Suggestions?

On Jan 21, 12:43 pm, "Charles Summers"
wrote:


I've looked at the BPS boats and they're not bad. Still haven't decided
between the 12 and 14 foot size. I'm hoping that I'll have a partner or two
to fish with, but also want something light enough to load into the back of
my truck and put in the water by myself.

Charles, I've been using my 14' V-bottom with a bow mount trolling
motor, and you probably already know that without an outboard on back,
the boat will really track funny in the wind. They make a small
rudder-like attachment that you can hang from your transom into the
water, to keep your boat tracking straight, even though I can't find a
link to one now. I have an idea for a gizmo that if you are handy you
can make yourself. Why not put a wheel, say about 5 or 6 inches in
diameter, on a bracket that attaches to the transom. That way, you can
push your boat wheelbarrow style to the water, and when in the water,
it will keep your boat pointing right. I've started to make one for
myself, but I put a 5 HP outboard on the back instead. If it's hard to
visualize what I mean, here's a rough sketch:
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9...omwheel2ba.jpg

"Henry Hefner" wrote in message
oups.com...


On Jan 21, 12:43 pm, "Charles Summers"
wrote:


I've looked at the BPS boats and they're not bad. Still haven't decided
between the 12 and 14 foot size. I'm hoping that I'll have a partner or
two
to fish with, but also want something light enough to load into the back
of
my truck and put in the water by myself.

Charles, I've been using my 14' V-bottom with a bow mount trolling
motor, and you probably already know that without an outboard on back,
the boat will really track funny in the wind. They make a small
rudder-like attachment that you can hang from your transom into the
water, to keep your boat tracking straight, even though I can't find a
link to one now. I have an idea for a gizmo that if you are handy you
can make yourself. Why not put a wheel, say about 5 or 6 inches in
diameter, on a bracket that attaches to the transom. That way, you can
push your boat wheelbarrow style to the water, and when in the water,
it will keep your boat pointing right. I've started to make one for
myself, but I put a 5 HP outboard on the back instead. If it's hard to
visualize what I mean, here's a rough sketch:
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9...omwheel2ba.jpg


Eide Industries make transom wheels.
http://www.eideboatloader.com/wheels.html
I had a set on my 14, and liked them a lot. the Wheel-a-weigh are nicer I
think as you do not have to pull a pin to flip the wheel but there is a
spring catch.
http://www.davisnet.com/Marine/produ...ne.asp?grp=mo5

Charles Summers wrote:

Looking for a 12 to 14 foot jonboat... any brands that I should avoid? Will
be powered first with a trolling motor, eventually to be replaced with a
gas.

Won't be used in any big lakes, except maybe the coves at Percy Priest,
which I know I can navigate fairly well in a smaller boat. Otherwise, to be
used in the smaller lakes around here where the bigger fish hang out (read:
Stocked). LOL



You may want to check out Xpress Jon Boats. I used to have the 16'
tunnel hull with a 50 Yamaha but being the idiot I was/am I sold it. I
will soon be buying a new Xpress if I really get back into bass fishing
which it looks like I will. Here's a link. Good luck.

http://xpressboats.com/series/jon/rec.html

Jim

Jon boat trailers are cheap Charles. Why not go ahead and get
something a little bigger and fix it up to fish seriously? Just tkae
your time and add things a little at a time. The only reason I can
think of to limit yourself to a 12 or 14 light weight is if you plan to
fish some areas where you simpley can't trailer launch.

I really enjoy my Waco 2050-16. The trailer for it sort of fell in my
lap. I got it for free with an old wood boat on it that was rotted out
and falling apart. I agreed to haul off he boat for the trailer. I
circular saw and a cordless crew driver managed to fit that boat into
the dumpster in front of my office. A couple 2X6s and some carpet and
I had the perfect jon baot trialer with full elngth support.

You can start with a boat shell and add storage, decks, livewell, etc
as you have time and a couple extra bucks.

A 16 footer can be had for around $2K brand new. If you plan ahead
(20": transom etc) and a decent outboard falls in your lap you can
quickly have a minimalists full bass rig.

That all being said, I've got a buddy who fished a 14' Waco jon with
just a trolling motor for over 2 years and was quite happy with it.
Last year he started fishing tournaments and now he wishes he had gone
a little bigger. LOL. Now he's looking at that little Stratos that
sells for 12995 with the 50 horse Yamaha.

With the boats I have now I kinda wish my first one had been my 16'
Waco. I probably would not have bought any other boats. Sure I really
enjoy the 20' BassCat, but that 16' Waco with my home grown and
modified trialer is tournament legal, light enough to drag over a sand
bar with a little help and runs pretty darn good with the 50 horse Merc
I lucked into for it.

Bob La Londe
http://www.yumabassman.com

If I wanted a full bass boat, I'd just go buy one. I'm not ready to gey
serious again with fishing, but rather found myself missing it enough to
want to fish a little here and there.

If you lived around here, you'd know that I'm not really limiting myself
with a 12-14'er. When I started fishing, I was using a little BassHunter 9'
boat and catching the hell out of fish from it. Plus, everywhere I fished
with my bass boat was mainly found while fishing my smaller boats.

Just want to "get back out there" for a while, without thinking that I've
spent a fortune for another boat that just sits in the driveway.


"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
ps.com...
Jon boat trailers are cheap Charles. Why not go ahead and get
something a little bigger and fix it up to fish seriously? Just tkae
your time and add things a little at a time. The only reason I can
think of to limit yourself to a 12 or 14 light weight is if you plan to
fish some areas where you simpley can't trailer launch.

Charles Summers wrote:
If I wanted a full bass boat, I'd just go buy one. I'm not ready to gey
serious again with fishing, but rather found myself missing it enough to
want to fish a little here and there.

If you lived around here, you'd know that I'm not really limiting myself
with a 12-14'er. When I started fishing, I was using a little BassHunter 9'
boat and catching the hell out of fish from it. Plus, everywhere I fished
with my bass boat was mainly found while fishing my smaller boats.

Just want to "get back out there" for a while, without thinking that I've
spent a fortune for another boat that just sits in the driveway.


Sounds fair enough. I think for a small fishing boat I'ld be more
tempted to go with one of those little plastic boats then. They cost
more than some of the aluminum jons but they are a whole bunch more
stable.

Not necessarily where I would buy a boat, but for comparison of a few
different models and generally pricing directboats.com is always a good
place to start looking.

I'm afraid nobody makes the small boat I would want so when I am ready
for the small water again I'll probably have to build mine. LOL.

"Charles Summers" snip
Looking for a 12 to 14 foot jonboat... any brands that I should avoid?

I think there is a man law that prohibits you from purchasing any boat after
selling a boat for a bike. I believe it's a 1 year waiting period, even then
you must have in writing, an apology to all bass fisherman

I didn't sell the boat for a bike... but my interests changed along that
route.

I sold the boat because it sat in the driveway, unused most of the time. I
bought the bike because... I like it!


"OhioFishking" wrote in message
...

"Charles Summers" snip
Looking for a 12 to 14 foot jonboat... any brands that I should avoid?

I think there is a man law that prohibits you from purchasing any boat
after selling a boat for a bike. I believe it's a 1 year waiting period,
even then you must have in writing, an apology to all bass fisherman

"Charles Summers" wrote in message I didn't sell the boat for a bike... but
my interests changed along that
route.

I sold the boat because it sat in the driveway, unused most of the time. I
bought the bike because... I like it!

Could you of kept the boat and bought the bike?


"OhioFishking" wrote in message
...

"Charles Summers" snip
Looking for a 12 to 14 foot jonboat... any brands that I should avoid?

I think there is a man law that prohibits you from purchasing any boat
after selling a boat for a bike. I believe it's a 1 year waiting period,
even then you must have in writing, an apology to all bass fisherman

Probably.... but sacrifices would had to have been made somewhere.



"OhioFishking" wrote in message
...
Could you of kept the boat and bought the bike?