JON BOATS BUYER’S GUIDE
People go for jon boats because they want a simple craft that’s easy to trailer and easy to maneuver into the places where the fish can be caught. This is a qualitative review of the best jon boats. We looked at price, length and maximum allowed horsepower and assessed the quality of each craft.
Some say the jon boat used to be called a jack boat, known for it’s flat bottom and shallow draft. Jack became John and the John boat was suddenly called an Ozark John Boat. Then it got shortened to just jon boat. Like this story of simplification, the jon boat is a simple vessel.
Although one of the most low-cost alternatives when compared to other types of boats on the market, acquiring a jon boat is still a great investment. And as such, you don’t want to regret your purchase. Remember to protect it with the right kind of Jonboat painttoo.
So whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned sailor, here are a few things you should consider before buying your jon boat.
Size
Jon boats typically range from 8 to 20 feet in length, sometimes larger.
To determine which jon boat size will accommodate your needs best, a few factors should be taken into consideration. They are: the body of water in which you will be navigating most of the time, how you will be trailing your boat, the intended purpose of your vessel, as well as how many people you plan on bringing along with you.
If you enjoy solo fishing or hunting expeditions on small waterways, then an 8-10 feet jon boat like theL1032 Jonshould fit your needs quite well. It’s also easy to power and transport.
However, if you like having some company while you wait for the fish to bite, then theGrizzly 2072 CC Sportsmanis a great option. This is a good option if you’re gonna take up bowfishing too. And how could you not want to.
Large jon boats not only hold more gear and offer more seating space, but they also perform better in choppy waters. Also, the longer and wider the boat, the more stable they usually are. That said, it is important to keep in mind that a bigger boat will also need more storage space, especially if you plan on storing your jon boat indoors.
Weight
If there’s one thing jon boats are known for, is for being incredibly lightweight.
The majority of them will weigh between 400-500 pounds. But, as this is an average weight, you will also find lighter as well as heavier jon boats.
TheStalker MV 120(12’2”), for example, weighs only 140lbs. And as size and features increase, so does the weight. TheCrestliner 1860 Retriever(18’), a much more feature-rich example, weighs 970lbs.
It’s important to remember that every jon boat has a maximum weight capacity. A 10-foot jon boat, for instance, has an average weight capacity of around 325 pounds, while an 18-foot one can carry around 1425 pounds.
When it says capacity 6 persons, it really means it can fit 5 semi-comfortably and probably will be awesome with 4.
As a responsible sailor, you should know and always respect the boat’s weight limit. Exceeding the weight capacity of a jon boat may incur several problems such as poor handling, lowering the freeboard—distance from the waterline to the upper deck level—resulting in water entering the vessel, reduced stability, and finally capsizing.
Propulsion
Due to their lightweight construction with a flat hull, jon boats do not require much power to plane.
A pair of oars or a battery-powered electric trolling motor should be enough to meet your basic boating needs.
Check out more on what kind of battery and what kind of setup is needed for the motor and instruments.
However, depending on your priorities and the size of your boat, you can always add a gasoline-powered outboard motor to your vessel. Be sure to check their maximum horsepower capacity.
Now that you’ve got a good selection of the best jon boats for your fishing and hunting trips, share with us in the comment section below your thoughts on them.
We’re always happy to hear your stories and help you with whatever question you might have.
If you already have a jon boat or you just bought one, leave a comment in the comment section below and share your experience with it.
