Want to turn my boat into a bass boat, could really use some pointers.

[pfunk42]

i have a 13.5 foot long aluminum Jon boat. I wanted to fix it up and turn it into a somewhat decent bass boat for a relatively low cost. If anyone could give me some pointers or some suggestion as to what i should and shouldn't do it would be greatly appreciated.

[Fishing Rhino]

My eyes are getting old, and I need glasses, but that does not look like a jon boat.  No matter, there are plenty of threads that show conversions on this site.  

This should get you started.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1206322448

[OH-bass614]

check out some on the jon boat restoration threads .... but it depends on what u want. if u want it to be as good as it can then it probably wont be cheap although cheaper then buying a bass boat  but to start ull need plywood (i used 3/4 inch) probably marine carpet....wood for support or aluminum  but before you do this draw yourself out a floorplan and decide what you want where

also check out tinboats.net

[SW Florida Kid]

That doesnt look like a jon boat... it looks like a row boat. You got jipped.

[done]

LBH has some great shots, with ideas. I customized my jon based on pics from this site. I went with an aluminum superstructure, built a front casting deck, livewell and pedestal seats for and aft.

One thing, before you build a single thing PLAN, PLAN, PLAN. For what I did, I ended up running nearly 40 ft of wiring in my 14 ft jon. It would have been royal hell if I had tried to do it AFTER I got my decks in.

Plan on where your TM will go, how many graphs, where they will be mounted, lighting, aerator/livewell, bilgepump, etc etc.

You will save yourself a lot of pain and heartache.

My first priority on mine was to make it all weather, day/night legal. That meant lighting, and bilge pump. I knew I wanted some electronics, meant running lines for transducer, and graph. I knew I would get a stick steer TM, ran lines for that. Wanted a central control panel to control all electronics, ran line for that.

One thing I did with mine, I seperated out the electric to 2 circuits. One I call "Have to" and others "Nice to". The have to are lighting (Nav and anchor), and bilge pump. The graph and TM run off the other circuit and I was careful to never let the wires from that circuit near each other as I heard TM lines running alongside graph lines can cause graph issues.

When you make your plan,  remember storage is critical. When you deck it up, you need a place to put your poles, safety gear, tackle, etc

I would consider what features would make it a good fishing boat for you, the way you fish, folks you bring with you, etc, draw up your plan and if you want addition feedback , thrw it up here.

[moloch16]

Check out this site dedicated to the topic:

http://tinboats.net

[smokepole]

It can be done I have a 14ft  1955 memphis bell v-hull jon boat and it turned out great I even have a raised floor in the front.

smokepole

[pfunk42]

Thank you for all the help i appreciated it a lot, ya i am sort of new to boating  :-X and i saw some pics of people who modified theirs, would like to have some of the same luxuries. 8-)

[stew6371]

i have a 1968 richline with a 9.9 johnson.here is what ive done to it so far.