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One of my best tools for getting serious about fishing is my 12-foot jon boat. While not a decked-out Bass Tracker, this aluminum tub makes it possible to land some decent fish while on a budget. Before my jon boat, I would focus on kayak fishing. My kayak wasn’t primarily designed for fishing, so it was always difficult to hold position or strategically position myself. Beyond that, it was also time-consuming to reach desired spots on the lake. It was time for an upgrade.
Here, I will focus on my jon boat build. I used the platform to make a bass fishing tool that can still enter shallow waters. Additionally, I focused on making it a low-cost platform compared to new alternatives. Hopefully, this will inspire your future build if you are making the switch from kayak fishing or just wanting to add a flat bottom jon boat to your fleet.
The Jon Boat Itself
The boat I bought was an old Lowe 12-foot jon boat with a newer Mercury 9.9HP engine and old trailer. The previous owner had already put work into it, converting the boat to a bass fishing platform with marine carpets. However, the jon boat and trailer combination still needed additional work to be water-ready.
Tips for Jon Boat Shopping
For jon boats, buying used is best. New flat-bottomed boats and motors can quickly get expensive. But, buying used always has some risks. Here are my tips when shopping used.
- Know your waters – Jon boats are best for calm bodies of water. If you plan to spend time on rough waters like a busy lake, look for v-hull vessels.
- Pay attention to the trailer – Trailers get less attention but play a key role in vessel transportation. Ask the buyer about the condition and inspect to make sure the hub, axle, tires, and frame all look good. Pro tip: an aluminum trailer is the best choice!
- Look for holes or cracks – Some jon boats for sale are very old. Always check for cracks or potential cracks. Stay away from any boats that have structural issues as well.
- Inspect the motor – If the jon boat comes with a motor, check its compression, the oil and ask about service. It is best to test the motor underload (moving on the water) before you buy. Good compression is key for a healthy motor; an inexpensive compression tester like this one will go a long way.
The Jon Boat Build Out
Here’s the details! I’ll go over everything this boat has, plus what accessories I added. I built it out to fully enable bass fishing or other freshwater fishing such as catfish. It’s been a dream on the water, especially in the shallows.
The Motor
The 12-foot jon boat motor is a 2021 Mercury 9.9HP engine. This is a 4-stroke, carbureted, pull-start engine with a tiller handle. A straightforward engine that provides enough power to navigate the lake easily.
This is the main reason I bought this boat used. I wanted a new engine with minimal engine hours to ensure reliability. Additionally, I hated the smell of 2-stroke engines. After about a year of decent usage, this about came true. The one issue I had with the Mercury engine was a clogged carburetor. This was easily enough to clean out a home with about 2 hours to spare. Pro tip: use ethanol-free gasoline on small engines!
Beyond that, the Mercury engine has been a breeze to run. It starts up on the first or second pull, idles quietly, and provides enough power to reach about 20-22 mph in the 12-foot jon boat plus me in it.
Electrical Systems
My jon boat has an array of lights and other systems all powered by this beefy, Weize 100-amp AGM battery. The battery can be charged on-land or on-board with a simple solar charging system I built.
Solar Charging
My solar setup is a custom, basic system to charge the battery while onboard or stored outside. I have a 10-watt solar panel (similar product to mine) with an inexpensive MPPT charger (cannot be located on Amazon anymore), basic wiring, and connectors. I used SAE connectors like these throughout the wiring. They were simple enough to connect between systems without fuss.
Lights
The jon boat holds a handful of different lighting systems, enough to enable nighttime cruising. The focus light is a setup of three Nilight LED lights. Their off-road design is waterproof and bright enough to light up dark channels or coves when boating at night. This has been a game changer to nighttime navigation on the lake.
Beyond that, the jon boat came with green LED strip lights and a basic navigation light that is needed for boats. The green strip lights provide a nice ambience if you’re fishing at night. Perfect enough to see but not overpowering.
Trolling Motor
The 12-foot jon boat originally came with an older, Minn Kota 30 lbs trolling motor; this was perfect until it wasn’t. I mounted it via the two clamps that you tighten. This proved too weak as the jon boat was underway. It now rests at the bottom of Lake Norman.
I decided that an electric trolling motor was still needed. So, I got a Newport 36lbs trolling motor. This proved a worthwhile upgrade, giving me considerable speed and smooth operation given my boat size. The Newport electric trolling motor has 5 speeds forward and reverse. With a tiller extension, I can comfortably navigate and fish at the same time.
Fish Finder
Fish finders are a new topic to me. I’ve never desired the setup for my kayak but always wanted to use one. My jon boat was the perfect test case. I decided to go simple and buy a Garmin Striker 4. This is the absolute best bang for your buck when it comes to simple. The Garmin Striker 4 is easy to read and install with crisp readings when I use it while trolling.
I found the Garmin worked at trolling speeds but would be completely gone at cruising speeds. It did help mostly when catfishing, as you can watch for potential fish before you get a bite. I mostly used the Garmin to find structures below me.
Mounting the transducer was a challenge. I attempted to avoid drilling holes by using 3M 5200 Marine Epoxy combined with a sealed wood piece to maximize surface area. Mounted to the bottom of the stern, offset from the prop, this worked for a handful of trips, but failure came eventually. I would not recommend this. The 3M epoxy was not the problem. The epoxy worked wonders on other systems. But my mounting setup was just too weak given the forces of the water.
Conclusion
I genuinely enjoyed turning this 12-foot jon boat into something unique for freshwater fishing. The vessel works as well as a Bass Tracker (minus the wobble when standing!) One day, I will invest in a proper, steering-wheel boat. But a small craft like my jon boat will always have a place for me.
If you are looking to do a similar build, I always recommend starting out with the essentials then hitting the water. My jon boat build was progressive throughout the season as I found what I was missing. This way I knew what was worth the money. Now, go get some tight lines and enjoy the day!
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