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looking to modify a 12 ft alum Jon boat

12.6.145.17

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Hi, I just bought a used boat the other day and want to make it into a good comfy fishing boat. It has nothing in it. Are they any plans or guidance that someone can point me too to get started on ideas.
Suggestions/lessons learned would be great. Thanks in advance.
-CJ

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Re: looking to modify a 12 ft alum Jon boat - YoungJimHawkins 10:54:19 01/13/03 (0)
I once modified a 12ft aluminum JonBoat by:
a)adding a rail (of handbent 1/2" emt conduit) 8" above and 4" inside of the gunnels, with a break at the transom for the motor.
b)covering outside with light wirescreen, riveted to the new rail and to the gunnel
c)covering screen with fiberglass on outside, sealing to gunnels
d)adding 1/2" thick foam to inside of screen
e)covering foam with fiberglass on inside.
f)painting to suit
This brought the gunnels up and in, added flotation greater than the added weight and made the boat more stable. (It was impossible to slide over to either end of the original seats because of the new inboard gunnel and the boat had about 8" additional freeboard.
I later gave the boat to my son. He sold it.
Re: looking to modify a 12 ft alum Jon boat - TAILGUNNER 18:27:50 10/03/02 (0)
Hi, I have a fiberglass jon boat 14 feet. Mine is a rather deep hull design. I measured and made ply wood floors covered in grey outdoor carpet. I made a mount from aluminum and added a trolling motor and mounted 3 pedestal swivel seats. The boat had a cooler in the center bench I added a pump and made this an aerated live well., running the hoses out the rear drain plug hole with plastic plumbing fittings. I got my ideas from looking at bass boats. The hardware is readily available and easy to install. My boat went from plain jon boat to a kind of budget bass boat. I added bait lights and running lights etc to suit my needs.I had to fabricate a switch panel and wiring harness. as I said switches and wire etc are at any auto parts store or marine outlet.look around for Ideas
Re: looking to modify a 12 ft alum Jon boat - Eli the Spy 16:03:38 10/03/02 (0)
When I had a 12ft Alum boat, I made an aluminum shelf (about 6-9" wide) and mounted it between the back two bench seats. It comes in handy for pliers, fishfinder mounting, etc. Under it you can put your battery (as long as your trolling motor wires can reach) I also intalled a 36" long aluminum ruler along the side of the boat for quick measuring. You should be able to customize it as you fish more often.

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