jon boat upgrade

[stratos201s]

I recently purchased a 1973 12 x 32 jon boat to fish out of. It is rigged up with a johnson 9.9 tiller steer and a 36 lb bill dance bow mount trolling motor. Can anyone recommend anything for more storage/fishing deck? I'm in the middle of installing a plywood floor in front for a fishing deck and would like a seat to mount for trolling. I usually carry a tacklebox or two a couple fishing rods and maybe a cooler....and a battery of course. I do primarily bass fishing and panfishing. Looking to hit into some walleye this fall too. Any and all ideas are welcomed and appreciated! Thanks. O and has anyone converted tiller to stick steer? I have a stick steer setup from another boat but no clue about the best way to set up on this motor....

 

[goboating]

Re: jon boat upgrade

Welcome to iboats! There is more advice here that you can stand! First off don't...don't use pressure treated plywood in an aluminum boat. Seal regular plywood with resin(2-3 coats) and use it to your hearts content. Even with carpet on it the resin will keep the plywood in great shape for years. Whatever that green solution is it doesn't like aluminum at all!!!!!!After only a year or two you will swear that the aluminum is rusting out from under you. While there is alot here there isn't much for tinnies. Don't sweat it. Go to www.tinboats.net evrything is there. A bunch of really helpful people there who can answer your questions. Check out the projects pages and see what others have done with their boats, some of it is just amazing.

 

[Bondo]

Re: jon boat upgrade

I recently purchased a 1973 12 x 32 jon boat to fish out of. It is rigged up with a johnson 9.9 tiller steer and a 36 lb bill dance bow mount trolling motor. Can anyone recommend anything for more storage/fishing deck? I'm in the middle of installing a plywood floor in front for a fishing deck and would like a seat to mount for trolling. I usually carry a tacklebox or two a couple fishing rods and maybe a cooler....and a battery of course. I do primarily bass fishing and panfishing. Looking to hit into some walleye this fall too. Any and all ideas are welcomed and appreciated! Thanks. O and has anyone converted tiller to stick steer? I have a stick steer setup from another boat but no clue about the best way to set up on this motor....

Ayuh,... If that's a 12' long, 32" wide hull,...
I'd guess yer gonna be Over it's weight limit, Before ya even step into it....

 

[DANZIG]

Re: jon boat upgrade

Nah, I reckon not over weight,, yet. But you will have to be careful about that.

I vote for rod holders and Nav lights.
Light weight Storage can be those bungie cord nets attached port and starboard forward of the middle bench.

 

[John_S]

Re: jon boat upgrade

A 12' w/32" bottom can be very unstable standing on a deck. Test it by standing on the top of the forward bench.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: jon boat upgrade

Ayuh,... If that's a 12' long, 32" wide hull,...
I'd guess yer gonna be Over it's weight limit, Before ya even step into it....

+1

I suggest float pods and stabilizing outriggers for that boat with all that stuff in it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: jon boat upgrade

stay low. you don't need high chairs for a boat like that. If you sat up on the bow, your stern would be out of the water! Adding soem thin boards to the floor is good so you don't trip over the ribs but I wouldn't go much farther than that. Storage = removable plastic totes or a 5 gallon bucket w/ lid. You already have a lot of motor on it.

 

[jjacobs007]

Re: jon boat upgrade

I had a tracker 12ft aluminum that i put a wood casting deck up on the bow,it worked fine never put in a chair always sat on a little cooler.A chair would be nice,maybe a little triangle one like on bass boats that way you have more room.