My "New" Jon Boat Thread

[jitterbug127]

I bought a Jon boat about a month ago, and I am going to make improvements to it over the winter/next year. I wanted to start a thread to track this. My boat is a a 16x54 made in 1980 according to the title. I'm not sure of the exact age. It was updated prior to my purchase, but I'm going to make it a baby bass boat instead of a general fishing boat. It came with a nice trailer and a 1969 evinrude 2 stroke 25 hp motor with electric start. The motor runs good once I get it started, she's a little slow to start, so I'm going to take apart the carb for a nice cleaning. Boat also came with a brand new 12 volt battery, it has a built in front deck with storage under it. The bench seats have all been removed, and the boat got new carpet this fall. It also came with a working trolley motor. The boat has been rewired and has running lights as well as those bright spot lights on the front and back. 

 

My plans for the boat: Im going to add a second battery, put in a battery on/off switch, wire in a fuse panel, get a front trolley motor, and some sort of depth finder and navigation. I've changed the impellar/water pump housing on the motor, put new plugs on it, and had to replace a pinion on the throttle. I also want to get a transom saver to ensure safe transportation of the motor. I had a brand new 2017 honda motor fall off my last boat several years ago, and I am still having nightmares about that. I did put new tires on the trailer, and i also got a spare mounted on the front of the trailer! 

 

I also hope to eventually built in some sort of rod locker. The floors/deck of my boat are all plywood, so the boat is pretty heavy. I'd like to convert everything over to aluminum, but the cost is so expensive ill wait for that to come down.   

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, jitterbug127 said:

I bought a Jon boat about a month ago, and I am going to make improvements to it over the winter/next year.

Welcome to the madhouse. I'd check https://www.tinboats.net/ for ideas, place to ask questions, etc. The forum is specifically dedicated to aluminum boat rebuilds and modifications...it's where I went for help on my project last year.

 

Some of the pics I posted have been removed (space considerations) but from Page 6 on the pics are there...and there's short vids I put up as well.

 

Basically, it was turning the top pic into the bottom one.

 

If you got any short questions, I can probably answer them here too.

[jitterbug127]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

Welcome to the madhouse. I'd check https://www.tinboats.net/ for ideas, place to ask questions, etc. The forum is specifically dedicated to aluminum boat rebuilds and modifications...it's where I went for help on my project last year.

 

Some of the pics I posted have been removed (space considerations) but from Page 6 on the pics are there...and there's short vids I put up as well.

 

Basically, it was turning the top pic into the bottom one.

 

If you got any short questions, I can probably answer them here too.

sounds great! Thank you so much. I have read most of your thread and its already given me some ideas. You've done a wonderful job with it. Very impressive. 

[jitterbug127]

Ill put some pictures up tonight/tomorrow. I paid $1000 for everything which I thought was pretty decent considering everything it came with. 

[jitterbug127]

[Motoboss]

HERE is a dark hole to head down! ?

https://m.youtube.com/@TinyBoatNation

 

 

[MN Fisher]

2 hours ago, Motoboss said:

HERE is a dark hole to head down! ?

One of the other places I took inspiration from for the F-9 rebuild.

[WRB]

23 hours ago, jitterbug127 said:

I bought a Jon boat about a month ago, and I am going to make improvements to it over the winter/next year. I wanted to start a thread to track this. My boat is a a 16x54 made in 1980 according to the title. I'm not sure of the exact age. It was updated prior to my purchase, but I'm going to make it a baby bass boat instead of a general fishing boat. It came with a nice trailer and a 1969 evinrude 2 stroke 25 hp motor with electric start. The motor runs good once I get it started, she's a little slow to start, so I'm going to take apart the carb for a nice cleaning. Boat also came with a brand new 12 volt battery, it has a built in front deck with storage under it. The bench seats have all been removed, and the boat got new carpet this fall. It also came with a working trolley motor. The boat has been rewired and has running lights as well as those bright spot lights on the front and back. 

 

My plans for the boat: Im going to add a second battery, put in a battery on/off switch, wire in a fuse panel, get a front trolley motor, and some sort of depth finder and navigation. I've changed the impellar/water pump housing on the motor, put new plugs on it, and had to replace a pinion on the throttle. I also want to get a transom saver to ensure safe transportation of the motor. I had a brand new 2017 honda motor fall off my last boat several years ago, and I am still having nightmares about that. I did put new tires on the trailer, and i also got a spare mounted on the front of the trailer! 

 

I also hope to eventually built in some sort of rod locker. The floors/deck of my boat are all plywood, so the boat is pretty heavy. I'd like to convert everything over to aluminum, but the cost is so expensive ill wait for that to come down.   

Any questions you have about the vintage 25 hp Evinrude PM Way2Slow, Keith knows these engines.

The basics is replace the Water pump, lower unit grease, check the prop shaft seals. You probably have a 5 gallon gas tank with bulb primer, check that. I believe the gas to oil mixture is 24 to 1 for that era engine? Change the plugs and look at them closely for collation.

Tom

 

[MN Fisher]

8 minutes ago, WRB said:

I believe the gas to oil mixture is 24 to 1 for that era engine?

Nope - same as my 1973 25hp...50:1 - 1pt oil to 6gallons gas (1pt to 5 gallons would be alright to use)

 

All Evinrude 2 strokes made after 1964 use the 50:1 ratio.

[jitterbug127]

Updates so far: New tires and spare tire for the boat. New wiring harness and rewired the trailer. I took out that back seat and installed the folding seat to the bench. Ill see how that works out. 

 

Motor has been completely serviced: new plugs, new impeller, new fuel line, new carb, new fuel pump, new throttle gear/pinion, safety lanyard installed, new gasket for cowling, changed out gear lube and had seals checked. I'm ordering a new fuel line this week. 

 

I think I am going to get the boat out and fish it at this point and see how it does before I do more major repairs to it.  

[airshot]

Consider replacing the fuel lines under the motor hood, every one replaces the main fuel line and primer bulb, but those little gas lines inside also rot and fail, but are iften overlooked.  Little pieces come off and cause blockages inside, cheap fix to prevent future issues.....

[jitterbug127]

31 minutes ago, airshot said:

Consider replacing the fuel lines under the motor hood, every one replaces the main fuel line and primer bulb, but those little gas lines inside also rot and fail, but are iften overlooked.  Little pieces come off and cause blockages inside, cheap fix to prevent future issues.....

Already done. Forgot to list it. thank you for suggesting this. 

[Motoboss]

Got that boat out?

[jitterbug127]

I finally finished the restore on this boat. It had 2 good years. I sold it a couple weeks ago. Not sure if it was a great idea or not. I kept my 35 hp outboard and bow mount powerdrive trolley motor. I just bought a 2010 lowe utility boat with bench seats. 

[J._Bricker]

@jitterbug127 quite a transformation into an awesome looking fishing machine! Well done sir!

[bassmedic46]

That was quite the transformation. Very nice job.