Jon Boat Manufacturer?

[Flagster]

I am looking for a new 16-20ft flat bottom type jon boat to run at lees ferry, az on the CO river...basically just a simple boat to get me upstream to camp and fish...
Have been looking at tracker, lowe, lund, g3, etc...welded and riveted...
Any recommendations...is welded much better?
I will be building a sleeping platform on above the seats or on the floor with a simple tent so I can sleep on the boat when I beach it...the riveted "ribs" actually make a good base in some of the longer boats but I am still leaning toward the 18' welded tracker...
Thanks
Matt

 

[wcdu]

Way back in ancient History I lived on the Chesapeake Bay and coastal NC. I had assorted boats and everybody I knew owned a boat from really big super yachts to scanoes. I ventured out of the box and bought a Starcraft riveted 21' center console with 115 johnson outboard. I ran it all over and off shore. I caught fish that we could hardly get into the boat. It was a tremendous value for the money.

So, roughly 30 years later, I decided I needed another power boat for the fresh water near my home, Trinidad ( Co ) lake. After much Internet exploreing, I bought a welded aluminum center console "jon" boat from Tracker, the 1860 grizzly. My 2010 model looks more like the 2060 Grizzly on the web site. It is powered by a 90hp Merc but it is the old fashion 2 stroke carb version. I am familiar with them and they cost half what the fuel injected models cost and weigh a lot less. It is technically 19' 6" because of the rear spontoons. Inside it is 18'. I special ordered a bimimi top and works well with the grab bar over the console for "tenting".

I use it for day tripping for my wife and two dogs and will use it for water fowl this season. I am very pleased with it and there is no buyers remorse.

steve

 

[BillTex]

One (hyphenated) word;porta-bote

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Welded is better in my opinion. I grew up with riveted boats and although they never really had any serious problems, I do remember helping my father scrape out the old calk and re do it every spring so it would not leak. Ours was a 14' V-hull from the late 60's and had a 35 horse. Probably the best boat my dad ever owned.

 

[wcdu]

I probably should have mentioned that the riveted boats got a bad rap from use in salt water. I believe the term is electrolsis and the rivets degrade over time. The more time in the water the more degradation. I use to put on a sacrificial piece of metal, tin I believe and it would last me a season on two.

Welded boats are still affected but not in a normal boat's life time. Aluminum is a bit louder if you are sneaking up on bone fish or the like but they are really quite fuel efficient and forgiving of repeated beaching and the occasional sheet of ice.

Good luck!

 

[Flagster]

One (hyphenated) word;porta-bote

Interesting but I am really looking for a "utility" type boat that can be beat on hard...mainly for running the CO river here in AZ above Lees Ferry to fly fish...shallow draft/jet drive/etc...

 

[Flagster]

Way back in ancient History I lived on the Chesapeake Bay and coastal NC. I had assorted boats and everybody I knew owned a boat from really big super yachts to scanoes. I ventured out of the box and bought a Starcraft riveted 21' center console with 115 johnson outboard. I ran it all over and off shore. I caught fish that we could hardly get into the boat. It was a tremendous value for the money.

So, roughly 30 years later, I decided I needed another power boat for the fresh water near my home, Trinidad ( Co ) lake. After much Internet exploreing, I bought a welded aluminum center console "jon" boat from Tracker, the 1860 grizzly. My 2010 model looks more like the 2060 Grizzly on the web site. It is powered by a 90hp Merc but it is the old fashion 2 stroke carb version. I am familiar with them and they cost half what the fuel injected models cost and weigh a lot less. It is technically 19' 6" because of the rear spontoons. Inside it is 18'. I special ordered a bimimi top and works well with the grab bar over the console for "tenting".

I use it for day tripping for my wife and two dogs and will use it for water fowl this season. I am very pleased with it and there is no buyers remorse.

steve

Could you explain "tenting" in your boat...do you sleep in it?

 

[wcdu]

Good question. More often then not, back in coastal Caroline & Virginia, the reason we ended up spending the nights out was because we pushed the limits of time, tides and weather. Sometimes sleeping in the boat was the best or only option. Although mostly sand beaches back then, sometimes, like here, there were mud flats or just plain marsh.

We have not pushed the limit with this new boat and our lake is not so big or difficult for us to get back to the truck. I still prepare and experiment and just generally putz with my gear. I have tarps to cover the boat. I found some sort of tent pole like device that helps supports the covers along with the bimini top and hand rails that go over the center console. This allows for changing clothes, a porta-potti bucket type arrangement, especially for the ladies when a tent isn't practical and privicy and or modesty is best.

There are waterways here in Colorado that provide more challenges and more opportunites but with a new pup last year and another new one this summer, it has been a bit more restrictive then normal for us.

One tip that comes immediately to mind if you decide to go with the open Jon boat set-up. Look for military surplus medical type stretchers. I like the plain nylon ones that are nothing more than piece of fabric that has lengthwise loops or tubes that you devise your own poles for. The fabric and poles roll up nicely and can be stored along the gunnels. Besides use as cots, they can come in handy for teepees, anchors, bridges, etc. You get my drift.

Keep me posted on what you discover and end up with.

Out here,

Steve

 

[kweetech]

sea-ark, alumacraft, g3, lowe all make good welded jons....

 

[dusmw]

Excel builds a tough boat. Originally built for duck hunters with mud motors, now they have entured out into fishing and river boats. I have one built back in 2007 in their old plant before it was destoyed by a tornado. The boat has been through a lot with not issues. I went with the .125 hull because we break ice up to 3 inches thick during late season waterfowl hunting in KS. Mine is powered by a Pro Drive mud motor. Good luck in your search.

 

[cam-shaft]

I run a g3, 1860 welded boat. Northwest is kinda the home for aluminum boats. I would not run a rivited boat unless you are just using it on high lakes. All rivited boats end up leaking over time. Plus they are usually so thin that it is hard to weld on, without burning through, to add anything.
Cam-shaft.

 

[Dave Bennett]

USN uses welded aluminum hulls for their Riverine boats. Better than riveted IMO.

 

[Mike S]

I have used my Lowe jon boat for years with no problems. War Eagle also has a good reputation in jon boats. But if I was buying today, I would get a welded boat. My experience is that riveted boats used in gravelly areas start to leak at the transom.

But it sounds like you are looking for a small jet drive sled. Check out Duckworth boats... http://www.duckworthboats.com/index.php

 

[Flagster]

Thanks for the tip everyone...
Still looking after a year and a half...Searching for a used boat in AZ is tough...houseboats are about all you find...

 

[wcdu]

Are you going to EXPO? I am selling my Tracker Grizzly.
PM if interested.