Jon boats

[Arctic Lake]

Tell me about these boats as I don’t know a thing about them . What are the pros and cons of them as opposed to a typical aluminum 12 or 14 foot aluminum with a 9.9 hp .
Thanks
Arctic Lake

[BromBones]

Stable for standing up & casting. Run shallow with a small outboard jet or a mud motor. Good for drifting shallow rivers too, the wide flat bottoms draft well.

Not as nice in choppy water, they’ll ride up every wave crest and hammer down in the trough.

[jan.wi97]

Stable for standing up & casting. Run shallow with a small outboard jet or a mud motor. Good for drifting shallow rivers too, the wide flat bottoms draft well.

Not as nice in choppy water, they’ll ride up every wave crest and hammer down in the trough.

x2 with Brom Van Bones
Its perfect for fly fishing the smaller lakes but if anything slightly resembling a wind
comes up... buckle up.
Had a hella time on the Okanagan once when the swells came out of nowhere.

[Ron.C]

Pros: lightweight( easy to sling in a truck bed or on roof rack), flat bottom, can be inexpensive, great for small lakes and rivers.
Cons: No good in high wind, rough water, not as durable as traditional aluminium

I have one of the Tracker 14' jon boats. Have had it for 12 years. I think mine weighs about 100lbs.

Need to be careful as the aluminium in the floor is pretty thin but for the $750 I paid for it I have no complaints. I usually use an electric trolling motor with mine but my 4hp merc scoots it along nicely. Like stated above, they can be sketchy in the wind or in any measurable chop.

I use mine for fishing local lakes and duck hunting in the salt marsh. Always take it camping with us and I can swim out of it. Quite stable for re-entry when pulling myself back in from the bow.

[oddsix]

Depends on your intended use...?

[Ride Red]

Pros: lightweight( easy to sling in a truck bed or on roof rack), flat bottom, can be inexpensive, great for small lakes and rivers.
Cons: No good in high wind, rough water, not as durable as traditional aluminium

I have one of the Tracker 14' jon boats. Have had it for 12 years. I think mine weighs about 100lbs.

Need to be careful as the aluminium in the floor is pretty thin but for the $750 I paid for it I have no complaints. I usually use an electric trolling motor with mine but my 4hp merc scoots it along nicely. Like stated above, they can be sketchy in the wind or in any measurable chop.

I use mine for fishing local lakes and duck hunting in the salt marsh. Always take it camping with us and I can swim out of it. Quite stable for re-entry when pulling myself back in from the bow.

Why do you say this?

[RackStar]

Anyone know if bass pro still had those tracker Jon boats?

been a few years since I’ve been there

[Ride Red]

Jon boats come in two different models, the flat bottom square nose or the modified V which handles the rougher water way better. Look them up and you’ll see the difference. My fly fishing boat is a 1448MV, so 14’ long 48” bottom 70” beam with a 20hp Merc on it. Great stable platform for a multitude of uses whether your fishing, hunting or just enjoying the water. Typical bottom thickness range from 0.070 to 0.100. Depending on your intended use, there are many different sizes to choose from.

[Ride Red]

Anyone know if bass pro still had those tracker Jon boats?

been a few years since I’ve been there

Last time I was out there they still had some.

[Ron.C]

Why do you say this?
Lol, meant to write "Stable"

[scoutlt1]

I've had a 10 foot Jon boat for years. Haven't used it in a while, but put a lot of time on the water with it. Had a 2.5 outboard for it, but mostly used my electric. Caught lots of fish. Fairly stable, but being only 10 feet long....not something you want to be on any larger water in. Best part it's really light and can take to any lake and still get on the water...even when I've had to drag/carry it down a short trail to the water.
Owned a 16 foot Jon boat (modified V) with a 25 horse for a few years. Why I ever sold it I don't know. Loved that boat! Easy to tow and launch, fast (definitely sketchy at WOT when empty though!), lots of room, very stable, and really not too bad in a small chop. Did have a few "interesting" times on both Harrison and Okanagan Lakes though.. :-)

I've always been a fan of Jon boats, but I think much of the choice between one and a "typical" aluminum is personal preference.

[sames14]

don't buy anything less than a 40" floor width. Also a front mounted electric takes out any wind issues. I have owned many, I like the Lowe 1040, price is right too.