How much can i do with a 12 ft. Jon?

I just bought a 12' Tracker Topper last weekend and a 30lb trolling motor
and battery. With my friend and I and 4 rods and each of our tackle, an
anchor, and a small cooler the motor handles it fine and the boat seams
pretty good considering the load. How much more weight can I add to that
thing before I am testing it limits? I would like to put a platform between
the front and middle bench and then put some type of swivel seat on that
platform and then on the rear bench. How high do you think can go with the
swivel seats before the boat becomes to unstable and do you think it can
handle the weight of the wood for the platform? Any questions please ask,
thanks.

"For example: John Smith" wrote in message
...
I just bought a 12' Tracker Topper last weekend and a 30lb trolling motor
and battery. With my friend and I and 4 rods and each of our tackle, an
anchor, and a small cooler the motor handles it fine and the boat seams
pretty good considering the load. How much more weight can I add to that
thing before I am testing it limits? I would like to put a platform between
the front and middle bench and then put some type of swivel seat on that
platform and then on the rear bench. How high do you think can go with the
swivel seats before the boat becomes to unstable and do you think it can
handle the weight of the wood for the platform? Any questions please ask,
thanks.

There should be a rating plate in the boat that gives the max HP, load, and
number of people or live load.

Here are the specs off the Tracker Website on the Tracker Topper 1232.

http://www.trackerboats.com/boat/index.cfm?boat=2261

Length 12'
Beam 45"
Transom Height 15"
Bottom Width 32"
Max. Recommended HP 6 HP
Max. Person Capacity 3 Persons
Max. Person Weight 325 Lbs.
Max. Weight Capacity 440 Lbs.
Hull Material 0.043 5052 Marine Alloy
Weight (approx.) 105 Lbs.





--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

"For example: John Smith" wrote in message
...
I just bought a 12' Tracker Topper last weekend and a 30lb trolling motor
and battery. With my friend and I and 4 rods and each of our tackle, an
anchor, and a small cooler the motor handles it fine and the boat seams
pretty good considering the load. How much more weight can I add to that
thing before I am testing it limits? I would like to put a platform between
the front and middle bench and then put some type of swivel seat on that
platform and then on the rear bench. How high do you think can go with the
swivel seats before the boat becomes to unstable and do you think it can
handle the weight of the wood for the platform? Any questions please ask,
thanks.


Well, let's see here. Guessing that you and your buddy each weigh 150
pounds, that puts the load at 300 pounds already. Then add a deep cycle
battery and that's another 40 pounds. Figure another 40 pounds for tackle
and a cooler, plus oh, I dunno, 15 pounds for a trolling motor and you're at
395 pounds.

According to Bob's information pulled from the website, you have a max
weight capacity of 440 pounds, so you can add another 45 pounds. That is
providing you and your buddy only weigh 150 pounds each. Now, if you're my
size, weighing 200 pounds, and your buddy is the same, you'll be overloaded
if everything else remains the same.

With a 45 inch beam to the boat, I'd be reluctant to put in a fishing
platform, raising the center of gravity and increasing the weight and
liklihood of capsizing the boat.

So, in answer to your question, there isn't much I'd do to a 12 foot
jonboat.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

Jon boat hulls handle quite a bit of weight (sounds like you're already
overloaded), but keep in mind that when you sit up on pedestal seats,
the center of gravity goes way up. John boats have no secondary stability
at all, so what will happen is that when someone leans over too far/too
quickly, the boat will instantly turn turtle. Other than that, everything
will be fine

A 12' jon is really too small for two adults and equipment.

Bill

"For example: John Smith" wrote in message
...
I just bought a 12' Tracker Topper last weekend and a 30lb trolling motor
and battery. With my friend and I and 4 rods and each of our tackle, an
anchor, and a small cooler the motor handles it fine and the boat seams
pretty good considering the load. How much more weight can I add to that
thing before I am testing it limits? I would like to put a platform between
the front and middle bench and then put some type of swivel seat on that
platform and then on the rear bench. How high do you think can go with the
swivel seats before the boat becomes to unstable and do you think it can
handle the weight of the wood for the platform? Any questions please ask,
thanks.

"For example: John Smith" wrote in
:

I just bought a 12' Tracker Topper last weekend and a 30lb trolling
motor and battery. With my friend and I and 4 rods and each of our
tackle, an anchor, and a small cooler the motor handles it fine and
the boat seams pretty good considering the load. How much more weight
can I add to that thing before I am testing it limits? I would like to
put a platform between the front and middle bench and then put some
type of swivel seat on that platform and then on the rear bench. How
high do you think can go with the swivel seats before the boat becomes
to unstable and do you think it can handle the weight of the wood for
the platform? Any questions please ask, thanks.




http://www.trackerboats.com/boat/index.cfm?boat=2261



--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

"bill allemann" A 12' jon is really too
small for two adults and equipment.

Bill

That's funny, ...two adults and gear are fine on a 12 foot. I wouldn't do
platforms but small clamp on swivel seats are fine