Jon Boat Mods - Do's and Don'ts

[4 my Boy]

You guys have some great advice in here, I will be working on a LOWE 14' V Hull soon and needed the help of you guys. Thanks and I now my 2yr old son will be happy to see Daddy fixing his(my boys) boat. I will also take many pics. and post also.

[Seener84]

This is all good information.  I am going to start my winter project in a week or so.  Need to work up a plan first to save some time and money in the future I think.  Keep the hints, tips, and experience coming!

[panseco]

A question while I am modding my jon.

I am planning on screwing 3/4" plywood to the tops of my bench seats. Will this be enough support for a 13" pedestel like the swivel-eze 3/4" seat posts and bases?

I put plywood on top of my bench seats to attach my seats.  I wanted to use 3/4" but used 3 layers of 3/8".  It looks as though it will be sturdy enough.  So I would think that the 3/4" will be alright to use.

[tennwalkinghorse]

Backpain I had 13" pedestals on my 14 ft Jon in my opinion they were to high was getting a lot of rock side to side. If you work at it you can remove the bushing and cut the post down I did this inch at a time till it was stable for me.  That number was 9" after you find the right height all you have to do is put some RTV on the bushing push it in to the post and your good to go.

[Dalton Tam]

I've got a 14'42" G3 with a 30 horse. Used 3/4" Ply wood and it weighs the boat down way tooo much the front deck we built is way too heavy after putting the trolling motor on and getting your tackle in. It takes forever for the boat to plain out but it makes an ideal boat for small ponds and lakes that would tear up a big boat.

[tnbassfisher]

I'm interested in getting a jon boat, and doing this. What should I look for in buying the boat itself?

[TopDog]

I'm interested in getting a jon boat, and doing this. What should I look for in buying the boat itself?

In my opinion a 42 inch width should be the minimum. Stay within the weight capacity and you should be fine.

[The Guy]

I've got an old jon boat I was planning on redoing.  It had been repainted at one point but now all the paint is peeling off.  What is the best way to remove the paint chemical or a wire brush on an angle grinder? Also if I chose not to repaint it would leaving the aluminum exposed cause any problems?  Thanks for the help guys

[Brine]

I've got an old jon boat I was planning on redoing. It had been repainted at one point but now all the paint is peeling off. What is the best way to remove the paint chemical or a wire brush on an angle grinder? Also if I chose not to repaint it would leaving the aluminum exposed cause any problems? Thanks for the help guys

If it's already peeling, a wire brush on a grinder should make short work of it. Bare Aluminum once exposed to air will start to oxidize immediately and becomes it's own best protection. Don't expect the boat to remain shiny though after you've removed the paint. As it oxidizes, it will turn a grayish color. The paint is probably peeling because the prepwork was never done correctly, or the wrong paint is being used. If you're going to use the wire cup brush and take it down to bare metal, make sure to use a self-etching primer like zinc chromate (or similar) before you apply your paint. Not sure of the forum rules, but there is a great site (who also mentions this site) that is specific to Tin Boats if you want some great ideas on painting a jon with numerous boat modifications.

[arul]

I am now working on my third build. From the first two I have learned a alot.

You can use 3/8 or 1/2 plywood with no problem at all.

I also used 2x2 treated pine for my subfloor and it works great.

The added weight of the wood subfloor didn't slow the boat down any.

Here's a few pictures.

that is the sweetes jon boat I have ever seen....inspires me to get a jon boat upgrade over my canoe and pimp it out like that... good stuff

[Gatorbassman]

I'm interested in getting a jon boat, and doing this. What should I look for in buying the boat itself?

I look for either an old Bass Tracker or a Fisher. If they have trees growing out of them it's even better.

[Brine]

Quote

I'm interested in getting a jon boat, and doing this. What should I look for in buying the boat itself?

I guess part of that depends on the bodies of water you will predominantly fish, as well as your desired outcome (cosmetic and function) when you are finished. As a general rule, flat bottoms are the most stable but don't do too well in big water, V-Hulls are good in big water, but usually don't offer as much stability if you intend to have a casting deck, and the modified-V is right in between and is my preference. The vast majority of lakes I ever fish are either electric only or have a 10hp restriction. Your budget will have alot to do with what you will be looking at. If I were looking for one, I'd be looking for an all welded, modified v, but would be open to buying a riveted boat too if the price was right (which I did). In either case, I would ask the seller if the boat has any known leaks, and if you happen to see the boat at night and there are no decks, you can take a buddy with a flashlight/spotlight and have him shine the light inside the boat while you are underneath. Don't forget to go over the trailer good too, as replacing wheel's hubs, and tires will usually cost at least $200-$300 dollars. If you're not in a rush, take your time buying one. There are deals to be had right now and most of them are on boats that are fish-ready. Once you get a boat and are ready to start modding it, ask for advice along the way. I've learned so much from others and am thankful I didn't try to pioneer my buildout, as I would have undoubtedly made some bad decisions along the way. Go over the hull carefully and look for any corrosion/holes. Take note of what (if any) accessories that work which come with the boat like seats, pedestals, pumps, lights, graphs, trolling motors etc..because I have found that it's the little things that add up quick in doing one from scratch. The outboard (if offered) will also have a big impact on the value of the purchase. Take into consideration that it's tough to buy just a bare hull and build it out completely and expect someone to be willing to pay you the cost of what it was to build with the amount of "ready to fish" boats on the market for less. I took on the project because I like tinkering and couldn't afford to buy what I wanted all at once, not because I thought I would save money on a boat. Keep an eye on craigslist, and certainly if you drive by a house with a boat next to it or in the back yard that has trees groing in it, there's a good chance you could get a good deal on it. Good Luck!