Jon Boat, bass raider, or something else?

[FishTax]

I've been doing some research but thought I'd check with you guys who all know way more than me about this stuff. Here is my situation. 

 

I'm currently a kayak angler, very comfortable on that platform. However, I have 2 young sons, 3 and 7, and older parents and friends. I bought a tandem kayak and additional solo kayaks, and none of these work for what I'm trying to accomplish. I'm probably going to sell the tandem kayak. Just wanted to establish that before getting to it

 

I live by the lake. Whatever I buy, I plan to leave in the woods. I can throw some wood blocks down to elevate it off the ground and put a cover on it, but I'm not going to pull it up to the house so it should be able to withstand heat and cold to NC specs, and assuming a tarp or something better is over it. I will launch it alone from the shore, so it has to be comfortably manageable by one person. 

 

I need it to be easy enough to use for a 70 year old man, or a 3 year old kid. Meaning, the chair is comfortable and they can stand up and stretch their legs occasionally, maybe holding on to a seat or something. 

 

I plan to put a trolling motor on it, and fish with it. A lot. I'm in an electric only lake so an outboard isn't under consideration. 2 trolling motors would be considered if justifiable. 

 

Do I get a small jon boat, a bass raider, or something else? 

[Jig Man]

If you could keep it on the water a very small pontoon might work.

[MediumMouthBass]

Jon boat is my vote. Not a skinny one either, have seen these many times on the lake. Looks like they were built to tip over....

Go with 40" width at the very minimum.

 

A plastic boat like a bass raider is nice for one person maybe 2, but it will get cramped, and plastic doesnt mix the best with elements either (hot and cold). Nor does it mix well with rats, had a guy in last fishing trip get rid of his kayaks because he left them out in the woods and the rats had ruined them.

 

My dad and i have a 1040 Lowe paired with a trolling motor and a 2.5hp Suzuki. Good stability when seated and standing up anchored, drifting around, or using the troller. But when using the motor or there are bigger waves/wakes sitting down is the wiser choice. Have about 5 rods comfortably sitting on both sides of the inside edge, and can take several tackle bags too. Its a nice setup, but we really shouldve bought the next size bigger to take an extra person or dog...

 

With/without seats its not very heavy either, can be pulled/pushed over grass with a single person and launched extremely easily as well alone.

 

The most important factor to think about though on these smaller boats is the maximum weight of the people using it, its not only a legality but a safety measure. Make sure to check weight ratings as you may need to go up a size.

[FishTax]

1 hour ago, Jig Man said:

If you could keep it on the water a very small pontoon might work.

I can't. If I could, I agree as I'd love to have a multipurpose pontoon. 

40 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Jon boat is my vote. Not a skinny one either, have seen these many times on the lake. Looks like they were built to tip over....

Go with 40" width at the very minimum.

 

A plastic boat like a bass raider is nice for one person maybe 2, but it will get cramped, and plastic doesnt mix the best with elements either (hot and cold). Nor does it mix well with rats, had a guy in last fishing trip get rid of his kayaks because he left them out in the woods and the rats had ruined them.

 

My dad and i have a 1040 Lowe paired with a trolling motor and a 2.5hp Suzuki. Good stability when seated and standing up anchored, drifting around, or using the troller. But when using the motor or there are bigger waves/wakes sitting down is the wiser choice. Have about 5 rods comfortably sitting on both sides of the inside edge, and can take several tackle bags too. Its a nice setup, but we really shouldve bought the next size bigger to take an extra person or dog...

 

With/without seats its not very heavy either, can be pulled/pushed over grass with a single person and launched extremely easily as well alone.

 

The most important factor to think about though on these smaller boats is the maximum weight of the people using it, its not only a legality but a safety measure. Make sure to check weight ratings as you may need to go up a size.

The plastic is definitely a consideration as you mentioned with weather and animals. I've left my kayaks out overnight and something ate every soft plastic I'd left on the boat, along with the paddle tail of one hanging off a hook. Luckily whatever it was didn't eat the hook, or chew on my transducer cables and I definitely learned a lesson on that. 

I'm not sure that I could launch and then pull back out a large jon boat alone. Considering it'd have TM, battery, and gear on it. My launch spot isn't set up for me to unload the boat on the water, I have to get it on land first as I'm launching between trees, etc. in a forest. I need to go over to the marina where they rent them and see how heavy the biggest one they have is. 

I definitely want enough space for at least 1 good sized buddy to be able to comfortably join me when desired. The 10' bass raiders have pretty good reviews for that but I think the jon boat wins in the outdoor storage category obviously. 

[LonnieP]

The Bass Raider would be my choice, it will be the most stable to stand up in since it is 48 inch’s wide. I fished out of a pond prowler for years and it did well for me.

[GreenPig]

   A 1240 or 1440 jon will be plenty stable and weather proof. If you're taking everything out of it, it's simple to turn over and will not require a tarp that's not gonna last. 

[FishTax]

If I leave trolling motor on what are the chances the wires will get chewed or something else bad will happen? 

[MN Fisher]

14 minutes ago, FishTax said:

If I leave trolling motor on what are the chances the wires will get chewed or something else bad will happen? 

Put a well fitting cover on it and the chances are negligible...I leave mine out all 'soft-water' season, making sure the cover is on correctly, and never had an issue with 'critters'.

Well fitting, of course, means the edges where the cover and boat meet.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

1 hour ago, FishTax said:

If I leave trolling motor on what are the chances the wires will get chewed or something else bad will happen? 

I think you've seen my setup, it stays tied up to a dock with the trolling motor always on it.....had some racoon tracks in the boat before.    Sure other critters can get in as well.   Nothing has ever been damaged by critters.   On the other hand, weather and wear and tear breaks it all the time.

 

I've found the motors are pretty impervious to rain when stored outdoors, but I've ruined one motor when it got submerged.     100d summers and below freezing winters don't seem to harm mine.   

 

Batteries can be a real pain if using lead acid.   Lithiums make life much easier if you have to transport and charge a battery every time out fishing.   

 

I'd go with the biggest jon boat you can get away with.   Maybe store it close to waters edge.    It's hard to have leg room and comfort or even fish two people comfortably with a small enough boat to be man portable and not trailered or left in the water.   

 

Maybe a 1452.   Put some decks on it.      Tinyboatnation has some nice looking kits and @MN Fisher is a great person to talk with who has built a similar setup.   

[Susky River Rat]

Jon boat. You can get them cheap and set them up a lot easier how you want them.

[padlin]

I know a 10’ Bass Raider type will fit the need, no idea if it’s the “best choice”. A 10’ is fine for 2 whereas an 8’ works well for a single, I have both. If you go this route I’d flip it over to keep the water out, no need for a cover upside down. They weight about 100 lbs and can fairly easily be drug around or flipped by a 70 year old, I have one of those too. One trolling motor with a bull nose rudder works well, also need an anchor as the wind blows them around. A newer boat comes with webbed seats that are plenty comfortable, older ones are plastic and this 70 year old needs a cushion if one has these.

[Catt]

Aluminum Jon either 12' x 42" or 12' x 48"

 

Plastic boats are fine except they have no sides which I prefer with young kids or women. Sides keep kids contained & offers a sense of security for women.

[Alex from GA]

I have a 12' jon boat in our pond that the neighbors use to pull water lilies and spatterdock.  The neighbor and his son probably weigh well over 550 lbs and it holds them up with a load of lillies.  That's what I'd use if I was able.  At 70 it was no problem with me to handle.

[casts_by_fly]

I'm in the 1448 camp.  You have two small kids now- what are the changes that you take one and not the other?  Three people in a bass raider isn't going to cut it.  Even in a 12' boat you're going to be tripping on each other and gear.

 

And they aren't going to get younger or smaller.  In 3 years you're going to have a 6 and 10 year old.  You'll definitely want the stability of the bigger boat at that point.  

[Bird]

I have a Bass Raider for ponds and river.

Seats are high and comfortable and the boat is very stable.

I use a 55lb thrust TM that is bow mounted.

I'm 64 and can load the boat in the bed of truck by myself but it ain't easy.

Con: this boat does not like wind.

[FishTax]

Sounds like Jon boat will be the best option for me. I'll start watching for a decent used one. Thanks for all of the thoughts and ideas, definitely some things I hadn't considered. 

I've got a TM and batteries from renting boats at Marina so I'm hoping to start really cheap and build slowly from there. 

I have a tall friend named Pat and I'd like it to be spacious enough for him to join as well. Looking forward to the possibilities!

[Lead Head]

You are going to want to pull the batteries for sure. If you don't already have lithium, you might consider breaking down and paying the extra. It's nice that they don't add as much weight to the boat on the water, but it's super nice that they don't weigh as much when you need to pull them out of the boat every trip.

[Motoboss]

My vote is a Sportspal Canoe . Solid light weight aluminum, big capacity, room for three easily or one adult and three kids, trolling motor compatible or easily rowed with oars. Boat weight is under 60 pounds, 40+ inch beam and unsinkable. Available from 11 ft. to 16 ft. both square stern or pointed ends

 

I believe it would be a perfect fit for you alone, a friend or for taking kids out comfortably while being able to store outside, drag thru the woods or car top if needed. I use a Newport 55# thrust motor (26 lbs) with a LifePo4 battery (20 lbs) that are both easy to carry and install. Mine is a 1994 model that was stored outdoors and other than paint and foam was no worse for wear. Plastic would never last as long or hold up as well.

 

There are many youtube videos, just google Sportspal Canoe 

 

 

Although I am 70 years old and biased……

 

 

[FishTax]

2 hours ago, Lead Head said:

You are going to want to pull the batteries for sure. If you don't already have lithium, you might consider breaking down and paying the extra. It's nice that they don't add as much weight to the boat on the water, but it's super nice that they don't weigh as much when you need to pull them out of the boat every trip.

Yes I plan to pull the batteries each trip, no issue with that as I have to do that to charge them anyway. I'll set them on the 4 wheeler and drive them up so weight isn't really an issue on the batteries. I currently have AGM but when it dies I'll switch to lithium. I use lithium for my electronics already. 

[FishTax]

22 hours ago, Motoboss said:

My vote is a Sportspal Canoe . Solid light weight aluminum, big capacity, room for three easily or one adult and three kids, trolling motor compatible or easily rowed with oars. Boat weight is under 60 pounds, 40+ inch beam and unsinkable. Available from 11 ft. to 16 ft. both square stern or pointed ends

 

I believe it would be a perfect fit for you alone, a friend or for taking kids out comfortably while being able to store outside, drag thru the woods or car top if needed. I use a Newport 55# thrust motor (26 lbs) with a LifePo4 battery (20 lbs) that are both easy to carry and install. Mine is a 1994 model that was stored outdoors and other than paint and foam was no worse for wear. Plastic would never last as long or hold up as well.

 

There are many youtube videos, just google Sportspal Canoe 

 

 

Although I am 70 years old and biased……

 

 

Is that stable enough to stand up in? I think that'd be great for the kids, but not great for me and Pat to fish from for various reasons. But this is probably way better than the tandem kayak I shouldn't have bought.