NEW JON BOAT OWNER! HELP!

[wgoins04]

I've recently been given a 12' flat bottom aluminum jon boat that I believe is the standard width (36"). My buddy changed jobs and the house they moved in to has no room for boats. So to cut to the chase, I got a boat for the cost of dinner and a drink the next time I see him. Only problem, I've never owned a boat before and am currently lost like an Easter egg in July!

I want to get in to bow fishing. I deer hunt with a bow currently and am good to go on the armament side. Now I need to set up the boat. It comes with a trolling motor (described as "small" to me so I'm assuming it will need to be upgraded) but I plan on getting an outboard so I can go from cove to cove at the lake. Next thing I want to look at is stability for standing in it. I've seen some people put PVC tubes on the side and claim that it increases stability on narrom boats, is there any truth to that? What are the drawbacks to it, if any? Any other suggestions for a bow fishing set up on a 12' aluminum flat bottom?

Thanks for the help in advance! Teach me!

 

[wgoins04]

If it posts, there should be a pic of a boat with the type of stabilizers I'm referring to. They run the length of the hull and appear to be attached to the side. The design seems to prevent it from tipping over too far. Anyone ever tried something like this before? Got the pic off Craigslist.

 

[CountryRN]

I use a 1236 for fishing in shallow areas of the river near home. If set up right you will be able to get into locations that most others can't. I have an older modle 4hp mercury on mine that pushes the boat at about 14mph according to my gps - 10 mph with two doz decoys and a load of other duck hunting supplies.
I have never been bow fishing before but I figure you are planning on standing up to draw and shoot. I weigh a little over 200lbs and am able to stand on the rear bench seat for fishing with no issues. As long ask you pratice a little and work on your "sea legs" you shouldn't have any trouble. I would not worry about the pvc pipes. They are going to hinder your forward motion more than help your stabiltiy.
Good luck and have fun.

 

[wgoins04]

Country, I am planning on standing to draw. Should be about the same type of movements as you would do when duck hunting. Do you always hunt by yourself or have you tried this with a buddy? Me and a friend of mine (I'm 220 lbs and he's about 240 lbs) are wanting to bow fish and I'm concerned what the stability will be like with two big guys standing.

Thanks for the response to the new guy's questions!

 

[chrispbrown27]

The width will have to do more with the stability than the length will. If it is a 30 some odd inch floor (measured at the widest point which is usually by the rear bench seat) then it's going to rock a lot when you and your buddy are moving around in it. Just like a canoe if you stay toward the center or offset each others weight then it shouldn't tip. If the floor is over 40 inches wide (typically 42 or 48) it will be much more stable and if in the 50 inch range even more so. Even with a 40 + inch floor a 12 foot boat can still get you into trouble.
As far as the "pods" go, someone on the forum built something like what you are talking about but I can't remember who. You might consider something like an outrigger for a canoe (like in the picture below) to add stability. Just be careful man...a lot of guys get hurt or worse by trusting small boats too much.
Chris

 

[chrispbrown27]

Found this also thought you might wanna see it.

 

[wgoins04]

Thanks! I'm definitely gonna have to do some controlled testing to see how much it can be "pushed" before I take it out bow fishing. Am I correct in understanding that outriggers like that basically sit out of the water except when they are needed to stabilize (weight on one side or the other)? Or do they ride in the water? Sorry, total newbie.

 

[juggernot]

I'm no expert, but I do bowhunt and am 6 2" 220 and i'm concerned that that boat is too narrow for 2 big guys to stand and bowfish out of effectively. W/o some stabilization that would probly impede forward motion, I would think it would be hard to aim well w the boat tipping back and forth and somebodies going swimming sooner or later!! It might be Ok for sit down fishing but I would look for a wider more stable jon for bowfishing, but again -no expert here.

 

[chrispbrown27]

From what I have seen, the outriggers sit just above the water and when you lean to one side the coming in contact stopping the boat from going too far over. If they were down in the water, unless they were aerodynamic (in water would it be aquadynamic?), they would create drag, but I assume you are not trying to break any speed records in a 12' jon. It would be ideal for you to get a bigger boat, but I understand this is what you have and you want to use it. Is it possible to use a 12' boat for bowfishing?....I am sure people do. Is it perfect for it?...no. If you or your buddy have a tendency to move quickly then I would say even with the outriggers you will spend a lot of time throwing yourself to the other side of the boat everytime someone moves. Standing up and taking aim are going to be tough, but over time you guys will learn what not to do. One thing that will help a little with the stability is the fact you two are big guys....the boat will sit lower and the lower it sits the wider the boat gets since the top of jon boats flare out. There are also things called sponsons that bolt to the side of the boat for stability, but from what I have seen I don't think they add much stability.
Chris

 

[RiverBottomOutdoors]

My brother and I cut our teeth bowfishing from a canoe. We both would stand the entire time and shoot and paddle. It will take practice to get use to it and more practice to get two guys in sync. It's all about balance; smooth, deliberate, fluid motions and staying in the center of the boat.

Outriggers are only going to get in your way. Stand on the floor and not the benches. Alone.....you can probably stand on the middle bench if there is one. When you shoot a fish, sit down and fight him to the boat.

For your bow, I recommend not using your hunting bow. I understand if it's what you have to work with at this moment in time. But keep in mind that your fishing bow will get roughed up. 40 - 45LBS is the absolute max draw weight that I recommend for bowfishing. I have one bow that is set to 29LBS. Anything in the hunting range (50 - 75LBS) will just about guarantee a pass through arrow, which is a pain in the ass, or stick your arrow deep into the bottom, also a pain in the ass. If you're shooting high poundage in rocky water, hope you have a good supply of tips and points.

Here is a video of my brother and I bowfishing from canoe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-qX4odzD2U

 

[wgoins04]

My brother and I cut our teeth bowfishing from a canoe. We both would stand the entire time and shoot and paddle. It will take practice to get use to it and more practice to get two guys in sync. It's all about balance; smooth, deliberate, fluid motions and staying in the center of the boat.

Outriggers are only going to get in your way. Stand on the floor and not the benches. Alone.....you can probably stand on the middle bench if there is one. When you shoot a fish, sit down and fight him to the boat.

For your bow, I recommend not using your hunting bow. I understand if it's what you have to work with at this moment in time. But keep in mind that your fishing bow will get roughed up. 40 - 45LBS is the absolute max draw weight that I recommend for bowfishing. I have one bow that is set to 29LBS. Anything in the hunting range (50 - 75LBS) will just about guarantee a pass through arrow, which is a pain in the ass, or stick your arrow deep into the bottom, also a pain in the ass. If you're shooting high poundage in rocky water, hope you have a good supply of tips and points.

Here is a video of my brother and I bowfishing from canoe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-qX4odzD2U

That video looks awesome! Two questions though. What is the metal sounding thing y'all are hitting at the beginning of the video? And what kind of bow do you recommend, just a cheap one setup for bowfishing or something specific?

 

[RiverBottomOutdoors]

That video looks awesome! Two questions though. What is the metal sounding thing y'all are hitting at the beginning of the video? And what kind of bow do you recommend, just a cheap one setup for bowfishing or something specific?

That's my Universal Attitude Adjustment Wrench - AKA a fish bat https://www.basspro.com/Offshore-Angler-Aluminum-Fish-Bat/product/10228608/

I like youth bows myself. They are shorter axle-to-axle which make them nice is tight places but there is a little more finger pinch. There are products like No-Glove and Finger Savers that resolve this. You can also shoot with gloves. They are normally lighter than an adult or lady's bow, which is nice since you'll be holding it for hours on end. Find a cheap used one in the 30 - 40LBS range.

Here is my setup. Parker Side-Kick.


You might also want to consider a recurve bow. They can be found for cheap and they are lightweight. They are longer bows, so that could be an inconvenience in a smaller boat. You would want one with a little more draw weight than a compound. Probably about 50 - 55LBS range.

 

[wgoins04]

That video looks awesome! Two questions though. What is the metal sounding thing y'all are hitting at the beginning of the video? And what kind of bow do you recommend, just a cheap one setup for bowfishing or something specific?

That's my Universal Attitude Adjustment Wrench - AKA a fish bat https://www.basspro.com/Offshore-Angler-Aluminum-Fish-Bat/product/10228608/

I like youth bows myself. They are shorter axle-to-axle which make them nice is tight places but there is a little more finger pinch. There are products like No-Glove and Finger Savers that resolve this. You can also shoot with gloves. They are normally lighter than an adult or lady's bow, which is nice since you'll be holding it for hours on end. Find a cheap used one in the 30 - 40LBS range.

Here is my setup. Parker Side-Kick.


You might also want to consider a recurve bow. They can be found for cheap and they are lightweight. They are longer bows, so that could be an inconvenience in a smaller boat. You would want one with a little more draw weight than a compound. Probably about 50 - 55LBS range.

Awesome! Do you have more luck at night or during the day? Any particular time of year that you go or year round? Any tips?

Sorry to keep bugging you with questions.

 

[wgoins04]

Another open question, I've noticed several people on here have painted cheap truck bed liner on to their hulls, both interior and exterior. What advantages do you gain?

I understand you would gain grip on the interior but is it used on the exterior just as a durable paint/sealant?

 

[RiverBottomOutdoors]

Awesome! Do you have more luck at night or during the day? Any particular time of year that you go or year round? Any tips?

I prefer daytime. But I may be in the minority. Spring and early summer is the best time of year. Best bowfishing tip is to aim low.

 

[CountryRN]

Country, I am planning on standing to draw. Should be about the same type of movements as you would do when duck hunting. Do you always hunt by yourself or have you tried this with a buddy? Me and a friend of mine (I'm 220 lbs and he's about 240 lbs) are wanting to bow fish and I'm concerned what the stability will be like with two big guys standing.

Thanks for the response to the new guy's questions!

I have fished two big guys and we can stand for casting but that is when the water is 80* and the air temp is warm. I have a rule of sitting when shooting out of the boat if someone else is with me. The water temp of 32* and air temps of 15-30 do not make for a fun swim if you fall in.
Your question about bed liner is to help with grip on the inside of the boat. If you put it on the outside as some do, you will lose speed. I painted my boat with the cheep paint. One gal of green exterior paint and a couple rattle cans of Rustoleum camo paint from Walmart. The paint has held up deacent but if it gets knocked off in places, it will be cheep to touch up. Not the best camo job but it was fun to paint.

 

[wgoins04]

So I just picked up the boat. It's a Generation III 1232 with a transom mount older small Minn Kota 35A, two hard swivel seats that clip on to the bench seats, two oars, and an anchor. Is this worth keeping and modding or should I sell it to trade up?