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Re: Jon boat vs v haul
I have the 12ft MArlon and I have no problem with it, we have mounted seats in it, have a 5hp 4 stroke motor and an electric. Never had a problem more than any other boat I have had with being blown around. Very stable, once I anchor front and rear for fly fishing I do not worry about the wind. I do have mine on a trailer as I cannot put it on my truck and get into the garage with it on the roof. Only weighs 132lbs without the motor.
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Re: Jon boat vs v haul
Thanks for the replies. Im hopefully going to go check out some boats this afternoon. I have the standard work headache rack with rear ladder rack most likely not wide enough but have a buddy that has an aluminum fab shop so we can make something work.
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Re: Jon boat vs v haul
Pricecraft also makes a very nice boat - sort of a hybrid. The bow and front half is v-hull but the back half of the boat transitions into a true flat bottom. The beauty of this is you get the smooth travel in rivers or heading into waves on a lake. You get a significantly quieter anchoring experience when the winds pick up. You still get the stability of a flat bottom when you stand and cast because the back of the boat is flat bottom. Now if you were looking at a one boat for everything a 12'er is capable of, this is the route I would go.
I personally like my 10' Spratley as a one-man boat. I've removed the middle bench and installed a pedestal seat but even with just myself in the boat with all the gear I think I might need, the boat ends up looking like a garage sale. That's my problem - not the boat's deficiency. If I have to take others with me or river use, then I use my super wide 12' flat bottom. If I have to pack into the lake any distance with a hill, then I opt for my 7.5' inflatable.
If you're going to take another person at times then I suggest a 12' but no narrower than 40". If you'll just be going by yourself then the 1040 class is great if you just run electric or oars. If you run a gasser then a 12'er is the better choice again.
I sometimes run a 9.9 Evinrude 2-stroke on my 10' Spratley on long travel lakes but I really don't like it. Rowing is my first choice. I sometimes use my electric but rowing is my favorite.
You have to decide what best works for you: transport, loading, handling and storage are all key factors. Don't forget to consider how you'll get your boat from vehicle to water without grinding up your boat.
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Re: Jon boat vs v haul
Boats are all about compromise. You just need to figure which compromises are important to you.
A V-hull is way better when pointed directly into waves but will get blown around just like your canoe or a jonboat if you are travelling across the wind.
I bought a 14' jonboat years ago for duck hunting and use it all summer up at the cabin. I load and unload it myself all the time without much hassle. It is a rough ride in any sort of waves but nice and stable. I think it is only rated for 360 lbs but I don't think twice about exceeding that by a significant amount. The seats are filled with foam so it won't sink even if it is swamped.