Suggestions?

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.