Help me not get ripped off.....thoughts on a refit Jon boat I'm thinking of buying

[AlabamaSpothunter]

As some here have seen I'm fishing a 1970s V hulled Jon boat with a 50lb thrust trolling motor in the rear.   I'm fishing a couple hundred acre lake.   This boat sucks for Bass fishing, and has given me a whole new respect for anybody not using a casting deck boat.

 

My budget has been about 1-2k for a "Decked" Jon boat, a mini Pontoon, or an old true Bass boat without an engine.    The Mini Pontoons are really hard to find, and expensive, the old Bass boats look like trash, and this has left me thinking I want a re fitted Jon boat with a built on deck.  Basically a mini Bass boat.   

 

After a few months of browsing FB Marketplace and other classifieds, I came across this younger guy in North Alabama who works on boats for a living.   Anyways he basically took the current boat I'm in and described above, and repainted, created a deck and compartments, overall just pimp'd it just to what I was looking for.     He is asking 1250 and it comes with a little old beater trailer.   This boat will stay on this lake so the trailer is irrelevant outside of getting it home and on the lake. 

 

The following is the seller's description:

"14ft jon boat decked out for a mini bass boat all the framing is aluminum so nothing will ever rot the deck is 3/4 inch treated plywood so won’t rot either boat is very sturdy and ready to put a motor on and fish has a 45 pound thrust min kota or u have any questions feel free to ask has 3 storages and a rod locker"

 

Here are some pics of it......thoughts for 1250 and about 3hr round trip drive.

Before pics 

 

[flyfisher]

I am by no means a boat expert but that boat with that hull shape and that deck looks like a recipe for a tippy experience.  I'm also no way driving 3 hours for that boat.  The work on the boat does look great though but seeing that open lid and wood makes me wonder because it doesn't look like marine grade to me but hard to tell by pictures.

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Just now, flyfisher said:

I am by no means a boat expert but that boat with that hull shape and that deck looks like a recipe for a tippy experience.  I'm also no way driving 3 hours for that boat.  The work on the boat does look great though but seeing that open lid and wood makes me wonder because it doesn't look like marine grade to me but hard to tell by pictures.

 

Excellent stuff, reason I knew starting a thread here would be smart.

 

I was thinking about the V hull/tippy deal too 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Thats not a jon boat and for that price it should have a 5hp motor at least.

 

Would you be interested in this Alabama special?

[AlabamaSpothunter]

1 hour ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

Thats not a jon boat and for that price it should have a 5hp motor at least.

 

Would you be interested in this Alabama special?

So what would call that type of boat then?

 

Unlike that high IQ superstar, I'm just a lowly Auburn alum.   I will attest that the average Bama fan looks exactly as handsome and sophisticated as that gentleman.  

[MN Fisher]

2 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Excellent stuff, reason I knew starting a thread here would be smart.

 

I was thinking about the V hull/tippy deal too 

My conversion is basically that kind of boat - 14' semi-V with a deck and all. It's a little rocky, but I don't have an issue standing to cast or leaning over to net a fish.

 

I used BCX plywood for the decking...doesn't have to be marine grade, long as the wood is properly treated, (*cough* Spar Urethane *cough*) it's not that great an issue, but I went with something else for the sidewalls of the compartments - FRP...lighter and no chance of rot.

 

$1250 seems fair - my cost total (purchase of boat/trailer, 25hp motor, Edge TM, materials, etc) was around $3000...and that doesn't include the couple-hundred hours of work over 7 months time.

 

[VolFan]

The work seems clean; I think that’s a decent deal. It sucks that it’s 3 hours away. I’d want to stand in it on the water before I bought it. $1250 for that in good shape is pretty good nowadays 

[Alex from GA]

I used a 14' open glass boat for years when I went to FL.  As long as there was a place to stand in front and a front trolling motor it worked great.  IMO if you'll put your trolling motor on the front you might find your boat works good for very little $.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

So what would call that type of boat then?

 

 

56 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

My conversion is basically that kind of boat - 14' semi-V with a deck and all.     

 

yep semi v

 

 

 

 

[GaryH]

3 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

As some here have seen I'm fishing a 1970s V hulled Jon boat with a 50lb thrust trolling motor in the rear.   I'm fishing a couple hundred acre lake.   This boat sucks for Bass fishing, and has given me a whole new respect for anybody not using a casting deck boat.

 

My budget has been about 1-2k for a "Decked" Jon boat, a mini Pontoon, or an old true Bass boat without an engine.    The Mini Pontoons are really hard to find, and expensive, the old Bass boats look like trash, and this has left me thinking I want a re fitted Jon boat with a built on deck.  Basically a mini Bass boat.   

 

After a few months of browsing FB Marketplace and other classifieds, I came across this younger guy in North Alabama who works on boats for a living.   Anyways he basically took the current boat I'm in and described above, and repainted, created a deck and compartments, overall just pimp'd it just to what I was looking for.     He is asking 1250 and it comes with a little old beater trailer.   This boat will stay on this lake so the trailer is irrelevant outside of getting it home and on the lake. 

 

The following is the seller's description:

"14ft jon boat decked out for a mini bass boat all the framing is aluminum so nothing will ever rot the deck is 3/4 inch treated plywood so won’t rot either boat is very sturdy and ready to put a motor on and fish has a 45 pound thrust min kota or u have any questions feel free to ask has 3 storages and a rod locker"

 

Here are some pics of it......thoughts for 1250 and about 3hr round trip drive.

Before pics 

 

Looks like a good deal for $1250. My biggest concern would be getting it home with the trailer. Good luck and I hope it works out good for you.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

My conversion is basically that kind of boat - 14' semi-V with a deck and all. It's a little rocky, but I don't have an issue standing to cast or leaning over to net a fish.

 

I used BCX plywood for the decking...doesn't have to be marine grade, long as the wood is properly treated, (*cough* Spar Urethane *cough*) it's not that great an issue, but I went with something else for the sidewalls of the compartments - FRP...lighter and no chance of rot.

 

$1250 seems fair - my cost total (purchase of boat/trailer, 25hp motor, Edge TM, materials, etc) was around $3000...and that doesn't include the couple-hundred hours of work over 7 months time.

 

I love your conversion, and appreciate the first hand account.    You are a wealth of info as usual!

1 hour ago, VolFan said:

The work seems clean; I think that’s a decent deal. It sucks that it’s 3 hours away. I’d want to stand in it on the water before I bought it. $1250 for that in good shape is pretty good nowadays 

This was my exact thinking, but I'm not sure we can work that out.    

22 minutes ago, Alex from GA said:

I used a 14' open glass boat for years when I went to FL.  As long as there was a place to stand in front and a front trolling motor it worked great.  IMO if you'll put your trolling motor on the front you might find your boat works good for very little $.

I actually wanted a glass boat for the weight but haven't found the right one.   Appreciate the info! 

[Woody B]

If it's a similar hull to yours how stable is yours when you stand in it.  That and the weight would be my concern.  

 

I'm not a boat expert.  In my mind extra weight "could" do a few things.  "Could" the weight up high make the boat unstable, or will weight make it more stable?  Obviously weight will use more motor and battery.   As long as it don't sit too low in the water, and you've got enough motor/battery it should be fine.  

 

Bring your boat up here to NC for a couple weeks and we'll "deck it out".   

 

FWIW my boat (Tracker Classic XL) is basically a jon boat made into a bass boat at the factory.   

[AlabamaSpothunter]

15 minutes ago, Woody B said:

If it's a similar hull to yours how stable is yours when you stand in it.  That and the weight would be my concern.  

 

I'm not a boat expert.  In my mind extra weight "could" do a few things.  "Could" the weight up high make the boat unstable, or will weight make it more stable?  Obviously weight will use more motor and battery.   As long as it don't sit too low in the water, and you've got enough motor/battery it should be fine.  

 

Bring your boat up here to NC for a couple weeks and we'll "deck it out".   

 

FWIW my boat (Tracker Classic XL) is basically a jon boat made into a bass boat at the factory.   

You know that's a good idea, I might jerry rig a piece of wood up front and test the stability on the current boat.   Thanks!

[Way2slow]

I'll make it short, it's not a jon boat and if I had to fish out of that boat, you couldn't give it to me, even if it was delivered to me.  If you plan on standing on that front deck, make sure you have a flotation device on and using a rod/reel you don't mind losing. 

[@reelChris]

Think of it this way - you're probably looking at a $500 boat with $750 worth of labor put into it.  

 

One thing that stood out to me on the level of workmanship is the way the hinges are attached to the deck and compartment lids.  It's a little hard to tell from the picture, but it looks like:

 

1) they're screwed on instead of riveted;

2) the screw heads are raised instead of flush; and

3 the screws likely are directly into the plywood with no backing.  

 

On a boat that small, you'll be opening and closing the few compartments a lot.  The builder's lack of attention to detail is going to result in the hinges loosening up sooner rather than later.  

[TnRiver46]

1250 is the lowest price you’ll find on anything I would imagine, I see dozens of kayaks that cost more than that everyday with no trailer

[Bankc]

I'd go for it.  That's a really good deal, and if you got it home and decided it didn't work out for you, you could probably flip it for what you put into it without too much hassle.  At the very least you'd learn more about what you're looking for in a boat.  

[jitterbug127]

I think you’d get your money back pretty easy 

[Dwight Hottle]

That price is not the issue.