Well, first of all, "HI"! I found this forum when I was looking for ideas for the interior of Jon boats. So, I subscribed.
We had a 20+ Seasquirt for around 15 years, but I sold that recently which left us with our little LOWE Jon Boat. I didn't even know what I had until I looked. Why? Because I inherited it after my brother in law died.
Turns out it is a pretty neat little rig... "But..." And that word is what brings me here. HA HA HA!
Okay, I have no pictures of 'her' yet, but here's what I am starting with.
1436 L LOWE LAKE JON.
20 HP (max HP for the boat) Mercury Outboard.
Continental Trailer.
The trailer needs some 'minor' things.
The engine runs but the socket that moves the transmission level into gear broke last weekend, so that needs to be replaced. ($2.80 part).
The boat itself came with the front deck option, but no center bench seat live well. That is filled with floatation.
There is a front seat with extension and mounting plate and all of the under wood structure is angled aluminum.
It has a trolling motor mount and fish finder mount as well as plug in NAV light socket up front. In the rear I have the clamp on swivel seat bracket that I think is sold at Walmart.
Now, it is a nice little boat, but it CAN be better and more organized for the "mission", right? And as I have seen from your site here that is TRUE.
So, what I want to do is basically convert it to the job better and be more fun because of that.
I am not sure where to start, so I thought I would start with a plan of ideas.
What started me thinking down this line was the trolling motor plug wires came out and the only way to access them was to remove the ENTIRE front decking. And even then I still could not get the old plug out. The reason for this is because the bow has a reinforcement strip of thick aluminum. But, when i got the deck off... OH MAN!!! I just knew I had to do some things to improve 'her'.
1) The first thing I am going to do is fix the engine (it was running three weeks ago, but last week at the lake I had some trouble).
2) Make a plan, finalize the plan, implement the plan.
Okay, so here's what I am thinking.
1) Put the electrical system up front for the most part, because that is where most of it will be. For this system I will need the power plant, a 12V DC marine battery (i have a siz 27 right now, but want to drop that to a 24). I have the trolling motor that will need to be powered, the front NAV light (as I want to do a LOT of night fishing), the fish finder (new), the GPS unit (new), courtesy lights (new), rear anchor light (new) and MAYBE an aerator for a live well (if I can figure out where to put it). Basically the entire system will be below the decking which will be five sections, the front deck, the rear deck, the front main deck (small deck in front of the mid bench seat), the MID MAIN deck and the gunwale storage boxes. So, one question I have is which is better for decking wood or aluminum? I want to be able to just rinse her down when I am done with her. Okay, that covers the electrical system and the basic decking.
In the rear, I want to put a fuel tank that fits into a 20"Lx14"Wx12"H that has a sending unit for the fuel gauge which I may or may not install. I actually found a tank this size (surprised me no end) but it is 12 gallons. That's NOT really a problem. The problem with the tank is it is NOT that portable and kind of pricey at $170. In the same bilge area under the rear decking, accessible via a hatch, would be the bilge pump.
I want to move the current seat to the center of the rear bench seat via a similar mount like the front one Lock N Pin type mount. My benches are currently filled with the standard USCG flotation required on boats. I am NOT that in favor of removing them as I have already had the boat full of salt water on one trip (that is another story entirely) so, I am thinking I need that stuff in there.
Okay, on the starboard gunwale in front of the 'driver', would be the switches/console/gauge area, but mounted in the verticle 'wall' of the newly built gunwale 'box'. Again, what is the best material for this? Also in both gunwales are red LED courtesy lights for fishing and seeing in the dark. I would also like to have white ones as well as my sons all do not see that well. Since I have no electrical starting system, the only electrical wires I need to run to the stern are for the anchor light.
Up front under the deck, I want to put the battery, in a box, that is secure. However, a friend said I should use middle bench seat for this. The middle bench seat is where I think I am the most 'stuck' There are just so many choices and I 'think' I want to be able to bring three people fishing. In both bench seats, I want to mount those removable tackle boxes/trays that are rather secure while moving and keep stuff out of the way. In the main deck (almost in the center of it, actually) I was thinking about installing those ice chest positioners that hold a standard ice chest and keep it from moving. This ice chest could be used for snacks/drinks or as the fish box if I can find another place to put an ice chest (or two little ones).
Well, so far that is all I have. I am hoping to get pictures of the boat as it is now and then put up a plan of action and I am asking for ideas, suggestions, etc. with changing the "Little One" from just an off the rack purchase to something that is 10 times more functional and can really be proud of.
Thanks a lot,
Talons
We had a 20+ Seasquirt for around 15 years, but I sold that recently which left us with our little LOWE Jon Boat. I didn't even know what I had until I looked. Why? Because I inherited it after my brother in law died.
Turns out it is a pretty neat little rig... "But..." And that word is what brings me here. HA HA HA!
Okay, I have no pictures of 'her' yet, but here's what I am starting with.
1436 L LOWE LAKE JON.
20 HP (max HP for the boat) Mercury Outboard.
Continental Trailer.
The trailer needs some 'minor' things.
The engine runs but the socket that moves the transmission level into gear broke last weekend, so that needs to be replaced. ($2.80 part).
The boat itself came with the front deck option, but no center bench seat live well. That is filled with floatation.
There is a front seat with extension and mounting plate and all of the under wood structure is angled aluminum.
It has a trolling motor mount and fish finder mount as well as plug in NAV light socket up front. In the rear I have the clamp on swivel seat bracket that I think is sold at Walmart.
Now, it is a nice little boat, but it CAN be better and more organized for the "mission", right? And as I have seen from your site here that is TRUE.
So, what I want to do is basically convert it to the job better and be more fun because of that.
I am not sure where to start, so I thought I would start with a plan of ideas.
What started me thinking down this line was the trolling motor plug wires came out and the only way to access them was to remove the ENTIRE front decking. And even then I still could not get the old plug out. The reason for this is because the bow has a reinforcement strip of thick aluminum. But, when i got the deck off... OH MAN!!! I just knew I had to do some things to improve 'her'.
1) The first thing I am going to do is fix the engine (it was running three weeks ago, but last week at the lake I had some trouble).
2) Make a plan, finalize the plan, implement the plan.
Okay, so here's what I am thinking.
1) Put the electrical system up front for the most part, because that is where most of it will be. For this system I will need the power plant, a 12V DC marine battery (i have a siz 27 right now, but want to drop that to a 24). I have the trolling motor that will need to be powered, the front NAV light (as I want to do a LOT of night fishing), the fish finder (new), the GPS unit (new), courtesy lights (new), rear anchor light (new) and MAYBE an aerator for a live well (if I can figure out where to put it). Basically the entire system will be below the decking which will be five sections, the front deck, the rear deck, the front main deck (small deck in front of the mid bench seat), the MID MAIN deck and the gunwale storage boxes. So, one question I have is which is better for decking wood or aluminum? I want to be able to just rinse her down when I am done with her. Okay, that covers the electrical system and the basic decking.
In the rear, I want to put a fuel tank that fits into a 20"Lx14"Wx12"H that has a sending unit for the fuel gauge which I may or may not install. I actually found a tank this size (surprised me no end) but it is 12 gallons. That's NOT really a problem. The problem with the tank is it is NOT that portable and kind of pricey at $170. In the same bilge area under the rear decking, accessible via a hatch, would be the bilge pump.
I want to move the current seat to the center of the rear bench seat via a similar mount like the front one Lock N Pin type mount. My benches are currently filled with the standard USCG flotation required on boats. I am NOT that in favor of removing them as I have already had the boat full of salt water on one trip (that is another story entirely) so, I am thinking I need that stuff in there.
Okay, on the starboard gunwale in front of the 'driver', would be the switches/console/gauge area, but mounted in the verticle 'wall' of the newly built gunwale 'box'. Again, what is the best material for this? Also in both gunwales are red LED courtesy lights for fishing and seeing in the dark. I would also like to have white ones as well as my sons all do not see that well. Since I have no electrical starting system, the only electrical wires I need to run to the stern are for the anchor light.
Up front under the deck, I want to put the battery, in a box, that is secure. However, a friend said I should use middle bench seat for this. The middle bench seat is where I think I am the most 'stuck' There are just so many choices and I 'think' I want to be able to bring three people fishing. In both bench seats, I want to mount those removable tackle boxes/trays that are rather secure while moving and keep stuff out of the way. In the main deck (almost in the center of it, actually) I was thinking about installing those ice chest positioners that hold a standard ice chest and keep it from moving. This ice chest could be used for snacks/drinks or as the fish box if I can find another place to put an ice chest (or two little ones).
Well, so far that is all I have. I am hoping to get pictures of the boat as it is now and then put up a plan of action and I am asking for ideas, suggestions, etc. with changing the "Little One" from just an off the rack purchase to something that is 10 times more functional and can really be proud of.
Thanks a lot,
Talons
