standing up

[nbaffaro]

I'm saving my pennies for a boat sometime in the next month or so.
However, I'm a newbie and don't truely know exactly what I want. I do know that I want a side console with power trim/tilt. I do know that I want to mainly fish out of the boat. Here is my question.
How stable is a 6' wide jon boat (semi-v). Could I put a deck on it and feel comfortable getting to the edge to get fish out?
Or should I just go and get an older fiberglass bass boat?

My biggest concern is the ability to stand-up and fish. I don't want to have to sit down the entire time I'm on the water. I would like to be able to move around and help the wife with her fish.

So basically, how stable is a 16'x6' jon with a deck?

I'm a newbie here but not to internet forums. I searched, but we all know that doesnt answer all the questions. Thanks!

 

[Lakester]

Re: standing up

So basically, how stable is a 16'x6' jon with a deck?

Thanks!

hello,
welcome to iboats. the stability of a jon boat would vary based on how its CG is altered by standing up. it would be more stable if u were 5' and 110#s... less if u were 6' 6" and 350#s...

also, too is water conditions. could be stable at 6 am and flat and unstable at 3pm and windy...

but this much is clear... many, many a fine fish has been caught from a jon boat... sitting or standing.

good luck.

regards
lakester

 

[ebry710]

Re: standing up

I'm saving my pennies for a boat sometime in the next month or so.
However, I'm a newbie and don't truely know exactly what I want. I do know that I want a side console with power trim/tilt. I do know that I want to mainly fish out of the boat. Here is my question.
How stable is a 6' wide jon boat (semi-v). Could I put a deck on it and feel comfortable getting to the edge to get fish out?
Or should I just go and get an older fiberglass bass boat?

nbaffaro Welcome to iboats. There are many boats for sale now. Some are a real deal. To modify a jon boats to soot the need, that another boat might fill by design, can be regretted later. Building materials are not cheap.

What kind of fishing do you plan do? Salt or fresh. River, small lake, large lake, bay or ocean. Trolling or casting. Two people or more. Swallow water or deep.

 

[ovrrdrive]

Re: standing up

I know that I would not be comfortable on a decked Jon boat standing on the edge. I'd probably be on the bottom of the lake.

 

[5150abf]

Re: standing up

That set up should be plenty stable but as ebry pointed out make sure you want to get into building a boat.
We don't know your skill level with design and building things but that is alot of work and it can get expensive.

Do a rough drawing of what you want and look up all the parts you will need and price them, then add 25% for the stuff you didn't plan on and you are probly in the ball park.

I was going to do the same thing and am really glad I didn't, found a good boat that needed rebuilt and did little bits at a time until the whole thing was redone.

Not trying to bring you down, just making sure you know what you are getting into.

 

[nbaffaro]

Re: standing up

well my fabrication skills aren't going to be the problem. I have done woodworking, metalworking, and mechanics.

I plan on using the boat in large lakes, small lakes, and deep rivers.
I realize that conditions are going to dictate alot of what I can and can't do out on the water. I don't think that I am dedicated enough to get out in the white caps and fish.

I just know that a single wide john boat feels like it has no stability at all. Where-as a bass boat two people could stand on one edge and it not flip. I just didn't know if a 6' wide jon allowed the user the ability to stand up and move around quite a bit more.

At this point i'm leaning towards a older bass boat to fit my needs, but the logic behind the john boat is that I could get away with a 25-50HP motor and save some gas.


[Personally, I think that I like working on stuff more than I do using it.]

 

[marine4003]

Re: standing up

Save yourself the hassle and buy an older Bass Boat, as for saving money on gas....having a smaller engine ie: 25-50 hp, will get you the same fuel economy as a 150hp,if you keep the speed down,and not use all available HP,as say using a 50HP and always driving her at 3/4 throttle.Bass boats are meant to stand up in,have seating already bolted in,wiring,bait hold's ect....you will have to build all this in a jon-boat...and hope you don't screw up your center of gravity. Good Luck.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: standing up

if you cant come up with a bass boat in your price range keep an eye out for a older tri hull. more weight that what your looking at with the jon boat but on a larger lake the comfort level and safty factor would be worth it. i have seen some pretty good deals on this syle of boats

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: standing up

i think the first question to be asked. where are you wanting to use the boat, and the general average conditions, in that area.

 

[jtexas]

Re: standing up

take a look at all the bass boats built on aluminum jonboats (ala tracker)

a jonboat like this:

*not* stable

but one like this:

*plenty* stable

 

[CATransplant]

Re: standing up

Yeah, have a look at the Tracker-style bass boats. They combine the shallow water capabilities of a jon boat with some of the stability of a bass boat. That said, a 6' wide 16' jon boat would be pretty stable, too. You don't need a deck on that thing, since the low sides won't get in your way. Avoid the skinny jon boats, though, unless you don't mind sitting down to fish.

Avoid the smaller aluminum v-hulls, too. They're pretty tippy if you stand up in them, although I do it some of the time in mine, but I keep a wide stance and only do it in calm waters.

These days, everyone seems to be selling their boat, if my local Craigs List pages are any guide. There are some pretty sweet deals on there, if you're not looking for the newest, biggest, fastest boat in the world.

 

[nbaffaro]

Re: standing up

Well, after giving it some thought. I am going to look into a bass style boat. I think that it will be more dynamic and still do the things that I am looking for it to do. I'm just hoping that people will stop trading on gas futures and realize that is driving the price up as well.

How would I go about finding information on older boats? Reviews and such. I have a line on a 1985 Hydrasports with a Kevlar hull.

Thanks for all of the advice.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: standing up

Well, after giving it some thought. I am going to look into a bass style boat. I think that it will be more dynamic and still do the things that I am looking for it to do. I'm just hoping that people will stop trading on gas futures and realize that is driving the price up as well.

How would I go about finding information on older boats? Reviews and such. I have a line on a 1985 Hydrasports with a Kevlar hull.

Thanks for all of the advice.

Your best bet will be to search this forum with the name and model of the boat you're interested in. You won't find any shortage of opinions on any boat that was sold fairly widely.

There's also a specific Hydra Sports section on this forum, here:

http://forums.iboats.com/forumdisplay.php?f=85

 

[fishdog4449]

Re: standing up

Center console is the way to go. Very functional for pretty much anything you want to do. Lots of deck space for fishing, etc.

 

[mickjetblue]

Re: standing up

Just last weekend I saw a pontoon boat on the move with 4 people in it.
2 were standing in the middle of it, and for some reason, they both took a
couple steps to one side. The pontoon boat tipped drastically towards the
side that they had shifted to, but they recovered by sitting down quickly.
I don't think they will repeat that routine again.

Many factors involved in stability, and hull design and floor height are very
important to consider. Research, and learn in the process. You can also hang
around a boat launch and ask questions. Don't bug anybody who doesn't want
to be bothered with a question, though.

A tri-hull is quite stable, but the trade-off is that it pounds the waves when
you are on the move. Bass boats and jon boats serve their purpose, too.
Stability is something that you become adjusted to in boating, usually.
A large wetted surface area will have more stability to it than a smaller
wetted surface area, with the hull design also a factor. Got you thinking, now.
Good luck!

 

[jtexas]

Re: standing up

What kind of fishing you want to do - chunk & wind, live bait, trolling, nighttime; and what kind of water, deep & open, shallow & wooded, windy or calm; if you'll need to carry a bait tank or ice chest, a bass boat is pretty much out of the question. If you need to cross 40 miles of water to get to your shallow wooded swamp to throw t-rigged lizards at bedding bass, a bass boat is just the ticket. Have young children? A bass boat is no place for toddlers.

I'm thinking a bay boat is about as versatile as they get - handle rough water well, plenty of room for gear, and less draft than your average pad-v bass boat, but you don't very often see 'em going 80mph.

 

[steelespike]

Re: standing up

As far as saving gas with a 25 to 50 hp:: A bigger motor loafing along at 50 hp speeds will get pretty close to 50hp GPH(gallons per hour)And still have that hp boost to get out of the weather or to the fishing hole quick.

 

[nbaffaro]

Re: standing up

So i've been thinking about where I am going to be using t his boat.

Looks like it is going to be

Jordan Lake, NC
Lumber River
Cape Fear River
Lake Waccamaw

Jordan lake is your typical big lake 14,000 acres
Lumber River is a small tight river. I took a buddy 14' Single wide jon up it.
Cape Fear is a big river fast moving
Lake Waccamaw is a small lake that isn't more than 10' deep at any point. Bay Lakes with a total surface area of 8,936 acres

I want to bass fish, catfish, crappie fish, and night fish

Right now i'm thinking a side console 16'x6' jon would do the trick.