I just purchased a nice jon that I will be putting a floor into (no decking) with a padded cooler as a front seat and a regular bass seat on the rear bench. Nothing too fancy, I just hate the ankle-breakers and want a stable place to stand and move around.

The boat is an Alumacraft 1442NCS - 12" long, 42" bottom width, 62" beam, 230# hull weight.

I fish almost exclusively in "no combustion", "no wake", "minimum wake" and "restricted 10hp or less" lakes. I could care less about going fast and most of the lakes that I fish are 20-100 acres with the largest impoundment being 700 acres. 50% of the time I fish alone (175#) and 50% of the time with my wife or friends (125-175#).

I have a thought about propulsion and "balancing" the boat that I would like input on. Electric ONLY on the rear and two deep cycle cells toward the front.

Minnkota Vantage 24V 80# thrust paired with Optima's Troll Fury system (two cells in one battery box) - 120RC @ 24V.

Would this give me adequate pushing power and duration?? I haven't ever used a trolling motor on the rear of a boat AND I haven't ever had a jon boat - just canoes and large powerboats. This is quite a change in strategy for me and I am not sure how to finish the build on this new boat.

Thanks for your input!

Jim -