stability for a 1448 jon

[slab&cats]

Good afternoon, I have a question concerning adding stability to my 1448 lowe jon boat. Have been over many threads here and found some wonderful insite along with a lot of help over the past year. Never set out to post pics, as my own work pales in comparison to so much of the work on these pages. That being said, I came into possession of this boat by fate, at the death of my stepsons father, the boat came up for sale, I bought it with hopes of restoring and salvaging a part of my stepsons heritage. At purchase, the boat was in need of some major structural repair, leaking dent in one side (fixed), rotten transom, (fixed), deteriorating trailer and wiring, all fixed. The 9.9 Rude runs like a champ, and the replacement seats are nice and comfy, no coomplaints with the minn kota trolling motor.
I do not get to fish a great deal, and when i do, it is mainly on a small creek where I grew up, ranging in depths from 16 to 2 ft. From as wide as 50 ft to as narrow as 8 ft.

My questions are two fold, I intend to add small pods, fabricated by myself to alleviate some of the weight in the back of the boat, motor, fuel tank and my lard butt. Also, considering adding a manual jack plate to raise the prop a bit for the narrow skinny water i wish to travel. Will the pods help with side to side stability.

Secondly, I have seen various out rigger designs, but one thread (which I can no longer locate) had enlarged rub rails at the still setting waterline. If I understand correctly, the width coupled with water displacement from the hull is where a great deal of stability comes from. Intend to add a very short deck, 36" in the future as when setting lines, the ribbing of the floor is brutal on a mans knees. Any thoughts or concerns from you all would be welcome. Would love to get this rig much more stable by fall, as spring floods have negated most all of my fishing opportunities.

Thanks in advance, love coming here for ides

 

[Colbyt]

Welcome to the forum.

Is that 48 at the beam (top)? Or 48 at the bottom of the boat? 48 at the bottom should be pretty stable.

A couple of bags of play sand in the front should lower it a bit for about $6.

Just my opinion but removable decks in tins boats are the best way go. My father in law had a couple of the cut to fit with hand hold cutouts on each side for easy lifting.

 

[overboard]

A 48" bottom should be very stable. I also like removable floors and decks in a boat.

 

[MrSimon]

From looking at your picture, the boat behind that awesome catfish looks a bit skinny to be a 1448. I could be wrong though. Like others have said, a full 48" bottom should be really really stable.

Regardless, if you need more stability, the best thing to do is really get a bigger boat. Outriggers and other fabrications might work, but they are bulky and cumbersome. In the racing world they say "there is no replacement for displacement" and the same thing applies here ..... you need a wider boat.

If your current boat has sentimental value, by all means keep it. You can never have too many boats!!!!!!

 

[RiverBottomOutdoors]

I don't think that's a 1448. Pods won't help with roll.

 

[slab&cats]

so sorry folks, I am after all a complete novice

the boat must be a 36, and from what i read in the forum, not a good candidate for stability or a small deck, seems I will make do with what i have. Thanks to all who commented and jolted my brain into action to actually measure the darn thing LOL

thanks again and good fishin to all and to all a boat that's watertight