Hey Snapperbait!!!!!!!! .......need yore wisdom on jon boat riggin.

[Jamar]

would love to see more pics of that sweet looking hammerite jon boat ya got. Also is that one of those minijackers you are using or somthing similar? ......hows it working out, have been considering one myself.<br />Anyway I have seen many of your posts regarding all the jon boats you have decked out/rigged for fishing. I have a basic 14' 48" wide(bottom) monark jon i fish from. Also have an old alumcraft 16' 48" wide project boat. Needs transom and already has middle seat cut out, decked with marine ply on floor and sides but not complete, just kinda screwed down in there.<br />Was just wondering if you could share some wisdom, dos and donts, trick design ideas or anything like that before i get started. I guess if i have a question at all it would be whats the best way to attach a floor? just screw into the ribs? Better to use ply or get some alum. sheet?<br />Thanks for the help, cant wait to hear what you got to say about the best way to rig a jon.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Hey Snapperbait!!!!!!!! .......need yore wisdom on jon boat riggin.

Howdy Jamar.. Some guys see a Jon Boat like an artist sees a canvas... A Jon Boat is my canvas.. I see a Jon Boat and it just scerams at me "DECK ME OUT".. <br />

<br />I think this is the only other pic I have of my old Jon Boat, but i'll look around... I sold it a few years ago and I kick myself every day for selling it, but I just needed something bigger to haul the "gang" around with...<br /><br />I used the boat for a little more than two years just like it sits in the picture, with the Super Hi-tech, Mega high dollar Hammerite paint job... Held up quite well even in the saltwater... I think I spent around $20 for all the paint... I did spray the paint with a spray gun, so that helped make it a bit smoother...<br /><br />The transom does not have a jack plate... It was just made to be 5 inches taller with some serious aluminum bracing underneath the rear deck specificaly for the 60 merc's weight and it's 20 inch shaft... Now, don't go slapping a 60 hp on your 14 footer... It was WAYYY TOOO MUCH HP.. The thing would just up & fly if you really goosed it.. And I do mean FLY..<br /><br />I don't recomend cutting the seats out of a jon boat because they are structural members, but rather using them for supporting decks and so on... You could cut holes in the tops of the seats to create storage areas and livewells, but don't cut more than you absolutely need...<br /><br />As for putting a floor down, it's a so-so deal... Is it worth the extra weight having a flat floor with no ribs to trip on?.. I don't know...<br /><br />Mine had a carpeted plywood floor and decks that I just screwed down to the ribs with stainless screws.. <br /><br />If I had to do it all over again (and I'm thinking about it ), I would scrap the plywood idea (WOOD=BAD) and go ahead and spend the extra $$$ and go with aluminum for the deck, floor, and anything else and either weld the pieces in or use aluminum pop-rivets... Plywood's ok if you put a few coats of epoxy resin on it too completely seal it from moisture... But plywood's heavy...<br /><br />As for carpet, it's ok I guess; but I think I'd go with some of that new spray in truck bed liner/texture materal to make things EZ to clean...

 

[Franki]

Re: Hey Snapperbait!!!!!!!! .......need yore wisdom on jon boat riggin.

Yeah, that is interesting..<br /><br />I was wondering if its a good idea to put aluminium deck plating on the floor of my Fiberglass boat.. it would save me about 40 -60KG all up... and thats worth saving anyway.. and its insulated from the water by the glass anyway.. so no corrosion issues.. <br /><br />I always find myself wondering why companies don't make fiberglass/aluminium boats.. like use fiberglass for the hull to get a good shape.. then use aluminium for the cabin, decking etc etc for the lightness and durability...<br />boat would be alot lighter as a result...<br /><br />what do you guys think? good idea???<br /><br />rgds<br /><br />Franki

 

[DJ]

Re: Hey Snapperbait!!!!!!!! .......need yore wisdom on jon boat riggin.

Franki,<br /><br />Lund does the opposite of what you are thinking. Aluminum hulls with f-glass deck caps.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Hey Snapperbait!!!!!!!! .......need yore wisdom on jon boat riggin.

Franki... If your concerned about weight and no wood to rot, go with some of the foam sheet materal like Divina-cell(sp?), PVC foams, or some of the other fly weight core materals like Nida-core... There's some wild honey-comb aluminum stuff out there too...<br /><br /> You'll have to glass both sides of either of these materals to make them strong enough and then just glass em' in like you would normaly...<br /><br />If'n I'm reading you right, I don't think I would try to glass an aluminum sheet floor in.. Too many issues with getting resins to adhear to the aluminum and stuff like that...<br /><br />Otherwise, why not use aluminum for cabins, consoles, or anything else... I can't see any reason not too...

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Hey Snapperbait!!!!!!!! .......need yore wisdom on jon boat riggin.

One caveat here...aluminum and wood both have their place in boats. Just remember aluminum will cut the living hell out of you (thin edges) and it hurts A LOT. Whereas wood (unglassed) is splinter prone and heavier. Your call, just be careful whatever you choose. There is also plastic (recycled material) sheets, just like plywood...but can be pricey.

 

[Franki]

Re: Hey Snapperbait!!!!!!!! .......need yore wisdom on jon boat riggin.

Why is it necessary to glass the floor in at all?<br /><br />on my boat it has always been bolted in.. there is a big lip around the outside of the hull, and its glass reinforced ply...<br /><br />What is to stop me from bolting a big 4mm sheet of aluminium (the kind with grip on it) onto that lip,, so that it sits on the lip and stringers..<br /><br />seal it to the lip with silicon or similiar.. and bolt down with stainless bolts....<br /><br />As for sharp edges.. that isn't important on a floor since the edges will all be up against bulkheads or the hull.<br /><br />Djohns.. I can't imagine why Lund would do that.. <br />its common knowledge that its easier to get a good hull design in FG.. then Ally... so I don't see the point of doing it that way.. plus putting the glass up high would be a good way of making a top heavy boat..<br /><br />Still, the idea of a glass hull with ally deck and cabin really appeals to me.. <br /><br />maybe its time to by a mig weilder again.. (had one but sold it years ago.)<br /><br />rgds<br /><br />Franki

 

[Jamar]

Re: Hey Snapperbait!!!!!!!! .......need yore wisdom on jon boat riggin.

Been away from forum all week......but thanks for the replies guys. Guess i am gonna work on the floor and get her rigged to fish and save the paint for later. <br />Hey snapper i got a spray rig and pretty good with it. Did you spray that hammerite straight or thin it any? what about prep to the aluminum? mine is old, seasoned half OD and half bare. Got any more suggestions?

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Hey Snapperbait!!!!!!!! .......need yore wisdom on jon boat riggin.

Jamar, Get yourself a wire brush chucked up in a drill or grinder and give it a good goin' over... Mine was a spray can painted camoflage mess, not that there's anything wrong with camoflage... <br /><br />I don't remember what primer I used... Come to think of it, I don't think I used any primer at all... Not sure.. Brain Fade...<br /><br />The Hamerite went on straight out of the can but it can be thinned if needed... It's about the easiest stuff to spray... Hammerite's finish does'nt come out super smooth but it still looks good...<br /><br />If'n your planing to carpet the floor and deck, I'd paint it before I installed all the decks and rigging, that way you can paint all the inside areas to match... It's a little hard to mask off the carpet...

 

[Bear]

Re: Hey Snapperbait!!!!!!!! .......need yore wisdom on jon boat riggin.

Seen these?<br /> http://www.bowfishtexas.com/tlais8.htm <br />