Old jon boat modification question

[rscheckler]

Hello all. New to the forum (just registered 5 minutes ago) and I hope that someone could help me out. I inherited an old flat hull 14' row boat that used to be my grandfather's. I would like to modify it into almost a bass boat design. Put a level floor right above where the benches are located and use the area under the floor as storage. Has anyone else either done this or come across this before? I have made a fair amount of measurements and it looks to be very much possible to do.

Thanks in advance,

Ryan

 

[jelli]

Re: Old rowboat modification question

Re: Old rowboat modification question

lots of guys do that around here with ther jons if u google jon to bass boat plans u will get lots of stuff

 

[5150abf]

Re: Old rowboat modification question

Re: Old rowboat modification question

Welcome to iboats.

You can do it but the problem is the higher you put weight the less stable the boat is and a 14 isn't a real big hull.

It would probably be better to put the floor inbetween the bench seats and mount your fishing seats to the benches, that would keep your weight low and still give you a floor.

The bench seats are what gives the hull its strength so they can't be removed.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Old rowboat modification question

Re: Old rowboat modification question

Also consider the width. I have been on a few of the tracker type jons and you sit so high you pretty well have to stay right in the middle of the boat or your tipping over. Before you do alot of work you may try mounting a pedestal seat to one of the benches at a height that it would be if it were converted. Then take it out and see how stable it is.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Old rowboat modification question

Re: Old rowboat modification question

I would agree with these folks. 14 feet is not that big so any weight off the centreline that's high up will make things unstable pretty fast. I have a 14 foot tinnie that I don't like to stand up in to walk around much, never mind imagine myself several feet higher up.

 

[rscheckler]

Re: Old rowboat modification question

Re: Old rowboat modification question

thanks a ton for the great advice. this looks to be a project that I'll be working on during the winter months. This conversion is a lot more common than I thought so the information is plentiful.

Thanks again,

Ryan

 

[lncoop]

Re: Old jon boat modification question

I think you'll regret putting a raised floor in it. You'll have weight and stability issues. John boats aren't really meant for that. If you're determined to do something, you might put a little deck on the front so you could stand up there to cast and run a FCTM. You could have some limited storage under that of course.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Old jon boat modification question

place an upside down 5gallon bucket on top of existing seat and set on top-see how unstable it is unless you weigh 65lbs.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: Old jon boat modification question

Take a look a www.tinboats.net
Lots of info on tin boats.