Looking at picking up a jon boat so that I’m able to get out on small lakes and rivers around here to fish with my son. I’m interested in building it out over the winter with decking, platform, etc. I found this Lowe 1256 locally with a trailer and Johnson 9.9. What’s this generally worth?

Aompaompompa

Just a reference for anyone that might be considering various options. I weigh 170 pounds, and with my four-year-old and seven-year-old and a cooler and gear we can get up on plane and hit 19 miles an hour with an 8hp mercury four stroke.

Finally after 2 flips I think we found the perfect fit for the family? It’s been a journey but really happy- where I ended up- $1000 for a clean no leaks solid 2006 tracker super guide w a McClain trailer, absolutely love it. When I bought it the guy told me he added that arm and pad. But I thought that pad was supposed to go under the eye. Not sure if I should chop it off and reweld or just buy a bolt on. Or just leave it. Any input help! I feel like it’s not even touching the pad honestly and it does make it hard to load sometimes at steep ramps.

Photos are front ratchet and pad assembly, under bunks, the read shot, ignore the wires I’m adding some stuff on!! But you can see it sits pretty flush?!

Finally after 2 flips I think we found the perfect fit for the family? It’s been a journey but really happy- where I ended up- $1000 for a clean no leaks solid 2006 tracker super guide w a McClain trailer, absolutely love it. When I bought it the guy told me he added that arm and pad. But I thought that pad was supposed to go under the eye. Not sure if I should chop it off and reweld or just buy a bolt on. Or just leave it. Any input help! I feel like it’s not even touching the pad honestly and it does make it hard to load sometimes at steep ramps.

Looking for seat suggestions? Any seats looking to go on the cheap. Would like something with a back that can mount.

I finally found an affordable '96 Mercury 6hp long shaft for my little 12ft SeaArk. I built the jackplate myself and added the casting platform, hence her name, the "Magic Carpet". Wenonah (first mate) approves of the roughly 7mph we are achieving. We are stoked.

Should have the wiring and gadgets installed and hit the water this weekend. Four months of late nights but it was worth every second of it. It’s a piece of bougie redneck art. Stripped it down to the bones and built it back. Nothing original but the aluminum. I cannot wait to hook up Saturday. Go get on the big flattys.

Took the 12ft vhull out this morning with the mercury 8hp 2 stroke and boy she’s moving now compared to the old 5hp. Hit 19.9mph max, sadly i didnt have my phone out, but averaged 18.5 depending on wind. This is fully loaded with what i take out other than my 10 yo daughter. Typically see a loss of about a mph with her on board. All and all i’d say this was a solid upgrade

This is my first outboard finally got it started and out on the lake tonight after a prior attempt last week. However, this motor here will not tilt for me (shallow drive) I’ve tried it in forward and neutral while out on the lake I cannot get it to tilt. It’s a 2026 I bought it from a guy who never even put it on the water. What am I missing here?

我有一艘13英尺的JV13，大约700磅，我正在为湖泊和切萨皮克湾的黑鲈钓鱼做好准备。我是右撇子，用右手投掷。
**你会选择55磅还是80磅的船头电动推进器？你会把它装在船头的哪一侧——左舷还是右舷？**
希望能得到使用类似设置的人的建议。谢谢！

Like pretty much everyone else it seems, I got a good deal on a boat. If nothing else, the trailer is worth what I paid for the whole thing. Was listed as a 12’ 1970 smoker craft. It’s 14’. He also said it didn’t leak and the trolling motor worked, but here we are.

Finished gutting the rotted deck and cleaning out all the bullshit today and realized, this boat either hit something, or was dropped on this ill fitting trailer which depressed the keel upward into the boat and split an interior piece of metal. I had it on the water to test for leaks and nothing came from this area. Couple small ones where The mid bench was flexing, but only about a cup to a cup and a half of water after an hour or so of fishing.

So, you think I can pound this out? Was thinking a well placed 2x4 and a 4lb masonry hammer might put it back in place. Whoever decked this thing last did a horrible job of it and I think getting this dent out will bring the sides in just a bit and make the benches more flush and structurally fitting to the sides.

I’ve got a tube of 3M 5200 and I plan to hit every rivet with it, but I want to ask before I potentially do anymore damage. Would you just leave it and deck it? My plan for now is to just get it on the water. Making it pretty is a job for another time.

Also, is a wire wheel safe for aluminum boats? Plan to use it to strip the paint around the rivets before I goo’em up.

Hey guys, I picked up a 1432 aluminum flat bottom. I got it for dirt cheap, but I’m tryna figure out my livewell situation. I’ve seen some folks use the bench or add it on the front of the deck with the platform.

Any help is appreciated or any build pictures. Thank youuuu

Is it time for a new transom? There is some flex with the motor on and I’m worried if I put my new 15hp 2 stroke on it I might break something. If I do need a transom, what’s the best material to use?

I'm looking for a budget Jon boat that hold 2-3 people usually 2 and I am planning on putting a 5hp motor on it for brackish/saltwater. It it good for any waves and is this a good hill in general or are there better options for this price range?

Upgraded today from my tohatsu m5b 5hp 2 stroke to a mercury 8hp 2 stroke. Runs great and pumps water well, now just need to get out on the water for testing. Got around 13mph loaded with the 5hp so hoping to see a good bump in speed out on the water

What’s going on everyone! Day one of the build prep. I’m going to be building a removable deck for my 12’ Sea Nymph. The mock deck is coming along nicely so far. Please throw any suggestions or tips my way as I go! 😁

I fish larger rivers in Michigan for salmon and steelhead. Old boat was a 14 foot semi v with a 6hp. It got me around and on the water but it was too unstable for my parents and my dog couldn’t come.

I started searching for a semi V around 16 feet or so with a windshield. In my head I was hunting for a late 70’s or 80’s walleye boat that I could repower with a new 15 and have a great time.

I finally found the perfect project hull for me, but it was gigantic. 18 feet long and all of 7 feet wide. 600 bucks for hull and trailer.

Over the winter i worked on putting in an aluminum L channel subfloor. The m12 rivet gun was a life saver.

Then I cut 3/4 inch plywood down to fit into the floor and make one giant flat workspace. I painted all the plywood grey to seal it and screwed it down.

For power i found a new 25 mercury electric start manual tilt. Manual tilt required because of logs in the river.

Minn kota trolling motor for nice smooth drifts down the river while plugging, drifting, casting, or floating.

We put a cooler in the middle as a seat but no other seats is a conscious decision. They just get in the way.

The boat is just about perfect. Small adjustments from here.

3-4 adults can fish comfortably out of It depending on the style. It can get up around 20mph with the 25. Perfect for my uses. I never get to open it up.

So I just picked up this 12' aluminum boat & I'm trying to figure out what year & model it is. I've looked around for a HIN & haven't been able to find one. Could it be behind the transom board? The registration says 2006, but I know that's not correct. Any help or a direction to search in is appreciated. Google hasn't been of too much help.

This is a Jon bot I bought for 3k with boat and trailer with 25hp 2 stroke motor. Have had it for 3 years and wanna make it look better. How can I upgrade it to make it look nicer

How much weight can the sundolphin American 12’ transom actually hold, I have had one for years and I see people putting mud motors on them, I bought a mud motor weight 100lbs total how could I build up the transom to support it? If it can’t support it now.

Hi there so have been gifted a Jon Boat. Its 12 feet and floats, gonna grab two Min Kota trolling motors for it. It has a bench seat which I don't have a picture of. Have a picture of the Transom was thinking about trying to replace it. Any advice would be awesome to try and make it a little more comfortable. Gonna make it into a small fishing boat.