Lies and Myths about Float Pods on a Jon Boat 

As a previous boat mechanic I can attest that 3M 5200 is just as good as bolting, we would use that stuff on the underwater gear on like mastercrafts And we would literally have to take a sledgehammer to get it to break loose and sometimes it would even break gel coat and fiber glass instead of the 5200

Thanks for another good video. Certainly one of ne favorite channels and while I'm not ready to as deep down the Jon boat rabbit hole as you are (yet), these are definitely helping my ideas of what I want evolve!

I do have to give you the credit for my even finding out about these things. I didn't even know they existed until I saw one of your videos. I immediately ordered the medium size pair from Backwater, Inc out of Minnesota and installed them on my 1989 Landau 'Sport 10' 17ft aluminum bass boat with 40 hp Evinrude. Mine were beautifully built and expertly welded with something like 10 gauge marine aluminum and were perfectly air tight. I mounted them just like you have yours on your boat, basically the design of the pods is already there and I just mounted them down to the bottom at the transom and out to the edge of the hull. It was as if they were made for my boat. I agonized about how to secure them because I didn't want to spoil the integrity of the airtightness of the pods, nor did I want to risk burning through my hull welding them on. The hull thickness at the transom is about 16 gauge I'm guessing. So I thought and thought, and decided to order two locking watertight deck hatches that were about the right size to fit the tops of the pods, cut the tops out of the pods and through bolted them through the transom using 5/16'" stainless steel bolts with flat washers, fender washers and nyloc nuts, all stainless steel. I also used the two pieces that were left over from the cutouts on the tops of the pods to make two backing plates inside the transom that are shaped to fit the little bit of deadrise that the hull has. Also, like you, I used a generous beading of 5200 around all the through bolts and the perimeter of the pods, like two passes and then used the rest of it to run a line of "caulk" across the tops of the pods. Maybe a little bit of overkill, but they are absolutely bonded and fixed to the hull. The flotation they provide at the very aft end of the boat and to the outside of the boat has made a completely different boat out of mine. Even with the weight of the motor, fuel tanks, battery, oil reservoir and everything including people at the back of the boat, the flotation is unbelievable. I will say that at rest, the pods are practically underwater or flush with the surface of the water. The boat is also very much more stable in roll, both at rest and at speed. I consider this modification to be the very best thing I ever did to the boat, and it has made the boat much safer and more enjoyable to use. No penalty in performance, maybe even a little better in getting up to plane and yet my tilt/trim is still very effective. I sealed the hatches very well and they don't leak a drop. Best thing I ever did to that little boat.

I have a metal boat that my father made 37 years ago. He has never worked with a welding machine and grinder before, he is an industrial designer. I have been in metalworking for 15 years and I want to make a new aluminum boat and these videos of yours are of great use to me.

Good video! After seeing your install I installed the medium pods on my topper 15. I did it mainly because of adding the 670, although the added weight from the 420 really wasn’t much difference. Still waiting on the cam for the 670. Did a cottonmouth snakeskin paint job. One performance negative with mine is that in a hard turn, it will slide and bulldoze water instead of tilting like usual. You’re absolutely correct about everything.

First time watching and I love the content! You’re hilarious and the information you provided is very valuable.

Just Bought a 16ft Xpress and I'm here for all this info! Thanks so much!

Great vid! Thanks for bring to light the myths and the facts on pods! And the review on comments, had me roll-n!

This is the last time I watch your videos while trying to put the kids to sleep! Number Yellow busted me up and I woke up the boy! Thank you for the info on the pods. I’ve been debating getting them.

Love the Chanel name lol your funny too lol , they do improve hole shot and support heavier motors so your boat sits more level .

Hello, great video on breaking myths concerning the float pods! I have a very old pre 1972 jon boat,and it had some issues I fixed up with the help of Lowes home improvement store near my home. I used gutter calk to fix pitting holes from electrolysis, rather than weld, due to budget,and time.i used 1in square tube to build my own transom,and storage compartment opening frames with glue and rivet vs. Welding as well. And I watched a Roland martin video,where he added side floatation to his old town canoe.i removed all the foam from front,and back.as it was holding water,and had some leaks inside the sealed seat areas I needed to access to fix. The floats are bass pro bout bouys bolted w 1/4 20 6 inch bolts and flat washers.and the stability is great.as it made the boat wider and more stable. While giving me the floatation back from removing the factory crap spray foam from within the seats.the over all speed was 8 mph w a 3.5 2 stroke Nissan outboard. And averages up to 3 mph w a 30lb thrust minkota tiller. If you have any questions hit me up! Im helpful,and honest about my findings, and will explain in detail the tools,and process to achieve the same .thx for the video it's good!

Absolutely a great, informative video! I'm looking at installing some Backwater pods on my 16'X50" jon. Thank you for posting.

3M 5200 is an incredibly strong adhesive. Boat builders use it to attach the top cap to the hull on boats and to seal and waterproof portholes or hull intrusions. It takes a week to cure, however.

I worked in the Boating industry. We built a 48-foot, open cockpit, offshore fishing boat. It had a composite sandwich boat hull. We then lifted the Hickory veneered plywood laminated bulkheads into the boat with a crane. We used 3M 5200 to weld the bulkheads to the inside of the hull. It can fill big gaps and retain structural integrity. It took forever to cure, but it was solid. If we tried to use fiberglass resin it would have thermally reacted out of control and bubbled up. There was so much mass it may have even caught on fire. So we used3M 5200. That stuff is really strong. It worked.

Great product. I upgraded from a 30lbs minn kota on my canoe and I am more than happy with the purchase. I have been using it all summer long and it hasn’t let me down once.

Just found your channel and I love it! It will definitely come in handy for me as I work on getting my Polar Krap, I mean Kraft, up and running!

Hey man that 3m and aluminum rivet combo works quite well. That's basically how we keep aircraft together lol so why the hell wouldn't it work on a boat. Also makes for easy-ish replacement if you crunch one

I love your execution of telling people how stupid they are on the internet.

Thanks for the information. I appreciate your straight forward advice.

Love the "SCOOTER" segment🤣 priceless. Keep up the videos I'm just starting my build thanks!!

Can I fill the pods with ice and beer or does that not help either?

So yes, 3M 5200 is bad ass. We used it to bed sailboat winches to the deck and they never come off.

Thank you for this vid. I have an 18/60 and the wake is too far back for my longtail. Youve probably saved my mudtail for me!

My man you are a riot! Keep it up. So refreshing to see honest content.

Bro, the tiktok cajun reference in the bloopers, 💀💀🤣🤣🤣🤣

Now look what you done! Ya done hurt those folks feelings that live in their parents basement 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Im a big fisherman first time IV seen this channel and im impressed you gotta love the good ol boys they tell it like it is

I copied your "Gator Glide" up here in Canada, I hope it stands up to the Canadian Winters for hunting and fishing. The finished product is a super slippery boat hull which is a blessing for pushing and pulling boats in the Canadian North. I have officially completed my "Send It Canadian Boats" but I don't have an inflatable horse 🐎 and a plastic sword. Once I get those items I will Send it !! Thanks for the videos 👍👍

Lmao I'm so glad I stuck around for the roast! For real is that all Amazon pays to put those links online?

It would blow their minds on how they make airboats and small air planes

Myth buster..got it right !… I actually looked at this concept myself…”but” given my variance in waters and people on boat 1 or 2… I deemed it not worth the trouble…I’m not going there because it’s the only thing some miss the fact that it’s a lot easier to balance the boat properly according to water conditions and people on board…another is bow attitude when you have a lot more floatation at transom it changes approach for the bad in choppy waters…I’d say play with balance first and if you still need it don’t over do it !!! All in all ..good vid 👍🏼

Dude seriously awesome content love your show very informative I am a big man slightly a hair overweight definitely comes in handy having the flow pods

I would weld them on, plug the hole on the bottom, but extend them to the top level with the transom. Connect an aluminum tube inside the boat to both and use as a gas tank.

Haters are going to hate... The rest of us will subscribe and like...

Great video sir . Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

I put a small set of beavertail pods on an Alumacraft 1032 using 1/4-20 bolts and 3M 5200, mounted even with the bottom of the transom. Ran a short shaft Yamaha 8hp on it and never had any issues with them other than when I decided to add a hydrofoil on the motor. I had to run the motor a bit lower on my diy jack plate. Sold the boat and 7 years later, ole boy I sold it to is still running the same pods, with them same bolts and same beads of 5200. As you say, they do not have to be welded on.

Technically the foam will give you less buoyancy because you’re adding weight. Granted it won’t be perceivable because of the low weight but technically…

Got a 1236 Jon boat and was thinking about pods to make it more side to side stable. Glad you broke that myth lol saved me $$.

Enjoy watching, very entertaining. We are rebuilding a 1436 Jon boat we picked up real cheap. we are missing one seat and want to take out another on. we are looking for the corner supports for the cross brasses. any ideas what we can use? Thanks

Nice channel, I love your attitude and t-shirts. Keep up the good work.

You got my subscription! Keep sending those scooter comments, they had me rolling! 😂 plus great information with no BS on the boat itself!

Just found this video... finally someone who understands how to build with aluminum. I work in the Aircraft Industry. Planes are riveted and epoxied together. Under Destructive testing, the metal tears before the joints... Good Job on your boat.

I have a 1436 that i put 8’ sticks of 6” pvc pipes on the side for side to side. Works amazing! Can now run a trot line while standing up and not feeling wonky.

Nice video . keep them coming. I will say that i have noticed one BAD side effect from having pods on my duck boat. I have a 2005 smoker craft 1866 with a 115 yamaha with a jet. Previous owner added the pods. When running at high speeds and turning the inside of the run pod lifts the inside corner of the boat and pushes down on the inside corner of the bow. So the boat does not bow rise in the corners but drives the bow down and allows the rear of the boat to slide out of the corner to much. Gets kind of squirrelly and you have to cut the throttle to regain control. It also throws up a lot of spray off the front edge of the bow where it enters the water. With the wind I soaked one of my buddies while making a tight corner. Boat does 30+ with two guys, dog, blind and all our gear.

You just got a new subscriber "Go eat a bag of..." LOL good stuff. I have a 1032 and a 1756, always messing with them and modifying them, glad I found your channel.

Great advice I plan on making my build almost like yours!

Bro first time watching your videos an right off the rip. Love it your straight up an not B.S keep it up I’ll watch ur videos from here on out. Hate the fake ones from others. 💯💯💪

Thank you for the fun video. Keep those jacklegs in check.

Very helpful, thank you for the video

First video of yours I've ever watched. Just curious as to what a float pod was. However, your hater segment was worth watching the video. It was awesome. Scooters, keep em coming. I may have found a new channel to watch.

I enjoyed your little show and I am too trying to come up with side floats for mine and damn the performance

Great Vid, thanks, considering making DYI fiberglass pods for my 19 ft glass skiff, used mainly in salt wtr, the stern sits low causing wtr to come in the scupper drains while sitting still in calm water, pain in butt, have you ever heard of anyone trying this?? I need about 3/4 to 1 in lift.

Those bloopers are gold

Great Video;; I have 2 Jon's both with pods both are outboards and have noticed that a friend has the same but with a jack plate and is a faster hole shot and reaching top end faster'

finally ... someone who tells it like it is !!! great vids!!! keep them rollin'! and for the love of god DON'T stop the bloopers!!! i hope my grammar is up to par as well as my semi quasi cro -magnon grasp of the english language was up to the task of leaving a feeble attempt at a slightly social comment for the haters to make fun of!

I'm running pods on my 12.5 ft boat with an outboard and it works great. Hard to explain how they are made but they are welded and foam filled. I can send you an email about it if you want with specs and pictures. Works great.

When you stood on that float pods I got stressed lol . Great vid interesting to watch and great editing keep up the great work!

Enjoyable video. Thank you.

Aircraft sheet metal fabricator here, When we start talking about attaching things permanently together, my #1 go-to is going to be rivets. They permanently deform around the hold, filling it, and work hardening (depending on material) to provide excellent shear/tension strength. After that, I'd go down to hi-tig, or hi-lok maybe, and then welding. The only reason welding imo is lower on the scale is because of the heat transfer. I'd be worried about varying hardness around the weld, and creating brittle/weak spots. Or melting straight through, because sheet aluminum is a fickle master.

Man, you are a hoot to watch! You're ideas are pretty good too!

Just saw your vidja in the recommendation. Subbed. Gonna have to watch more of your vidjas cause they're good. I used to work in Houma and port Fourchon. Miss Louisiana. Food is the best. It's so beautiful there. It's seriously Gods country.

I’m glad you addressed these myths

Man, please tell me you can work "and while we wait...we hydrate" into a future video 😂 you nailed the accent brother👌

Right on about the foam , and also that foam can go bad after years of use , not to mention if you have a lowe roughneck like I do. They sprayed the foam in all the way down and sealed the drainage in the back rear structural boxes, so after years that foam just turned in to a big wet heavy Blankey, after gutting all the foam out , and weighing it while it was wet . I was caring about an extra 200 pounds in the back with soaked foam and so I added my own foam that I can take out when ever I want , what a difference it makes having fry foam , holy crap that foam needs to be check . Use a long drill bit or coat hanger to see if your foam has become a big wet blanky

Love your videos, Just catching up on all of them, Where can I find a header and muffler like you have for a Predator 420? Thanks brother!!!

I have a 12 ft alumacraft with a 9.9 merc that I pull a surfboard with. Do you think float pods would help? With a heavier person in the front of the boat it works great but when it’s just me pulling someone it gets a little sketchy if the surfer goes to aggressively to one side it wants to tip the boat. Since the force is pulling back and to the side I thought the pods might help. Also considering it works well with someone heavy in the front I think the lifting of the back of the boat from the pods would add some stability.

Cool video, love the bloopers, great stuff, 😅🤣😂

Crazy, but awesome! Great content, definitely worth subscribing to hear about the Scooters!

All in all, looks like a job well done. Works on the water. Doesn't suck. What more can you want?

I love my boat.I hate my speed.My boat is a 14 foot aluminum v hull.Right now it is in bad need of a make over.I grew up really poor and had to fish off of pool floating blow up toys to get on a lake.At 52 I am going to treat myself to the best all around 14 foot boat I can dream of.When I was a kid a friend of mine put a 25 horse on a John boat and it was fantastic.The only thing was like you said it hung low on the water and if we slowed down to fast the wake behind us was taller than the back of the boat and sinking was a very real threat.Has anyone put these on a v hull aluminum?Love the vid!

Awesome, thanks for the info.

The float pods, installed in that similar way, actually did get you up on plane slightly better but not noticeably as a flat bottom boat gain less from planar boards than do a V hull. (This was established when motor boats began to show up)

Good information on float pods ,in addition the scooter clips are frigging awesome dude !

I would love to see a video dedicated to all the scooters. I love your channel keep it up

Hey bud love the vids , so I was wondering if it will help with running a out board to run shallow

Added pods to a "v utility style boat" (starcraft sf14) and i did gain stability. Really needed for rear lift but in my application it did help.

LMAO...SUBSCRIBED ! Thanks for some real info on the float pods , CHEERS !

Lmao. I just subscribed and really enjoy the presentation of information. The bloopers add a lot of humanity and relatability to the channel also. Nice work! Do you have a fishing channel?

Also the sheer strength of a rivet is crazy added to that it is mainly just a clamp for the chemical fastener.

I had Backwater floatation pods welded on my G3 1652. With a 60 hp. four stroke outboard, two batteries, 12 gallons of fuel and two adults, it squats in the stern. The pods helped with this issue, however, now I am experiencing problems with porpoising. I am not able to stop this with the motor trimmed all the way down. Have you ever experienced this problem and how would you solve it. Thanks.

Great video bro .I love how u call out all the scooters

😂😂😂😂🤣. I’m dying of laughter . You most definitely have gained a new sub. About to binge watch. 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

Great job..great info too..love the format of your vids..keep swattin dem skeeters

Glad you are back!

1st video I've scene of yours. I am now subscribed. Love it

We build mudboat hulls and do fabwork on aluminum hulls. We have installed many sets of pods on boats. They work well when installed correctly for most applications. However, there is almost never a situation where you would benefit from installing pods on a hull with a surface drive engine, or short tail mud motor as you call them. Has nothing to do with clearance and everything to do with having clean water contacting the prop.

What about steeringwith out boards do you lost any turning radius. Specially with a surface drive i see people using now

Loved this vid bud! Glad I found your channel, i love jon boats

Verry nice boat and i wanna ask are the pods still doin good i was gonna install a set just like u did

So random question I have how far up did you put the gator glide up on the side of the boat?...love the unconventional idea that works that normal people wouldnt think about also at the end of the day the whole boat is riveted together and they stay together without the 5200 so screw it why not...keep on keeping on hope to hear from you

YOOOOO that first blooper got me no lie 😂😂😂

How do you like the stainless exhaust ? Is it worth it without changing the filter and rejeting ?

Informational and unconditional. 👍 outside the box

I'm fan of adding foam simply for the resistance to sinking if you hit a log at 30 mph. I'm maybe a bit paranoid... found a floating dead body once. A friend was on the "Dive rescue team" and it was never a rescue. It was always a body recovery.

I absolutely love how you shut all these idiots up lol.. Wonderful work.. and wonderful video!!!!

Totally love your sense of humor. But why isn't your channel "send it bateaus"? I never knew there was any other name for them until I moved out of state. You've got a new subscriber just on your sense of humor alone. Nicely done.

Thank you for this information 😎

What do you think about Toggle bolts?. I have a bunch left over and i think they’ll work fine. Same concept as the rivets without a trip to Home Depot. I’ll just caulk around the hole and use a fender washers.

I have a older 14' flat would these pods be good for it, I have a 1977 Johnson 9.9 tiller handle on the back and it kinda rides deep in the water

What adhesive do you recommend for mounting a pair of these on your Gf?