Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

[Nocturne187]

hey guys, quick question, i am debating on buying a 14ft 1977 landau jon boat. is this too old? the guy said all the rivets on the bottom have been gone over with JB weld. and it doesnt leak. just let me know if you think this boat is worth it.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

My boats are vintage 1961, 1975, 1976, and 1977, none of them leak - therefore they float.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

if the rivets needed jb weld pass it up unless it's super cheap

 

[Nocturne187]

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

if the rivets needed jb weld pass it up unless it's super cheap

that is a bad sign? structural integrity is bad? maybe he did it to be safe?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

I dunno... NONE of the manufacturers put jb weld on their rivets to make their boats safe.... maybe he knows something they don't...... or more likely he had an old beat up leaky boat and he patched it up the best he knew how

You ask if the boat is "worth it"

Worth what.... what is the price? does it come with a trailer motor fish finder.....

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

It has leaked before; it will leak again. The question "is it worth it? is answered with a question "is that a problem?" Depends on cost and intended use, especially whether you would leave it in the water (no) or out (maybe).

Cost should be around $200 for old boat only.

 

[Nocturne187]

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

It has leaked before; it will leak again. The question "is it worth it? is answered with a question "is that a problem?" Depends on cost and intended use, especially whether you would leave it in the water (no) or out (maybe).

Cost should be around $200 for old boat only.

i talked to the guy today.. he said he but the jb on before he ever put it in the water? does this make sense?

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

It really depends on how much the boat cost. It's not hard to tighten up the rivets if they do leak. You can Gulvit or Steelfex the hull if need be.
I paid $195 for a 1971 Wards Seaking 1436 Jon boat. I had to replace the transom and weld a seam at the bow. It was worth it.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

it doesn't matter.... what DOES matter is the price.... tell us that and what comes with the boat and we can help you

 

[Nocturne187]

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

it doesn't matter.... what DOES matter is the price.... tell us that and what comes with the boat and we can help you

the boat is $400 with the a trailer. trailer has no title tho. therefore.. id like to just get the boat for like $250 or so..

 

[grego]

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

We love to fish!! we, at one time, with brother, drug a 14 ft. alum boat through fields, brush, slid it down rocky banks and down a metal handrail that was about 60 ft. and across gravel roads to get to "those" hard to get to fishing holes. alum. skin did well, but rivets tend to loosen and leak and "yes". . we used j&b weld to fix leaks. We had to use a wire brush to clean around them. "learned quick" that if you did not use wire brush,weld would not hold. "Good thing?" Just a hair drier would soften j&b enough to get off easy.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

well that is more than I would pay for it but that doesn't mean it's a total loss... I generally shop around ALOT and look for a smokin deal... I'd pay no more than 250 if it were in really good shape.... if it's rough enough that it needed sealed up and jb is what it was done with that puts it in the $100 range to me.... In the end it will be your judgement as to what condition it is really in but it's a buyers market and you can afford to pass up A BUNCH of ok deals to find one really good one...... Also I have been burned more times than I care to count by "he says" stuff.... Someone has their arm in a cast... it's broken ..... jb on the bottom... it's a leaker .... reguardless of the 'story'

 

[Nocturne187]

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

hey smoke on the water.. great advice.. i think im gonna pass.. and maybe spend like $1000 on a good boat and trailer.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

look at this example....
issue with title but in many states it isn't needed on one this size

http://louisville.craigslist.org/boa/1576381098.html

 

[Nocturne187]

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

going to look at a fiberglass jon boat tomorrow.. anything i should look for that is a bad sign?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

rotted wood, softspots.... patches/repairs.... way heavier than it should be

 

[Nocturne187]

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

i decided to buy the jon boat today, i thought it was a good deal. it did have one patch job that was really solid. the hull and interior were very solid. is fiberglass stronger than aluminum? the trolling motor, motor, and trailer were in good shape.. the decking was good too.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

you mean you got the aluminum with JB rivets?

To me; it's not a bad deal since I'd be using it for knocking around, hunting, etc. where a few problems don't matter.

 

[Nocturne187]

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

no i didnt get the aluminum with jb rivets, i got a 14ft fiber glass, with one patch job. the patch job was really solid tho. it was patched, sanded painted, couldnt tell unless you looked for it. Is aluminum stronger or more durable than fiberglass, can you tell me abit about fiberglass.. i dont know much about it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Deciding to buy a jon boat, need help

depends on whether you got a inner hull. Are the sides of the boat basically one piece of fiberglass, or are they about 2" thick with an inner and outer? If the latter, there is floatation in there; it can get waerlogged from leaks (cracks inthe floor) and is impossible to drain completely.
If it's just one hull, it is more durable than aluminum, but heavier--that's the trade off. Basically maintenance free. If you add any cleats, etc. be sure to have good backing.