Which Jon Boat, v hull or flat bottom

[yjanray]

So i've been looking for a little jon boat to fix up this winter and go out on the lake with. I wanted to get a boat that was pretty bare bones, so that I could add a little casting deck on the front, maybe some decking to the floor, and some other custom accessories. So, my problem now, is I can't figure out which kind of jon boat to get. i've found these two, one is a v-hull and the other is a flat bottom. they are both 14 feet, and are the same price. so which do you think? stability vs. smooth ride, is that the biggest difference in these two boats?

I don't really care about a trailer or anything.

Thanks

Flat bottom..... http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/boa/2125316336.html


v-hull.....http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/boa/2126269470.html

 

[bsktball55]

Re: Which Jon Boat, v hull or flat bottom

If you are looking at using it in a lake, I would probably go with the v-hull. If you are looking to use it in a river where there could be shallow spots I would go flat bottom. We have a bassboat that we use on the lake and of course it is a v-hull, but when we go up in the river we always take my friends flat bottom john boat with a jet motor.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Which Jon Boat, v hull or flat bottom

I'd go with the flat bottom; it will be less tippy. If you could find a wide body 14 that would be better. On boats 14' and under, the difference between flat and V for a smoother ride will be negligible and doesn't matter anyway for guys fishing. Stability however is important

 

[lncoop]

Re: Which Jon Boat, v hull or flat bottom

At 14' there won't be that much difference in ride quality or stability. The V will provide a little more of both, but unless you plan on spending little to no time in shallow water you'll probably get more use out of a flatbottom. Also, since you've stated you don't care about a trailer I assume you'll be throwing whatever you get in the back of a truck. If so, the flatbottom will be easier to handle and transport. That said, if I had to choose between those two; well, that flatbottom looks used up to me. It might be watertight, but the guy's performed some pretty silly bubba mods on it. Around here he'd be lucky to unload it for a c note. I'd keep lookin'.

 

[DJ]

Re: Which Jon Boat, v hull or flat bottom

Either way, resist the urge to add too much to it (casting deck, etc.). You don't have a lot of weight capacity to play with. Any weight added, above the waterline, drastically decreases stabililty.

 

[madman2021]

Re: Which Jon Boat, v hull or flat bottom

Well if it were me, I'd go with a flat bottom. At 14 feet you get more casting space on the flat better stability, and planes with a smaller motor making it more efficent. In a lite chop the flat bottom does just fine. Now the 14 foot V bottom is going to be very unstable up front with a casting deck, even worse with a trolling motor up front. It may ride just a tad bit better than the flat. Shallow water capability will be about the same. If not using a trailer the flat is alot easier to handle. I've owned both. The best setup I've had was a 15X52 flat with a 25 Johnson on it. I had a full front deck and trolling motor.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Which Jon Boat, v hull or flat bottom

I could never imagine personally buying a flat bottom jon. Just too uncomfortable to operate in choppy water, thus its use is limited.

On the other hand, a V bottom utility is much more versatile and can be used almost anywhere. If you want a flat floor, one can easily be added in between ther seats wiithout adding all that much more weight.

A 14' anything is too small to add casting decks, etc.

We used to use a 14' Crestliner every weekend in the old days - put it on a rooftop rack on my buddy's 1963 Chevy Belair sedan.