Why a Jon Boat Is BETTER Than a Big Boat! 

*This makes my old motor look like a toy **enjoyable.fishing** recommend it's well built. I haven't had it on the water yet, but I'm very sure it will perform just fine.*

Jon B. literally stands for jon boat

Two years later this motor is going strong ru-vid.comUgkxBZWgzfpS2Jj7JqIHyaSZjyVHNUgCKCBf Just uploaded a video of it after 2 years. We use it probably a dozen days each year on our small raft.-original review- We got this motor the other day and tested it out. I don't have anything to compare it to, but it seems good to me. It has all the features advertised - the motor housing is metal. We will see how it performs longer term and I will revise this review if needed. Some initial observations:- Good thrust, moves our boat around really well- It comes with a circuit breaker but no switch - so there's no way to kill the motor other than yanking the connection off the battery. I installed an inline switch.- The mount bracket is plastic and I worry it might break- There are a number of plastic parts that I worry about, but the most important ones are metal or some kind of composite

My late great grandpa had a lil green Jon boat, that he used for over 20 years then passed it on to us. And he called it “the greeny weenie boat”. And he still holds the “mondo” record in the family with a 14 pound bass😂

Up Next: By "John B" I Finally Got a NEW Boat ($30,000 Dream Boat)

Name it lil Jon

Awesome video, you further convinced me to get a flat bottom Jon boat, and your right..less headaches and alot more muniverabilty and getting to that back slot..nice job

I just bought my first 10’ boat last night used on offerup, which has me watching these videos. Thanks for the info. Looking forward to the water.

Name it Jon's Boat.

Small boats are great for squeezing into the back cuts and fishing that pristine, untouched water like you said. But I can't bring my buddies along. There's no space for my wife to lay out and tan when I'm fishing. For me, I don't need the extra room for rods or tackle; I want the extra deck space to bring other people. Like you said in your vid, it's all about personal preference. You buy a boat tailored to your wants and needs. As long as everyone is respectful on the water, it shouldn't matter what boat you have. Fish on!

Love this man thanks I’m looking for my first boat this helped me!

I totally agree I never have even been in a 81 thousand dollar Ranger Bass Boat ... only a John Boat ... In '93 went up to the lake in Gonzales , Texas ... The 4 H Lake on the Guadalupe River We always kept the John boat upside down when no one was there ... I went to flip it over and ready it to go fishing ... I discovered this nasty sheet metal gash on the bottom of the John Boat ... The tear was in an L shape 3 inches one way and 3 inches the other way ... I am a licensed commercial plumber with a Texas Plumbing License ... The gash really bumped me out and that's when my mechanical talent kicked in I grabbed my tool box out of the truck ... I found 6 different Toilet Tank to Toilet Bowl bolts with rubber bolt gaskets and washers. .. I cut me a small piece of plywood to fit on the bottom of the boat and one inside then took some oil based clear silicone and covered both pieces of plywood and then drilled 6 bolt holes ... Tank to Bowl bolts are made of brass and the head is smooth rounded for a flat head screwdriver... with the smooth part of the bolts set facing the water to not cause drag Tighten them with rubber bolt gaskets and washers ... turned the boat over and went fishing that day the repair patch is still covering that nasty gash tear on the bottom of the boat ... I gav

The turn radius with that long thing is going to be rough lol

Little boat. Don’t forget about the kayak vids man. Those kind of vids were the best. Bring those back. Great vid🤙🏻(you should come to Iowa and fish with me at a few private ponds, there’s some TANKS)

Love it, I like Kayak fishing, but I would love this too for the exact same reasons that you mentioned. You are an awesome young man!! I enjoy your channel.

Great video . lots of good tips!!! Are you happy with the portable charger? How about your weedless wedge prop? I have same setup just way older jon boat. Thanks

I started fishing in a Jon Boat. I witnessed this first hand during a weekend last year, a tournament happen to be going on and I was in my Jon boat. They stacked up in a cove I cruised passed them into the back of the creek that branched into two other small arms. I smashed them and you could see the anguish on the boaters' face in disbelief. I fish #FromTheEdge2TheLedge 😉🎣🐟🚤

Get an an Air boat, then you can fish super shallow, even when there's no water for miles around...... ...... Wait a second 🤔

Thank you! I think you just sold me on this. I have been thinking about these arguments on my own, just by observing boats.

I have two aluminum boats - a 16.5 foot deep V with a 50HP outboard for big water, and a 1232 Jon boat with a 6HP Suzuki for everything else. The deep v easily converts from a fishing rig for two or three, to a small family boat for 4 and the dog by just adding or removing a bench seat in the back. The 12 footer stays light and is basically a sporting canoe for two, but a bit more stable and with whatever engine configuration works for the particular trip - the 6hp gas, a 30 pound trolling motor, or both, and always with a couple of paddles for back-up. It will seat only two comfortably, and maybe a calm, easily controlled medium size dog. We Mainly run small moving rivers in it and picnic or fish along the way. I have kept a 12 foot aluminum jon for almost 40 years, and will never be without a good one.

Name it "The Rod Father" please like it so he sees

I have never brought my boat in to the shop, it’s an alumacraft deep V so it can take a beating and the basic maintenance on my merc I can do at home. It’s 15 years old and is used every weekend in the summer and has never skipped a beat

I’m still somewhat new to fishing but I’m thinking of getting a jon boat. You’re video was informative! Thanks keep them coming!

I've got a 16ft jon boat I've had since I graduated high school. I absolutely love it. I can get back into creeks that my buddies can't. Right now it's got a 9.9 Nissan 4 stroke so it's not the faster thing around, but next spring I'll be putting on a 26hp Backwater swomp motor.

Nobody: Jon b: size doesn’t matter

Did you just remove and install that stainless steel fiberlock nut with a set of needle nose pliers? That is Tech sacrilege. I'm getting the willys just thinking about it.

I bought a used 10' jon boat last year.... I was pretty uneasy with it the first time out... I watched your video and started to understand more about jon boats... My boat is a keeper... I will have no alterations made after watching this video... Thank you for posting...

Just got a week ago a really nice 1981 Alumacraft 12 ft Jon Boat with a newer Yamaha 4hp and a really nice trailer for $650. In the end gave the seller a total of $800 and he sold me more goodies like lights, external gas tank and the hoses, trolling motor, 2 batteries and other small stuff. Planing to make a small deck by the bow with a storage opening for the battery and small stuff and paint the whole boat and get some seat cushions. Its a great boat for fishing and joy rides for my kids. Love the concept of Jon Boats. Light. Small but big enough. Super inexpensive. Close to zero maintenance. Pure fun.

You should consider buying an epirb/PLB to put on the life jacket.

Kayaks for lyyyfe. If I did ever upgrade to a "traditional boat" it would be something like this. If you're having a hard time standing in a yak you may not have one that is stable enough. I've hauled in 4+ pound fish while standing no problem. Takes some getting used to maybe? Tight Linezzz

Nice man thanks for the insights! Do you have any opinions on Jon boat versus kayak??

Nice video, just got rid of my 18ft Polarkraft... I got to the point I dreaded taking this thing out. So fn heavy, maintenance etc, too much boat for me just fishing rivers and smaller lakes. Lesson learned, working on getting back into a small 14ft. Thanks

Awsome boat! I've had a 14' tracker jon with a 6 hp Mercury and mounted trolling motor on the bow for 9 years and have had crazy luck both fresh and salt water fishing (live in SW FL). Your absolutely right about the convenience of weight for easy individual handling and the flat bottom for skinny water, and I'm talking about about 3 to 4" on low tide with the motor up. The only thing I would add about your commentary is mine (as yours) is riveted and not welded, which makes it a bit vulnerable on the bottom for hitting hard objects underneath the waters surface at any speed. Kinda found it out the hard way by getting a bit brazen in my endeavors. Easy fixes though, although a stump knocker or welded jon take a bit more solid abuse,yet are also way more expensive. Great site your running My Friend! Keep up the good work and best of luck and great moments when fishin'...

Comment Below..You a bass boat guy or a jon boat guy?

Love it Jon B, ur spot on brotha, got a 2019 tracker 160 just for this reason. Up here in WI/MI and have been killin it where most cant. Ive Island camped etc out of my little jon boat and couldn't be more satisfied.

Thanks for the great review. I'm actually looking right now at the TRACKER 12' Jon Boat. Its no longer referred to as a "12W" as shown on yours. Hope its unchanged. Also: any recommendations for a beginners Kayak to be used on a small, calm, pond? Sit in or sit on?

Im sooo buying one like this!

Downsizing for a banger vid. Don't you forget that kayak, man. 😳

Great video man!! I’m buying my first Jon boat tomorrow and I’m stoked!!!

I'm looking at getting a trolling motor but haven't selected one yet. I know the bigger the motor, the more voltage it will eat. You used a 12v on this....what size, brand, amps, etc? How long did it last being used all day? Thank you!

Jon boats are great at saving huge amounts of money. $2k for boat,motor,trailer. Bass boat? If you have $30k for the boat, $6k for trailer, $40k for tow vehicle yeah! Cool! That's a down payment on a house. If you DONT want to pay that out, Jon boat, 2 trolling motors & 4 batteries. (Half the cost of just the trailer for the bass boat)

on any lake with less than 16 miles of shore line, the boat you have is perfect ! If the lake is less than a mile across at any point you don't need to go 30 mph.

CHECK THE 6:20ISH MARK!!! I live in north Illinois and fish a lot of waters you do. Huge congrats on all your success. It’s so cool that now you have that boat you were talking about!

You pretty much said what I have been saying my entire life. I have a 14ft deep V fishing boat with a 16 hp go-devil motor. There is pretty much nowhere that I cant get to on the water. I have literally gone straight through and over bogs to get to fish. I love my set up. Especially when the lake is over 1000 acres and has an average depth of 2.5 ft that it sits on. Which is full of cattails and lily pads by the way.

I'm with you bro I love my lil boat

actually water and electricity mix great! just not when you're in it xD

Name it " Hopper " ,... / or Low Water ,.... or Maybe Skipping Rocks ! . Love your videos Bro . Had fun coming up with names for your new boat. Keep up the great work my friend .

Great video brother. I'm looking for small boat . But wanting to do budget build on it thanks Chris

Lmao 🤣 “ well i don’t want to damage my gel coat “ For that I’m giving u a SUB !! 🤙🏽

My buddy and I went in together on a boat and we kept the budget at 1500. We wanted a Jon boat for all of the reasons you said. For 1500 we got a 14 foot flat bottom boat with a deck, a trailer, a 6 horse gas outboard, a foot controlled trolling motor and a 50lb electric trolling motor like you have. Also it came with a battery, charger and lights as well as a fish finder. It’s big enough to be comfortable but small enough to be manageable and there’s a lot less to go wrong with it mechanically than a big boat. We named it the “Ass Tracker” and can’t wait to hurt feelings of people with 40,000 dollar boats at tournaments lol

When I was 22 I had a PBR boat with twin 50's up front and a 60 strapped across my shoulder. Was lots of fun fishing too.

how is it fighting the wind with the trolling motor? Are you able to use it to stay in one spot relatively easy,? Or do you have to anchor up since you don't have foot control.

Name it backwater burner

It would be cool if you could make a “what you need to know” video on fly fishing

I got a 17 foot aluminum side council with a 40HP and galvanized trailer for $1500 years ago here in Florida and I LOVE IT!! I can get into Super skinny water on the flats here. Down to 12" deep! And yes it's a flat bottom. Nice vid my man.

As a video production editor, I like your cuts. As an angler, I like your thoughts. I subscribed.

I agree 100 percent with this video Jon boats are the best. 100 percent little boat. I love my small pond fishing.

#KFNS #FTMW Love the vids man gets me pumped to go out and slang some baits. Btw I have a Guidelines Black Opps rod that you did in one of your Early arsenal videos😂 If you still don't have yours and would like one for nostalgia purposes I could send it to you.

I've got a 10' Jon boat I picked up on marketplace for $100, a 32lb thrust trolling motor I got for $114, and I love it!

Hey John when you buy a new john boat do some models come with the trailer or did u get that separately

Name it the “S.S.MINNOW”

name it "The Banger Boat" for all the banger vids you've been uploading

Nice set up ! How many amps/h is your battery ? Thanks

grew up fishing the canals/waterways in Ocala national forest areas in 12' jonboat with a 6 hp craftsman motor when I was 12, had paddles for frog gigging and shiner gigging at night.

A 100 watt flexible solar panel will extend your range. Just lay it on that back bench seat near the battery. Name the boat JB for Jon Boat, or SWAK for Shallow Water Angling King.

These are literally every exact reason I've been wanting one 😫🤣

Just ordered a Lowe 1775sc and hopefully it will be built quickly with this pandemic going on. I'm super excited because I've fished jon boats my entire life and I am ready for bigger water. These jon boats are great for getting into the shallows though!

hey @Jon B. can you post some links to the battery and the portable battery charger?? Trying to get a 45 lb trolling motor (for a canoe and a jon boat) but wanna make sure I get the right battery size to last all day without every paddling.....thanks in advance if anyone else knows much appreciated.

"A boat is a boat" -jon b

Where did u buy the trailer?

I remember watching this yearrrs ago! Just watched it again love it dude🙌🏼🙌🏼

@jon B. Hey man quick question been really considering getting a jon boat! God willing getting my scuba license soon and I love fishing. Can I scuba dive off of a Jon boat?

Put a 250 on it

You should put wheels on the back that you can take off when you put it in the water. I have done that with my little dingy and it makes it so much easier. Just carry it from the front of the boat and drag it so you don’t wreck the back of the boat

If you move the battery towards the bow the weight will distribute better. Also get a milk crate and a cushion to sit on to raise your position in the boat.

My first boat is a 12 ft. aluminum Jon Boat which was given to me. Appreciate the benefits of a Jon Boat and why it is better to have than a big boat. In the process of finding a trailer and working on an Evinrude 9.9 hp outboard to fit it. Wish the best as you get under way Jon B. Norman in Homestead, Florida.

Call it The High Life, because you always look high in the beginning of your videos. That or The late awakener because you sleep through the morning....

I'm not a big fan of Greg.

great video love the content every time, keep it up man you're living the dream

Good to have both. I agree with everything you said about small boat. But if you have to.travel some distance on the water to get where you are going the trolling motor will take all day

I'm sold ...I'm going to buy a fricking 12ft John Boat

My ideal boat would be a 14 foot extra wide extra deep john boat. A decent trolling motor, big battery, and a fish finder or whatever they are called nowadays. Primary power would come from a 9.9 Evinrude motor with a six-gallon tank. I think some nice comfortable seats would be nice too. This for me is but a dream, I am nearly 68 and on ss only. so no spare income for me. I have a scooter that I enjoy but that may go away as well because my back is toast. I enjoy bank fishing some different places so no boat is kind of OK. I know my dream boat is not the same as what you like but it is what I would like to have if I could.

I have a 12ft jon myself. I like it for the most part. Still sort of new to boating though so there is a bit of a learning curve

Excited to see you excited, buddy! Awesome, catch them fish for us dude!

And since im a bank fisherman cuz Ive never owned a boat I’d gladly take either. If had a choice though man that’s a tough one. Jon boat= way cheaper, can take it anywhere. Big boat though lot more space better features. I’d say bigger boat.

The mechanic in me started crying when you removed that nut with pliers

Good luck with your new boat man it doesn't matter how big or how small it is as long as you're having fun and it suits your needs be safe out there

I have a 10 foot jon boat. Love it Bought it 15years ago never had one problem with it.

So Your Boat Name Should be "Plan B" Because Ya Know? Jon B? You get The Idea... lol Little Boat 100% for my location

Where did you get you're trailer? What brand is it, how much did you pay for it?

I agree with everything in this video. I'll go one better. I purchased my 14 foot Jon boat at a neighborhood garage sale about fifteen years ago for $40. I purchased a small two wheel trolley for hand moving small boats that fastens to the transom and added a trailer hitch to the front of the boat so that I can tow it without a trailer. This isn't road legal, but it gets me to the nearby lakes. I added a trolling motor and battery and folding seat, all for less than $300. The most important part, as stated in the video, is that I can get into weed choked bays in water as skinny as 12 inches; and when I am there, no one else is because no one else can get there. Great video.

Watched this only about a year later and damn how your channel has grown and how different it is.

why you never show southern illinois any love? lol come down here some time we have some good spots.

Name it whatever perics moms name is

When you used needle nose pliers on a hex-nut, my heart sank. :P

Great job man! Hope you’ve been successful.

name suggestion "Jon B"oat

Just realized that Jon B. Literally stands for Jon boat

Since the battery has an extra set of terminals, is it possible to attach one of those solar panel trickle charger things to keep attached. If it’s slowly charging anytime the sun is out seems like it would help capacity for the day maybe. Unless they charge too slow to be effective

What’s the long handle called that you connect to your motor? looking to buy one!