And if you're wondering if a flat bottom jon boat is a better choice for you over a V shaped hull, check out this video! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DG123pdYtYw.html
I was looking for a small Jon boat with just a kicker for creek flounder , my beautiful bride of fifty two years chose me a new 18 foot aluminum boat with a 90 horse Suzuki four stroke and an aluminum trailer . Best move I’ve ever made , the perfect old man’s boat Small enough to fish most inland waters , big enough to slip out a few miles offshore on a clam day ,the 90 horse sips gas if I stay off the throttle , big enough that I can push 50mph to get in ahead of a storm . Life is good !
As a big water fisherman would have chosen twin 40 Hp engines. My nephew runs a 24 ft fiberglass panga with twin 40 Hp 2 stroke Yamaha. 1 hour runs to very far offshore grounds. Just reliable when way out there. No Sea Tow out here.
Great video. I have been watching your videos over the last 2 months as I was looking for a small aluminum boat. Just purchased a 14ft Mirrocraft v-hull. This video would have saved me some time as I thought I wanted a 12 foot john boat but realized it was too small when I saw it in person. Also, I like the shot in the water of the 2 boats floating. Really puts it in perspective with the amount of freeboard.
Nice overview! A non-boater or newbie might think.. who cares? But in any size range (even our 41 ft sea ray vs the 38) 2 feet makes a BIG difference in every way!
A 14’ boat on a trailer is a great package. The added length helps to offset the combined weight of you & the weight of the motor, the longer boat tracks straighter when trolling or running about. I’m running a 12’ boat & the weight of a 15 Yamaha four stroke is really noticeable in the way it squats & tracks . I’m running a SE200 sport fin on the motor & it really helps to get it on step very quickly. I added a bow roller & 20 lb pyramid river anchor & run a 3 gallon fuel tank up front to offset the weight of the motor & myself.
14 ft. aluminum Starcraft, 30 hp. electric start Johnson with hydrofoil fin, 3 padded swivel seats, marine radio, stereo radio/cd player with 4 speakers, bimini top, automatic bilge pump, flat, carpet covered floor, electric trolling motor, fish locator, depth finder, GPS, level floatation in seats, running lights, floor lights, spotlight, oars, just in case, rod holders, cup or bottle holders, top speed 30 miles per hour, (32 with tail wind) Had people remark that my boat is the best equipped 14 ft. on Lake Stclair. Trailer has side guides and non-skid walk out platform. No wet feet for me! LOL! I love this boat.
My suggestion is that new boat owners on a budget should decide what they want from a boat and then "play the long game" to get it. I have a 14' Lund; it's a 44 year old hull, but doesn't leak a drop of water. It cost $1200 with a problematic rope start 30HP Johnson, trailer, old trolling motor, and old Lowrance fish finder. I bought it as a boat I could easily launch/recover solo and handle easily when fishing alone. Since buying my Lund over three years ago, I've gradually replaced the old outboard with a new 20HP Merc, new MinnKota trolling motor, ProNav trolling motor controller, new Humminbird Helix 7, refurbished decks/carpet, and Lithium battery. I have about $7K into this whole setup, but it's now equipped as a very nice boat for the small and medium sized lakes around me. Taking three years to spend that money meant that I could do this on a cash basis.
The perfect 🎉12' or 14' boat is the Challenger 12 or 14. Got both of these (currently) and the 12 footer my dad bought brand new in 1967 with a 9.8 Mercury. I was 5years old and that was how I got the boating bug.
Great video yeah that 14' is the way to go.. Anything boating is expensive they call it a luxury I guess it is so they price it accordingly I love boats and anything marine its a different or even strange attraction if you think about it going back hundreds of years when sailors would take to the sea with limited food and water guided by the stars so anything out of the ordinary was a threat of running out of supplies .. Anyway I like the boat you ended up with
I have a Lowe 1040 that I routinely overload. With a 35# thrust mini kota my wife and I enjoy fishing for pan fish fish and trout. I’m 68. It weighs 80#. I can throw it in my truck, and in the water no problem. The whole setup cost less than annual maintenance on my 25’ cruiser and trailer. It cost less than my hobie compass, and is more comfortable. I’m not encouraging anyone to exceed load capacity labels, but common sense can empower a lot of fun on small lakes and ponds.
I've owned boats from 8 foot to 23 foot and after 55 years of boat ownership, I now have a 1969 14 foot v-bottom, with a 1969 25hp electric start Evinrude and I'm satisfied.
I have a 14' aluminum boat on a dedicated trailer I have set up similar to a bass boat. Running an old Johnson 2 stroke I run up and down the Snake River here in Idaho and fish shallower water than everything larger. Great part is when I get off work, throw the boat on my truck and go fishing late afternoon.
Great video. I've been this route as well as many other people. My 12' semi v Lowe Sea Nymph was light and easy to move around BUT it was not too stable due to the round bottom and I hesitated to bring anyone else along with me. Then I fell in love with a 14' Amesbury Dory. 14' long, 65" wide, flat bottom, fiberglass! Super stable, unsinkable, great ride with an old Johnson 15hp. Heavy, needs a trailer but I don't care. Even my little Rav4 can pull it. Only drawback that I've run into is that the boat and trailer combo sinks into the ground when you get alot of rain as we have in the Northeast this Summer. I could no longer move it by hand and I hesitate to hook it up because I'll end up with some great ruts in the yard due to the softness of the wet soil. I'm praying for {normal} drier weather so I can use my boat. Happy boating. Keep up the great videos.
If your trailer tires sink (mine do as well) set them on some boards that are a bit wider and longer than the tire footprint. Like a two foot long 2x6 - then they seem to do pretty well!
Great video again! A great rule to follow is get the boat that satisfies your needs most (70%+) of the time you use it. At boat show I saw a guy getting serious talking to salesman about a $80K+ Phoenix tournament ready rig. .. I walked around for a bit and walked by again and his wife and 4 kids had joined him and they were looking at the Tahoe deck boat that seats 8 people:) Would of been funny seeing the tournament rig pulling around kids on the tube while the mrs is working on her tan laying on top of the live wells
Man. it's slim Pickens for a 14ft at a reasonable price in my neck of the woods, I wound up with a 12 Gregor, wide body all welded no leaks, and I got a 15hp Mercury EFI, works for me !
If I had to pick between a 12 and a 14ft boat, I'd go for the 14ft. However, most 14ft boat don't have the capacity I need, both in weight carrying and HP. Lakes and rivers around here have a LOT of wake-makers (lots of tubing or jet skis), so a 16 footer is best as the wakes tend to be kinda big, 2 feet wakes is a regular thing. I drove a 14ft boat once and waves were crashing in in the boat all the time, only at the bow, but a 16ft boat doesn't seem to have that kind of issue nearly as much as a 14ft does. They tend to be able to "ride" on both waves (or almost), so they allow less of the bow to point downward and allow water in.
And, a 15hp is the bare minimum when the wind picks up, we were almost idling even at full throttle with a 15hp 4stroke last time I went on the water. 14ft boat are max'd at 20hp most of the time, or 15hp... a 16ft boat allows for 20, 25 or 30hp most of the time, which is better suited for here.
One thing that I also notice is that 12 ft boats sometimes have a hull that is not deep compared to some models 14ft boats. 14ft boats often have a deeper hull. With a less deep hull, that means it would have less passenger/carrying capacity, and also that it would be less suitable to handle rough weather. Also bigger boats I notice tend to be built a bit more heavy duty. But a light weight 12ft boat is really portable. I can even put mine on the roof rack of my car!
I had a 12ft aluminum v hull. If I were to buy another boat I would go with a 14ft. They have more capacity and draft better due to their displacement.
I got lucky with my first Jonboat purchase and ended up with a 14 foot modified V hull. Checks every box for me. Pretty much flat the entire bottom except for the front 2-3 ft where it goes to a V so it does decent on some of the bigger lakes. 25 2 stroke pushes it to nearly 30. Ended up being the perfect boat for me, and the most important feature was that it will fit on the trailer in a 1.5 car garage next to another vehicle for winter storage, and so that I can keep every bit of my fishing gear inside without worry. Being able to keep my boat fully set up was a game changer to making quick fishing trips much more accessible. To me that is one of the biggest factors, and if I could only fit a 12 foot boat then that's what I would have. Also putting a light weight deck system can really make an old johnboat feel premium and give comfortable walking space through the whole boat. I don't know that I would deck a 12 foot though because he would really start to you into gear and people capacity. If anyone's curious I did make a full video of my complete build on my channel. I love looking at other peoples ideas and mines a constant work in progress
Depends on the water and the hull design and what you are doing and how you move it on the water. Wind conditions are also a big factor and not because of wave action . Some light or more buoyant hulls can be a bear in light wind to control drifting or slow trolling. The bottom line is there are a multitude of variables to balance when buying an aluminum hull.
Great video. Appreciate you sharing your insight. My wife and I (ok.... so it's really just me LOL) are thinking about a small boat and are debating between a jon boat, v hull, and small pontoon to wander some Florida salt flats. This vid gives me more to think about. 👍
Great video ! Very good information that people don't usually think about. I have been going back and forth about this same discussion and I'm going to buy something at least 14-16 ft because of capacity and stability
Just got my first boat this spring! Had to think of the family. I fit me, my husband, mom, dad and 2 kids on the 16ft v hull w a 25hp 2 stroke johnson from the early 80s late 70s. And we rip! Got laughed at a bit for being like a clown car but it holds over 700lbs! I love it. Everything you need, nothing you dont. Cant wait to fix it up nice, love your channel! Got clip on seats and a trolling motor. Now I want to get cupholders, work on the trailer and make a deck up front, yea! Its name is Ridin High, but might paint and rename it Cloud 9 instead. Is it bad luck to rename a boat?? Do you name yours?
I won't do anything smaller than 16ft. I have a 17 aluminum v-hull and it's great but even with my size I still get pushed around by wake boats on the lake. Not to mention the sudden rainstorms that come in making waves that can go over the side of 12 fts. 16-21 imo is best.
Really injoy your channel!!! I lived in MD most of my life (Frederick County). I like looking in the background to see if I've been I'm same water...... keep on boatin!!
Myself I have a 14 foot Jon boat it works fine for me here it’s easy to get in rivers and small lakes I fish.. and the best thing is the wife and I have enough room to move around.. The most definite option was the cost of it I only payed 200 for the boat and trailer..
I personally have a Seabright 230 7 foot inflatable which is perfect for the lakes with a Suzuki 2.5. It's small and light enough for easy storage and transport all by myself
I’m glad you brought up the hull shape differences for V-hulls. The boats that are rounded in the back aren’t very stable, and are usually older boats. Newer V-hull boats square off towards the stern and are much more stable. They blend the attributes of Jon boats and V-hulls. I personally would stay away from the older rounded hull boats.
I have the perfect 10 foot vhull boat Perfect for my truck, for lifting, and storing I now have a brand new motor thats 2x the recomended size for my perfect boat! So now I have to sell it and fingers crossed for a small boat with a higher horsepower capability🤞
Which would I choose? I have a 14'/4.3m with a 40HP 2 stroke and if I had the money I'd trade up to a 16'/5m boat with a 60-75HP... but as you said it's all about the use case. In my case I'm a saltwater fisherman so often have to deal with choppy waters. My 4.3m runabout is ok in 2'/600mm chop, and it can handle 3'/900mm chop if I'm careful, but a bigger boat will handle bigger waves. Also I often have 1 or 2 friends with me... so more boat means more comfort. 16'/5m is also the smallest boat I'd take over a bar into the open ocean. My little 14'/4.3m boat would do it on a good day, but good weather can turn to bad too quickly on the water, so my little boat stays in the bay.
i got a valco 12 foot a few days back i cant wait to try it out on the lake i put it in the bed of our truck pretty easily its a full deep V got it in a trade i definetly like it more than my 12 foot sears i had
in my neck of the ocean, a 12 foot boat is much more sellable because of the larger live aboard community. Most Marina dingy docks have a 12 foot size limit!
I had a 12 ft StarCraft and a 14 ft Mirrorcraft. The Mirrorcraft was huge in comparison because it was so deep. But for small ponds or tough access it was hard to beat the portability of the StarCraft.
I wound up recently getting a 1436 flat bottom Jon for my first boat. Currently overhauling it and making upgrades. Got a new/oversized trailer for it so I can increase the boat size in the future if needed. About to add aluminum flooring and simple storage/and track systems for fishing. Then painting it. Got the hull for $500 (a 2018 model). Got the 5hp Mercury for free that is going into it. That thing is like new… but it was sitting since 2004. So I spent $100 in parts and tools to make it a 1-pull-to-start motor.
@@WayneTheBoatGuy For sure! I ordered my future seats from Amazon a few days ago… and spent more on the seats than everything so far (besides the trailer). They will be very comfy and light seats though! Very important to me.
Inflatable catamaran. Light (~40kg/88lb), easy to solo manage, very stable, swallow draft, load ~500kg (1100lb), open front for easy in climb from swim/dive, fold into car the trunk, ~$1kau ($650us), could buy a few vs 1 ali
Rocking my 1972 sea nymph john with 3.5h 4 stroke mercury. Plate capacity is 375lbs. Myself, buddy, and equipment is around 600lbs. No issues and boat is far more stable. When i run solo, she is all over the place unless the pond is glass. And 12ft and below do not require title in my state.
Looking at purchasing a budget jon boat for fishing and scuba diving from in lakes with my dad and brother. So 3 max passengers. Based on the video I’m thinking 14ft V hull. Thoughts? I am extremely new to boating. This just sparked my interest a few weeks ago so any and all advice is highest welcomed and sought for! God Bless!
One has to consider transporting. Can your vehicle tow a trailer? I've gone full circle by using a 10" rowboat as a kid to an18' Lund to a10' Zodiac with an electric because I drive a Mazda3 now. It suits my needs 99% of the time. If I want bigger and faster I rent.
I’ve had 12’s and 14’s semi vee and Jon, they were all good but had limitations. I’ve got a 16 semi vee fishing with floor live well etc. now. It’s much more suited to how I use it but it’s on trailer etc.. It has seats that swivel and front casting deck etc.. Good on Michigans inland lakes that I fish. Not big enough for Great Lakes 👍
Neither for me. I wish there were more open deep V boats that have ocean farers in mind. 14’ with more freeboard and a splashwell please. Only just a very few models out there. Been in a friend’s 12’ silverstreak open deepV with really deep sides and it handled the rougher waters very well.
Hey Wayne , not sure my deaf ear heard you right … we’re those prices INCLUDING the outboard ??? … my little homebuilt 12 foot wooden boat was just under $700 to build but the 6hp outboard was $1800 !!! … the outboards are insanely priced these days because there’s no American made competition to the dominant Japanese outboards !!!
I believe Jon boats are more susceptible to following waves which can flip and sink them. This can happen in say Lake Erie in typical conditions. So what is the best boat for Lake Erie?
I'm torn between a Marathon Duke 10 and Duke 12, both of which handle more weight than similar wider jon boats. Your round bottom 12 is very suitable for squalls. I won't be getting a 9.9 HP motor unless I start handling coal barges.
In Georgia USA a un-powered vessel of 12 feet or less is not required to have registration but any kind of motor including an electric trolling motor on it and then you are required to register it so a sailboat or row boat of up to 12 feet or less can go out on the water with no sticker or registration. Check these laws for yourself because laws could have changed but this was how it was the last time I looked them up.
we are now in our 70's, getting rid of my 13.5 ft Sportspal canoe. we are limited to a 14' boat due to my gargae size. now another problem, is gigh winds we have to consider. on a heavier boat, we will of course trailer the boat, anyone have a make , brand recommendation?
two 20 foot shallow-V wooden boats are on the drawing board … gotta figure on taking ALL the grandkids out fishing not just two of them … 20 foot , Wayne !!!
Question: you mentioned stability so it's more wobbly but not in a risky aspect ? Cause some people can stand on a kayak or 12ft kayak and figured the kayak wouldn't be as stable as the rowboat
I’ve worked in the marine industry for over thirty years. I’ve built about every known boat type there is. I am now retired. My equilibrium is nowhere near what it was. Stability is crucial to me. I fish tournaments, as well as recreational. The v hull is for rougher water. The rule of thumb is simply this. Longer means faster. Aluminum boats are noisy. And have to be constantly monitored, for rivet tightening. Welds crack that has to be checked constantly as well. I’ve gotten rid of every boat I’ve owned. From Jon boats, kayaks, cabin cruisers extra. Up to thirty two feet. I won’t have a aluminum boat period, if I need something firm fiberglass is your best option. However expensive. I now have a twelve foot inflatable raft. It’s five and a half feet wide, flat bottom. Some modifications made . The floor is wooden sectioned in three pieces. I have every electronic a 100k bass boat has. 4hp outboard, and 32# thrust trolling motor. I get nowhere fast but , I get there around 12 mph but I get there. I can run 2.5 hours on a quart of fuel. A bass boat can blow past me full throttle, it won’t tip. I can walk around. No real need to, I’ve got control panels to turn on everything from my seat one front on rear. Everything breaks down to fit in the trunk of a Kia sedan. I have dolly made from pvc, four deep cycle batteries. And on board charging for batteries, cell phones ext. the boat’s weight limit is 1350 pounds. The reason I chose the 12 foot is because in my state anything over Carrie’s property taxes. It does have to be registered, because it’s motorized. It silent doesn’t spook the fish. And I can go into any water over a foot deep. Boat dolly electronics, both motors, seats floor( waterproof) I’ve got less than $1500 in it completely.
John, I would love to know what inflatable raft you are talking about. I am looking for a cheap simple fishing setup that I can stand in, and this sounds great. I would love to pick your brain. Let me know if we could email/text about it. I would really appreciate it. Thanks!
@@rileyirving9079 intex five, ten ft long five feet wide. Made wooden floor, covered with marine carpet. Two storage boxes. Also wooden. With lazy Susan on top attached with wing nuts,to be removed and seats mounted. I went a bit overboard on seats high backs plenty of cushion attached flanges to floor front and rear with motor mounts 3hp outboard on aft of boat. Same in for but with Minkota trolling motor. Two Garmin cv and sv . Front transducer is mounted to trolling motor. Rear purchased a floor mounted transducer mount . Mounted it to drop along side the boat. Reduced turbulence from outboard. Boat is durable stable and easily packs into my Kia Forte. Has a weight capacity of 1300 pounds.running lights, deck lights a stereo. I have around $1500 in it all together.
Steve's Law - figure out the size that you think you need and add two feet. For example, if a 12-foot boat will do, buy a 14-footer. This will handle the "elbow room" factor. My name is Steve, that is my law and the reason I bought a Lowe 1467WT and Tohatsu outboard.
1. If the beam is similar, longer boat is more efficient. But they're almost always wider for stability and carry capacity. 2. Price consideration, 12 foot is always cheaper. The question is how much cheaper? 3. Weight might seems irrelevant but it is extremely important Conclusion: If you're boating alone, 12 foot is better. If you carry people often, 14 foot is better.
I would need to store it away from my residence, likely in a rental space. Given that, it would make more sense to go with a larger boat with a dedicated trailer.
i have an original coleman crawdad. for those not familiar with it, it is a 11 foot Plastic jon boat. it is very good for the small ponds that i go to (200) acres and less. i toss it in the back of my pick up and propel it with a 45 pound thrust trolling motor. the battery can last all day with my 300 pound self and my 200 pound son, even going through heavy lily pads. i bought it from a buddy about 10 years ago and have since bought a second one as a spare. they both cost me $200 each and i like to refer to them as a Fat Man's kayak...
Good Stuff, Wayne👋🏻….btw try being 50+ and still having to use both the metric system and U.S. Standard….In healthcare we have always used Metric….It wears my old brain out🤣
Me personally I own a 2017 14 v hull with a Yamaha 15 horse and a 10 foot Jon boat with a electric motor and a 12 foot Jon boat and a 12 foot v hull and if I were to pic my favorites I would pic my 14 foot just because you can take it on big water and my 10 foot because it’s easy to Cary and stable but I’m looking for a 10 foot semi v or v hull because I think they are cool and I think it would replace all my boats excluding my 14 foot
If i want to dive for 9 hours, then I need a Balau class. If i want to put it on top of the car, alone, then it had better be 12 foot or less. Please stop telling people to buy 2 cycles. My 4 stroke weighs 23 LBS, and often starts on the first pull. 25 horsepower is for shrimp trawlers, not an outboard you can carry up and down the stairs.
I'm in an interesting situation because I want a better boat but live in an apartment. I currently have a 12 foot cheapo aluminum boat that barely keeps my fat ass out of the water, and with my gf and dog in it, doesn't even plane off with my old Johnson 10hp. I want a deep v hull to get me higher out of the water but I still need it to fit in the bed of my truck and be light enough to move by hand by myself. I kept my current boat in the bed of my truck for 4 straight months last summer, which was a pain, but you gotta do what you gotta do
