Jon Boat MUST HAVES? How big and what type of motor?

Well to start it off, I'm new to the boating world, don't know much about them at all besides the fact that they should float. I think I got a pretty decent deal on a 14ft flat bottom aluminum Jon boat with new seats, has carpeting, electric ran from front to back, a trolling motor, and a decent trailer. All it needs is a bigger motor and I'm not sure what size to put on it. I was told that a 10 or 15hp motor would be good for it but i have no clue. Anyways, me and the guy selling the boat agreed on $800 and he is filing for a lost title at the moment.

I'm not sure what's needed out on the water, I've only ever been on a boat a handful of times in my life... What are some must haves and good safety equipment? Rod holders? Storage? Live wells? Etc... I don't mind any DIY ideas either

Also, any tips on buying a used boat? what stuff should I check out, etc..

A 15 HP outboard would probably be ideal, that is what I had on my 14footer. You may want to consider adding a bilge pump since it doesn't take a whole lot of water in it to get yourself in trouble. Weight distribution in a small boat is important, I always kept my trolling motor battery up front with the trolling motor.
I would not waste time on a live well. Get a solid cooler and throw the fish straight on ice. It will make a nice seat as well. Make sure your navigation lights work and you have the switches located where they won't get stepped on. Fuses are your friend. Check the TPWD regs on required safety gear, even though you are not required to have a fire extinguisher in that boat since the fuel tank is exposed, get one anyway. You need a whistle, get a good marine, plastic one so it won't rust.

The great thing with a john boat is you can experiment with the decking and seat placement with very little cost and if you don't like what you have done, making the changes are easy.

You need the equipment specified by the Texas Water Safety Act. Anything else is extra. Better to get it before a Game Warden tells you. As to the motor, the biggest one that is specified on the manufacturers plate. One one has ever woke up one morning wishing they has a smaller motor.

At least Bob and I care.

I agree with everything the two guys that care said.

WIth all the LED lighting options now days you might think about interior lighting and fishing lights if you plan to be on the water at night. They sure are nice to have. Coolers will work fine for your fish. If you want to keep them alive buy a portable aerator. It will also serve you well to keep your minners alive

As on old jon boater, your imagination is the limit. Depending on the size of 14 footer, a 15hp should work great. Being you are new to the boating world, find a nice quiet lake or pond to try it out on. Don't go out on a big lake and well get your butt run over!

Lights are good, I put rod holders in to keep mine from bouncing out. Limit how much you take until you are more confident, don't overload. And since you are new to this, maybe consider wearing an inflatable PFD as a safety device. Boat cushions may be legal, but I would not trust one.

Good luck.

Please consider taking a safe boating class. Look for a capacity label inside the boat. It will give you a maximum horsepower rating for the boat and a weight capacity for the boat.

for some young folks, a 15 hp is ideal because you don't need the boater safety certification to operate a 15 hp or less. not sure what the born after date is for having to have the course.

Biggest motor you can afford. If you buy used pay for a mechanics inspection unless you are comfortable looking over an outboard

I would put the biggest motor on it allowed. I would also make sure that it has full floatation.

Get an extra set of bearings for the trailer. Grease them and store them in a Baggie inside of another container. Those little wheels turn real fast.

I really liked having a jon boat when I did; I found tons of useful info here as far as how far you can take customizing a jon boat: http://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=21

My first boat ever was a 10ft. The best thing you can do for yourself is take only what you think you need each trip. Its a jon boat, theres not alot of room and everything is always in the way if you want to move around. I had my little 10ft rigged with a 9.9 yamaha and a 4inch jackplate because a 9.9 short shaft is not short enough for a 14inch transom. The tank and batter were both up front and the troller was rigged on the back so I stayed in the back of the boat once in it.

Once grown I had a 15/48 tracker grizzly with a 25 and the same thing. Theres never enough space for all your toys in a jon boat. This boat was rigged like a bass boat and was probably my favorite boat. I took only what I needed when I went. If it was after work fishing, then I had my gear and a bottle of water. If it was allday fishing then I had the smallest cooler I could find. Everything else stayed in the truck or at home. Once again the boat was rigged with a 4inch jackplate to get the motor up and it really made a difference on performance.

My dad runs a 14/50 xpress with a 15 4 stroke on lake palestine. The first thing he did was rig a jackplate on it. On those little boats when you are flying solo that seems to be the ticket. Setback on these little boats will only increase your mileage and how shallow you can go.

That's pretty cool. Never thought about a jack plate on mine. Mine is a 79 model 15'el dorado. I bought it with a 2007 Yamaha 15 hp 4 stroke short shaft. When I bought it the motor had never been wet...brand new. Electric start and all. The boat was solid and in good shape and the trailer was custom built with coil springs and shocks. Pulls like a dream. Anyway, the engine is a short shaft. And the transom is a tall heavy duty transom. The engine was actually too short for the boat. But only by about 3". So I measured everything out and cut the transom down. Then took it to a welder with a TIG and he capped it back off and added some extra support for the transom. Turned out beautiful and now my cavitation plate is exactly level with the bottom of the boat and it trims perfectly going across the water. It was a little work but it turned out nice. I'm not sure a jack plate would have helped me much because my motor was too short instead of too long. here is a pic of mine. You can see how I cut it down.

What's wrong with any new boater, ESPECIALLY a young person taking a boater safety course?

not a thing. it's just that it is legal to let a kid operate a 15 and below to learn to drive a boat. did you wait untill you had a drivers license to drive a car. if you're teaching a kid to operate a boat and get real on the water experience, the 15 is perfect. personally, i was taking a tin boat out on the river by the time i was 10, even though i pulled on the starter more than i drove it. where did you even get the idea that i thought it was wrong?

Because the way your post was written sounded like you were advocating a way to bypass the safety course.

Thanks for teaching people not to be safe Smooth Move! Now we are all in danger! SMDH

that's the law. i didn't write it. just for general info, all 6 of my grandkids have the course and they all learned in a 14', 15 hp Jon boat.

You know I'm kidding right? Common sense in boating can't be taught in a classroom.