10 foot jon storage

[bassman018]

I am seriously about to buy a 10 foot jon, my question is storage, For being only 15 I have quite a bit of tackle and a half a dozen rods. So how can I put it all in the boat, and have it organized? I was going to deck the front and make hatches but I think that would add too much weight so what do you think? oh and I would also add some plywood carpeted floors in between the seats. and what should I do for seats? BTW I am going to transport this in a full size bed pickup.

[bilgerat]

Will any given lake you fish require all of your tackle be with you ?

No matter what you do, space will be at a premium on a 10' boat, especially if you have a buddy with you.  For tackle, take only what you'll need for that lake. If you're fishing a pond, why have deep cranks with you ?

Don't pack like you're going out to sea. Pack smart and you will be ok.

[Grey Wolf]

Put some carpet on the floor and forget all that other stuff.

[zerofivenismo]

Put some carpet on the floor and forget all that other stuff.

x2 Yup!

[bassman018]

How should I carpet the floors? and what is your ideas for some seats?

[Wayne P.]

bassman, when I had 10' jon, I bought some boat carpet and glued it directly to the hull floor and up the sides. I made an aluminum deck (carpeted) about the same size as the little seat on the front so I could mount a foot controlled trolling motor and a sonar unit. I bolted a swivel seat to a piece of 3/4" plywook cut to fit on top of the front tank seat. Screwed that plywood to the tank seat.

Before installing the carpet, I ran two 8 ga wires from the back to the front so I could have the battery at the transom. I ran the wires under the hull bracing. I mounted a duplex electrical outlet at the bow for the trolling motor and sonar and added the approiate plug to each.

I cut another piece of plywood and added a swvel seat to it to use on the rear tank seat when someone fished with me. Lightweight partners only <150 #.

When I fished alone I usually carried 8-10 rods laid across the tank seats with the reels up front.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1213554116/225#238

It's an older picture, but you get the idea.  It's a 1236 Jon.  Still plenty light enough to pick up and put into the back of my truck. TM and electronics up front as well as storage. Cables ran under the floor to the rear, two batteries wired in parallel. If you have the cash to do it out of aluminum, it will make it far lighter than using wood. There is a large difference in price though. If you search around on Craigslist enough you can find everything you need for the most part at cheap prices. My bow mount cost me 70 bucks. Buying it new would have been two or three hundred. The seat was free when I got the TM. New batteries are about 80 bucks a piece. The only pieces on that boat that was bought retail besides the flooring and carpeting are the depth finder and the pin mount for the seat.  I can take five or six rods, a tackle bag, safety gear, and a cooler in it without a problem.