An average 12 feet (3.65 m) long Jon boat weighs 120 pounds (54.5 kg), excluding an engine. It can hold about 400 to 450 pounds (181.5 – 204 kg) of extra load. Thanks to a maximum of 5 to 7 HP, this vessel has a top speed of 10 to 15 mph (16 – 24 km/h).
How do you stabilize a 12 foot jon boat?
A Jon boat can be stabilized by widening the hull, adding flotation pods to the stern or using hollow tubes at each side of the boat. To further stabilize a Jon boat ensure the load is distributed evenly and you are using the boat for its intended purpose in the appropriate environment for which it was designed.
Is a 12 foot jon boat big enough?
As boat length increases the weight capacity similarly increase, so with a 12 foot boat approximately 400 lbs can be safely contained and at 14 foot 400+ lbs. At 16 foot in length a Jon boat can usually hold about 1,000 lbs. An 18 foot Jon boat will hold, on average, about 1,500 lbs.
Can you put a motor on a jon boat?
Yes, a trolling motor is usually enough for powering a jon boat, but keep in mind that this requires using an adequately powered trolling motor for the size of your jon boat. If you choose an underpowered trolling motor (or run into strong headwinds), you may have problems moving the boat forward against the wind.
How do you increase the weight capacity of a jon boat?
Ways to Add Buoyancy to a Jon Boat
Add flotation pods. Move some of the heavier items to the front. Add PVC tubes. Built-in air cavities for buoyancy. Adding buoyancy using foam.
Can you put a long shaft outboard on a jon boat?
A long shaft will definately work. Wawasee has a jon boat and motor that his grandfather give him that was a low transom boat and (Monarch mod vee??) and an old 20 hp Mercury. I rode in the boat a few times and it actually worked okay.
How big of an electric motor do I need for my boat?
RECOMMENDATION: You need at least 2 pounds of thrust for every 100 pounds of fully loaded boat weight (people and gear included). If things like wind or current are major factors where you fish, you’ll want a little extra thrust.
How much is a 12 foot Jon boat worth?
A cheap 12 ft polythene Jon boat can be bought for as little as $550 while an 12 ft aluminum Jon boat can cost as much as $3000. High-end 21 ft Jon boats can cost as much as $30,000.
Why is it called a Jon boat?
Because the boats were stable and easy to construct, they became favorite transportation for many fishermen. Apparently, one of the fishermen named his flat bottomed boat “john boat” after himself. And the name took off from there especially since “Jon” or “John” is a very common name in Scandinavia.
What are Jon boats used for?
Jon boats are essentially flat-bottomed, utility boats. They are used for a variety of different tasks, from hunting to fishing to collecting lumber. Because of the flat shape of the hull, Jon boats tend to sit on top of the water as opposed to cruising through it.
Can a Jon boat sink?
Avoid overloading the boat
Overloading your Jon boat will probably not cause it to flip but it will almost definitely cause it to take on water and sink, especially in choppy water. A Jon boat has a very low freeboard and so its lowest part, on the bottom of the boat, sits very close to the waterline.
Are Jon boats unstable?
Remember, all Jon boat are very stable and no one model or make will be more stable than other. It is the type of Jon boat you choose that determines its stability; flat bottom Jon boat for calm inland waters; mod-v Jon boat for choppy inland water and windy environments like open lakes.
Does adding weight to a Jon boat make it more stable?
Adding Buoyancy
Adding buoyancy to your Jon boat means enhancing its floating ability in the water, which improves the stability of the boat.
Can you stand in a jon boat?
The jon boat flat bottom offers you stability when you stand. You could wrestle your catch as hard as possible and your boat will not tip over, provided the weight in your boat is well distributed. That said, use sound judgment when standing in one of these boats.
