, maybe I should just reconsider my plans. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted February 17, 2020 Super User Posted February 17, 2020 About 30 minutes after these videos, Lake O. had 6 footers, and there were three footers in the bay. Storm came out of nowhere. Quote
Super User WRB Posted February 17, 2020 Super User Posted February 17, 2020 My suggestion is go rent a boat. Most aluminum rental boats are V hull runabouts, meaning the front bow end is pointed with a V shape bottom to cut through waves, the back half is a usually flat bottom for stability and more room. The rental boat usually has 3 bench seats and a bow step seat in the V. This type of boat is very safe to operate with 5 to 10 hp outboard engines for notice boaters. Jon boats have square front end bow and the bottoms are flat and usually narrower then a V hull runabout boat. Square bow doesn't cut though waves it plows through creating a lot of spray wet ride, the boat is designed for smooth water or small 3" to 6" waves. Inbetween is the modified V "Tracker" type bass boat with a modified bow that is squared off on top of the gunnel and slightly V shaped at the water line to help cut through waves. Tom 1 Quote
texaslawdog Posted February 17, 2020 Author Posted February 17, 2020 16 minutes ago, WRB said: My suggestion is go rent a boat. Most aluminum rental boats are V hull runabouts, meaning the front bow end is pointed with a V shape bottom to cut through waves, the back half is a usually flat bottom for stability and more room. The rental boat usually has 3 bench seats and a bow step seat in the V. This type of boat is very safe to operate with 5 to 10 hp outboard engines for notice boaters. Jon boats have square front end bow and the bottoms are flat and usually narrower then a V hull runabout boat. Square bow doesn't cut though waves it plows through creating a lot of spray wet ride, the boat is designed for smooth water or small 3" to 6" waves. Inbetween is the modified V "Tracker" type bass boat with a modified bow that is squared off on top of the gunnel and slightly V shaped at the water line to help cut through waves. Tom I have rented boats before and have never felt I was in danger, but I guess I made sure the day was not expecting any threatening weather. And, I can mitigate a bad weather day as i'm retired and can pretty much pick and choose on a moment's notice. But there are those times when you've made plans with friends who work and you can't cancel. And, I'm not getting a gas ob, so I should be concerned for that? Quote
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