Jon Boats & Skiffs

[Flamenquero]

Greeting y'all. I'm interested in getting a low cost jon boat or skiff. This would be for a 2-person operation, wife and I, and locations like West End, Christmas Bay, inland shallows like Clear Creek, Lost & Old, Trinity Bay.

Questions I have are:

(1) Length
(2) Engine hp/displacement
(3) General setup for seating, standing, wells for equipment, bait, etc.
(4) Rivets or weld? Why?

I take it most here use these boats to get to a wading location and then get out of the boat and wade. I have wade fished (rivers, surf), I have boat fished (lakes & ocean), but I have never gotten out of a boat to wade fish in the inland shallows.

I take it that wade fishing at Lost & Old is not safe due to alligators (?).

Thanks for any suggestions.

[captmike]

Longer and wider is more stable.
Engine need to be 70% max rating.
Open floor
Weld, rivets will leak.

[Curmudgeon]

Longer and wider is more stable.
Engine need to be 70% max rating.
Open floor
Weld, rivets will leak.

Quite impressive! All your questions answered in one reply with no horsing around. Why can't I get replies like this!

[WestEndAngler]

I run an 1860 gator tail with MudMotor during winter and 50hp tohatsu during the summer

[Ibtsoom]

Quite impressive! All your questions answered in one reply with no horsing around. Why can't I get replies like this!

Has something to do with the caliber of your questions.

[fuzzy]

I ran a 16' long 48" wide 40 hp for a while.If you don't mind trailering a boat lots of places to fish.In fact I wished I still had it.

[kenny]

I bet most people that had good jon boats wish they had 'em back.

[Flamenquero]

Thanks guys!