JON BOAT ADVICE

I have a 1967 quachita 1432 jon boat.
I run a 15hp 2 stroke yamaha.
Me and my son enjoy jon boats while we both own bass boats as well.
It's never leaked a drop. I don't know the thickness but it's pretty heavy stuff.
My question is this. What brands or builders would you suggest for a wider boat? I've fished from this boat all my life. I know all about stability and staying off rough water. I'm 64 now.
My son is 32. But we are having fun going in sloughs where others can't get to with the river so low right now. It's also our pond boat. We always have pfd's on.
We are open to new or used.
1442, 1448 or 1542.
But no bigger because we are not upgrading our motor.
I am also open to private boat builders but I don't know any.
I'm in the Tuscaloosa area. There were some in Mississippi at one time, but I don't know about now.
Thank you in advance. Blessings!!

Good used war eagle 1448 it will be the last boat you will buy!

:hesaid

I’m a fan of the 1648. I’ve had different Jon’s in the past and I’ve missed em after I sold em. 6’2”, 230lbs and 68yo. One thing I don’t like is the middle seat. Stepping over it is wearing thin. It might get remodeled one day soon. Richard Gene on YouTube also uses Ann 1860 tiller that looks like it has a dance floor in it. Look a lot before you think you’ve n gotten your questions answered.

If you sit in a seat and lean back catfishing and such, the 1542 is better, because jumping to grab your rod in a 4' wide boat makes it hard to do sometimes ... especially after several doses of fish catching medicine.

Would you play golf with one club? Do not limit yourself to one. I have a 17x28(paddle jon for the river) 16x36 for multi use, They both have 5 hp prop motors, then a 20x52 with a 50/35 jet for running, that is just the jon boat stable....don't get my wife started on the canoes, kayaks and bass/crappie boat.... I may have issues? My vote for only one would be the 1448 or 1542 in a Alweld or Blazer built with a walk through rather than the evil middle seat that Skeetbum speaks of, and I prefer pedestals rather than a full rear seat that I have to straddle to run the motor. Attachment 510974Attachment 510975

Check out the Allweld boats, made in Arkansas
Complete line of Jon boats, mine is a 2018, 1442 no middle seat with a 20 hp Merk.
No front seat either, on rare occasion i need one i use a removable one.
I did put a marine plywood floor in mine after i got it, so check out their floor as well.

I fish from a 14x48 skiff style boat with pedestal style seats. I has everything I need including livescope. Depending were you live I would look for a Carolina Skiff or a aluminum War Eagle.

Attachment 511025

Look into inherent water in the floor issues with the Carolina skiff before you get too exited. I owned one and had i done more homework I’d never have bought it. I’m with Grainraiser on his boat, real nice. I have a choice coming soon as to which boat I’ll keep and which to sell. Gonna be a tough one.

Well based upon how the poster plans on using the boat, there really isnt much of a choice other than a jon boat.
His desire to fish places passed over by most others fits right in with why i own one myself.
In fact i recently gave my 17’ Key West to my grandson.
I havent used it at all since i bought the jon boat.
I like very much fishing the type of places where the pros in the fast boats dont go.
If i were a younger man, i would also own a very good kayak.
The opportunities for fishing the places where no one at all goes are endless.
Consider this for example, kayakers were fishing Headwaters lake for years before the launch ramps were even built.
And they despise the fact that they were built.
I live less than an hour from that lake, yet i cant fish there due to the crowds and types of people who do fish there.
So let them have it, and the other places like it as well.
Ill take the places with a bad or even no ramp at all, and take all the time a very old man needs.

Yep, all good answers and replies. Thank you all.
I will look for ones with no middle seat. I hate stepping over that bench too.