Jon boat vs skiff

boater1234

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Messages
869
Well i wanted to get some opinions on this.I now have a 1436 jon boat as that is all i can afford for the moment.I am running into some money to get a new boat by say nov/dec.I am looking at a few dif options here.I really like the 1852 and the 1652 lowe riveted boats.But i have also been looking at the 1648's.Then i thought to myself what about a 16ft carolina skiff.Now the boat will be bare bones.I just want a front deck and 2 seats if i get the skiff.I don't want a cc it takes up to much room imo.

The type of fishing i do is back country in fl.I don't ever go more then a mile off the shore at all unless i fish the flats.The places i fish are full of rocks,oysters,sand and shoals.I do have to get on plane in a hurry.I have had a 16ft skiff with a 25hp merc and was so dissapointed with the performance.I did however love the boat itself,man was it stable.

I'm working with a brand new 20hp 4stroke suzuki which has a ton of power to move either of them.I can seem to weigh out the pro's and cons here.

I know the jon boat will get on plane fast.I have no issues with stability so i can stand on a plank and fish so that won't make me go either way.I'm looking as what's easier to mod i guess.

livewell,coolers,mounting poles,trolling motor,polling platform.Stuff like that.I want to do this right and only once to deck my boat out to the max.I'm going to do it over the whole following summer when fall and winter are over.I want to fish through it then when it gets hot i will just work on it for as long as it takes.I want to take my time and do it right.

I ask myself is a 1648 big enough.It's a pretty large boat and i know the 20hp will move it really good.If i step up to a 1652/1852 i think i may have to go a bit bigger on the motor like a 25/30hp suzuki.

This is so hard to decide on.I fig the jon boat can take the bottom area of were i fish better.I know if i go over some oysters slow and hit by mistake i will probably do damage on the bottom of the skiff as with the jon boat at best it may scratch it.I believe the skiff will be easier to modify but the idea of a big jon boat is nice to.I don't know i guess i will look at what i can do to both and see.I see what people do to their boats here and it just amazes me that's why i fig a bigger jon boat has so much potential.Ok any help would be great.

The good thing is i'm in no rush and can take my time to decide.
 

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,391
Re: Jon boat vs skiff

I guess it depends on what your idea of "moves along pretty good" is. To me a 16-17 ft flat btm boat loaded with fishing gear would need more than a 20-25 hp motor. Also keep in mind the performance of a 4 stroke is no where near the performance of a 2 stroke as far as get up on plane quickly and top speed. Also remember a 4 stroke is not designed to run wide open for long periods of time, they are a work horse not a performance machine like a 2 stroke will be.
 

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: Jon boat vs skiff

the 16' Carolina Skiff J series is a great alternative to jon boats esp. for shallow water coastal boating like you describe. very stable and draw nothing. Good for poling although with high side and flat bottom can be hard in the wind. The bottom is durable for the occasional low-speed crunch. So much quieter than aluminum, too.

20 is on the light side although lots of people rig the 16 with a 25.
 

ssoper

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Dec 14, 2013
Messages
35
Re: Jon boat vs skiff

I have a 18' Lowe, and can't imagine anything less than a 50 on it.
 
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