14’ Do It All Jon Boat

[bigbassin']

Been thinking of getting a 1448 Jon boat for about as long as I can really remember. 

As far as what the boat needs to be able to do, I pretty much enjoy all types of fishing/hunting and want to be able to do it all out of one boat. Priorities would be:

- Plan to put on a casting deck and trolling motor. I figure 75% of the it’s fishing use would be flipping and pitching for bass. Remaining 25% split between inshore saltwater and fly fishing for panfish during the summer.

- Need to be able to rig up for duck hunting. Would like light bars upfront for running early morning (could also use for bow fishing and gator hunting). The best duck habitat in central Florida is also prime gator habitat, would be hunting out of the boat not wading outside of retrieval’s.

I’m sure at some point the boat would potentially be used for crabbing and shrimping.

Realistically, I fish/hunt alone 95% of the time. I’d only have a single person with me the rest of the time.

Grew up fishing and crabbing out of a 1448, so in my memory this is the right mix between being small enough to be maneuverable, easy to tow, good on gas, and able to run decently shallow while being long enough and wide enough for 2 people to cast out of while standing up. Let me know if as a grown adult you feel this may not be the case.

Any real difference between hull brands/designs or not really?

Any particular models I should be looking at or avoiding?

Leaning towards tiller steer for increased space and maneuverability/response time. Any negative experiences going this route or is this the way to go?

May eventually look at adding a mud motor for redfishing and duck hunting, but a standard outboard would come first.

I understand a 14’ Jon boat may not be the best boat for any one of the things I listed above, but I would think it’s the closest to being able to do them all well. If you’re experience tells you otherwise, I’d like to know what issues you encountered.

[Deleted account]

I would do a 16' as an all around jon.

[Dogface]

I have a 1448 john. Mine it too small and unstable for a casting deck. It works great for sheltered waters. 

 

I'd look at a 16' if I wanted to make the modifications you mentioned and do the things you want to do. 

[MN Fisher]

30 minutes ago, Dogface said:

I have a 1448 john. Mine it too small and unstable for a casting deck. It work great for sheltered waters. 

 

I'd look at a 16' if I wanted to make the modifications you mentioned and do the things you want to do. 

Or even a 1452 instead of the 1448 - 4" more width might not sound like much, but it really makes a difference in the stability...that's per multiple posts on tinboats.net - that's the place to go for info on aluminum boats and modifying them.

[Goldstar225]

I fished for years out of a 14/42 jon boat with a front casting deck.  It was a little tippy but I never went into the drink.  A 14/48 would have been much better IMO.  Fished with two in it many times.  If my family gathering fishing trips to larger lakes ever ends I'll probably sell my PT190 and go back to a jon boat as I really enjoy fishing smaller waters.   If I do, I'll look hard at the tracker Grizzly 1648 jon boat.

[LonnieP]

My 1448 is plenty stable with a deck. 

[GreenPig]

In over 12 years of bowfishing 2 and 3 folks out of my 1448 one to three times a week, nobody ever fell out.

[Catt]

1448 will be fine for everything you mentioned. I fished Toledo Bend out of a 1546 Xpress with a 25 hp Suzuki.

 

I'm currently running a 1652 Alweld with a 40 hp Tahotsu.

 

Alweld has jon boats options that include decks, extended decks, rear decks, welded in floors, tunnel hulls, trolling motor bracket, per wired.

 

Build the boat you want

 

https://www.alweld.com/

 

[cyclops2]

I have a 1980 ?  bought new back then. Lowe 16' X 48"  Aluminum V hull. With a LEGAL LIMIT Evnrude 2 stroke 30 hp. 1986 motor........ Added floor decks.  A 12 gallon fuel tank which fills front seat area. And a 6 gallon red steel gas tank. I go out every day all day. The 6 gallon is connected when the 12 gallon is run dry.  I have a  padded armrested chair in the center space. 2 large tackle boxes . Vhf radio & antenna. Size 27 car battery. 2 bilge pumps 500 GPH each. 3 different size & types of anchors. short anchor lines and 2 .....100' storm anchor lines if I can not make it to a island & beach the boat. Life jackets for 2. .....2... 6' oars.  Special side of hull mounted console to keep rear space more open. It is a 15"  short shaft hull.  Full length bow & stern dock cleats & lines.

 

It IS a tight fit but I have to avoid 3' to 5' waves at anchor. Instant key starts  if I need to swing around while at anchor to always take a wave front on.

 

16' foot is a excellent size in NON main channels.  With massive cruisers & off shore racers blowing by all the time.

[WRB]

With 2 anglers each extra foot in length and inches in bottom width increases stability and casting comfort. Think about 5’ for the front deck area and 3’ for the rear pedestal seat area is 8’, leaving  6’ marginal space between 2 anglers in a 14’ boat.

I fished in a 1648 Grizzly Tracker Tiller recently and it’s a very stable boat, open mid area and the color for hunting.

Tom

PS, PM Catt he has more water time in Jon boats and knows these boats.

[Catt]

I fish out of a Alweld 1652VJT, Marsh RD series tunnel hull with a 40 hp Tahotsu. 

 

This is an overhead view of the tiller layout.