Easy Improvements To Your Jon Boat
A Boat is a Boat
For the sake of this article it will not matter if you have a proper Jon boat or if you are running a small aluminum modified row boat or even a fiberglass boat. What I will focus on in this article is specific to small boats with tiller steering.
Why I love a little tiller Boat
A small aluminum boat has a special place in my heart. It is a nostalgic place in my heart and takes me back to days in grade school where my aluminum boat meant freedom. At the age of fourteen, I was able to take out my boat (it was under 16') to explore and fish all the nooks and crannies of the river, and even go out into the ocean a bit. I could go anywhere on the river as long as I didn't run out of gas. I learned a lot of things about my self and about using tools and engines in those days as a kid that have carried with me. Now as an adult I have had a few boats of larger size but nothing brings the same feeling as being out on a small tiller boat.
As a kid I had two aluminum modified row boats. One was about twelve feet long and the other a bit bigger, about thirteen. On a boa this small you can really notice the extra foot. Along with my brother and help from my dad we made a lot of improvements to get the most out of our little boats. Now as an adult with another tiller boat there are a lot of things I have learned about these things and lots of little tricks to share.
The best part about a small Jon boat is that you can keep it as simple as you can or improve it to your desire and still have the same amount of fun on it. I love the simplicity of my boat, to me, the simpler the better.
Setting Up Your Boat
The first things first before we get into some improvements. Always ensure that you have the proper safety gear as required by the US Coast Guard and I always make sure to have on board a set of oars and a pair of oar locks just in case of engine failure. These are better suited for the aluminum modified row boats but in a Jon boat as well a paddle will help you if and when your outboard lets you down.
Adjust Your Engine Height
Having your engine adjusted to the correct height on your transom is one of the first things your should check on your boat. Overall it will make for a better boating experience and it is better for the engine. Your will get the most out of your engine with it adjusted to the correct height, this means more speed potentially and more power going against a current.
The anti-cavitation plate on the lower unit should be inline with the bottom of the hull. If the engine is to high on the transom then there might not be enough water flowing past the lower unit for it to operate correctly. If the engine is too low then it will not operate optimally and water will splash up behind the boat when on plane. If you are not paying attention you can get wet and the boat will take on some water from the splashing.
To align the engine might take some tweaking with the transom of the boat and each case is different. In the past I have added a piece of wood on top of the transom for the engine to sit on as a spacer if the engine was originally too low. Any major modification should be thoroughly thought out and done correctly.
Another thing to note is the difference between a long shaft and a short shaft engine. As it sounds, one has a longer midsection than the other. On most small Jon boat or other tiller power boats you will likely need the short shaft engine for it to fit correctly.
Weight Displacement
I want to tough on this real quick before moving forward. When designing your boat, since they are small, where you put the weight matters. Also take into consideration where you and maybe other people will be sitting. Sometimes if you take the boat out alone it can be very stern heavy and can have trouble plaining correctly or make it difficult to see when going slow. If you will be using the boat alone you can consider adding more weight to the bow of the boat. Some boats are also tippy and unstable side to side so you need to think about offsetting your weight while you are driving and sitting off to port or starboard.
The big three for weight displacement are the gas tank, battery (if you have one) and the anchor because these items are always on board. Consider getting a long hose for your gas tank and putting it farther forward in the boat if needed and same with the battery. Not everything needs to be stored in the back near the engine.
You may also need to consider getting a tiller extension to move your positioning while driving.
Boat Storage
Since by nature these are small boats, you have to get smart with your storage. You do not want to constantly be moving around your life jackets and everything else when you need to get something or move around on the boat. The best solution is to have the bulk of your storage under the benches. This can take some modification to the benches, or if your boat is more bare bones a bit of carpentry.
However, this is not always possible. Some benches are filled with foam for flotation incase the boat begins to sink which would make more work for designing the storage. I have seen a simple crate or a bin with a lid used to keep most of the gear in and also to make it easy to remove it from the boat at the end of the day.
At Mezz Canvas we make storage solutions that were inspired from this very problem.
We make products out of marine mesh material that are quick to install including:
Each of these mounts in the same way with two DOT snaps or adhesively with SNADS.
The gear pockets are great extra storage for dock lines and lose gear that you want to have available easily They are great because they can be left on the boat or easily removed. They drain water and allow items stored in them to dry out because they are completely made of mesh.
Keeping Your Boat Dry
One important problem to have figured out is how to get the water out of your boat. Weather it be from rain, a loose plug, or splashing, water is going to get into the boat. Most little boats are trailered, however ours was kept in the water a lot. To keep out the rain we had a custom cover fitted so that we didn't need to check on it aver every rain storm.
For getting the water out of the boat there are two branches of thought. You can use electricity and run a bilge pump, or you can be old school and bail the boat your self. If you are going to run electricity then a bilge pump should be one of the standard pieces of equipment hook up to it. They are not very hard to rig up and they can be found at a good price point.
If you do not have electricity then you will need some way to get potential water out of the boat. You can either use a bailer bucket or a hand pump. you can even have both on board. A bailer can really be any thing, a bucket, a cup or a plastic bottle. I like to use a detergent bottle with the bottom cut off. These are large, have a handle and they are usually square shaped so they can scoop off a lot of water off the deck. Your other option is to have a hand pump. Some are better than others and I suggest getting a nice one that can move a lot of water.
Because a manual option is usually the one I go with I have a few tips. First, In addition to either a bailer or a pump I would get a large sponge for any left over water. Second, don't underestimate the convenience of the bailer. It sounds a little archaic but it has some advantages, you can use it with one hand while still driving and scoop up small amounts of water the pump cannot get.
Even with an electric bilge pump it would be good to have either a bailer or a hand pump incase of an electrical issue. Also if you keep the boat in the water a bilge pump is good to keep up with the rain incase you cannot be around to check on the boat.
I will also get into a few advantages of having a cover. Whether you keep you boat in the water or on a trailer, a cover can be useful. In addition to keeping everything dry, it will keep leaves, pollen and bird do doo off of your boat while you aren't using it. It will also allow you to store things on board that you want to keep out of the sun or out of the rain.
Easy Improvements to your Jon Boat
Like I mentioned in the beginning, one of my favorite things about these boats is the level which you can go with your improvements to make it your own. Once you have the basics figured out the boat is good to go, but you can make it more comfortable to fancy if you like. I will list a few things you could start with and then your on your own to make your boat your own.
Comfort and Convenience
A comfortable swivel chair will make you feel life a real captain in your boat and with another for a friend, everyone will want to come fishing with you. A chair will also allow you to sit up higher when you are driving and improve your vision.
Having things in your reach while fishing or driving the boat can make your little boat feel larger than it is.
Rod Holders
My rule is to always have at least two fishing rod holders on board and I even like to have a few more strategically placed for storing and for trolling.
Cup Holders
I also always have a cup holder by the helm and one for a friend as well, but sometimes that still is not enough.
I always use our Mezz Mesh Boat Cup Holders because they look great on the boat, they are removable for the off season and for cleaning the boat, and they hold my drinks of different sizes really well.
Power Up
If you really want to make your boat fancy and you have a battery on board, you can add on a depth sounder and a radio to really take it to the next level. Both these options can be found used and they are fairly simple to wire up to your battery bank. On most boats these are standard pieces of equipment but for a little Jon boat these are big improvements and can really improve your experience on the water.
Lighting
Lighting is another improvement you can make to your boat. If you plan on using the boat after dusk then running lights are needed to be compliant with the Coast Guard and for your safety. Additional lighting is popular for boats but I am not going to go into any detail because I would not consider it an easy improvement and everyone's wants and needs vary.
Get Out There
The main draw to one of these small boats run with a tiller is the ease of entry to the boating world. There is little risk in getting involved. The cost is low, upkeep is minimal, the storage is minor and they are usually easy to resell.
To get on the water you can be as basic as possible and still have a good time. What does matter is that you go and get out there!