Jon Boat motor

paulsharvey · Aug 10, 2022

Got an old 12-32 Aluminum jon boat, 12 ft long x 32 inch at bottom, that I picked up for free. Turns out getting title is more money and effort then it's worth, so rather then throw good money after bad, I'm considering picking up a 1436 or possible 1542 Aluminum jon boat. My plan for the original was a 4 hp Suzuki outboard. Seems like the internet says between 6 and maybe 10 mph, with the 4 hp and 1 guy with gear.
Question 1, is that realistic? I'm not wanting to run with the 150hp bass boats, but I don't want something that won't push a boat
Question 2, if I go with a 1436, can I get by with a 4 or 6, or do I need to go to a 9.9hp? For use on small to mid sized lakes (20 acres upto maybe 1000 acres) and some slow running rivers.
I have been on/off thinking of getting the HangKai 6.5hp 4 stroke for around $900; versus the Suzuki for $1800. Not sure yet. I've had to drop by boat motor money on a new roof, so I may be a few months before I do anything.

jaxs · Aug 11, 2022

Having used jon boats on Red River between Ok and Tx for many years,here's what I can tell you. For stability while standing,less than 14' will tip over regardless of width. 9 to 15 hp is perfect for jons this size but I've made do with as little as 4 hp and 3 men weighing 200+ each. Big water (farther from land than you can swim) is no place for jon boats. Adjusting engine angle is required for any boat for peak performance but is especially critical for jon boats.

ljjhouser · Aug 11, 2022

I don't know, but 9.9 seems very popular on Jon boats. See them all the time for years.

jaxs · Aug 11, 2022

ljjhouser said:
I don't know, but 9.9 seems very popular on Jon boats. See them all the time for years.

Yes they are. The reason is because many lakes limit horse power to 10 or less.

spitter · Aug 11, 2022

A jaxs said 9.9 is the limit on many lakes and revivors which raises the price of them. I bought an older 20 hp for half the price of a 9.9. That gave my 14' semi v a real giddy up.

jaxs · Aug 11, 2022

If you keep the boat on a trailer,always have access to loading ramp and don't need to use it on town lakes and state park lakes there's a lot to be said for a semi-vee and larger motor. Added stability and will take rougher water than a jon. On the other hand if you get on streams and rivers like the Red where you have to drag boat accross shallows a jon and lite weight engine is the ticket.

workinonit · Aug 11, 2022

I know regs are state specific but the popularity of the 9.9 back in the day was, at least in SC, because anything over a 10 HP had to be registered and titled. Now everything has to be so most Jon boats nowadays run larger motors.

71bronco · Aug 11, 2022

paulsharvey said:
Got an old 12-32 Aluminum jon boat, 12 ft long x 32 inch at bottom, that I picked up for free. Turns out getting title is more money and effort then it's worth, so rather then throw good money after bad, I'm considering picking up a 1436 or possible 1542 Aluminum jon boat. My plan for the original was a 4 hp Suzuki outboard. Seems like the internet says between 6 and maybe 10 mph, with the 4 hp and 1 guy with gear.
Question 1, is that realistic? I'm not wanting to run with the 150hp bass boats, but I don't want something that won't push a boat
Question 2, if I go with a 1436, can I get by with a 4 or 6, or do I need to go to a 9.9hp? For use on small to mid sized lakes (20 acres upto maybe 1000 acres) and some slow running rivers.
I have been on/off thinking of getting the HangKai 6.5hp 4 stroke for around $900; versus the Suzuki for $1800. Not sure yet. I've had to drop by boat motor money on a new roof, so I may be a few months before I do anything.

Here in Ohio anything under 14' doesn't need a title. That's why a lot of boats are 13'9'' like my Sea Nymph.

Jeff

gstrom99 · Aug 11, 2022

My 14-48 semi-V jon boat has a 15hp, which pushes it great. All boats have a rating sticker, with max load and HP (mine says max HP is 25).

Get an electric start, if you can.

paulsharvey · May 5, 2023

Well, I guess I'll drop an update. I quit boat shopping, wife's uncle died without a will, no kids, 1 sister, 1 brother, and a long term live in girlfriend. My MIL "gave" us his Carolina Skiff J15 15 ft flats boat with a 25hp Etec Evinrud. Currently it's not mine or wifes; it's still dead uncle in laws; as it seems things are dragging out in escrow. Nothing brings the hate, pick pockets, and greed out like a family member dying...

Boat was in Salt water it's whole life; needs water pump, trim motor, battery, and maybe starter. Aluminum trailer needs leaf springs. Told wife, I would love to end up with the boat, But I'm not spending a dime until I have a title for the boat, so its sitting in the yard.

/pine · May 5, 2023

I acknowledge the above...good luck Carolina Skiffs are decent vessels...

On the topic of jon boats and smaller motors (used to run a 10'er with a 3.5 hp (2 cyl) Evenrude...)
The biggest issue of running a tiller steered jon boat when alone is weight distribution...hard to get them up on a plane with the majority of the weight at the stern...lots of guys jury rig tiller arm/ twist throttle extenders so they can sit in the center...

ROUSTABOUT · May 5, 2023

/pine said:
I acknowledge the above...good luck Carolina Skiffs are decent vessels...

On the topic of jon boats and smaller motors (used to run a 10'er with a 3.5 hp (2 cyl) Evenrude...)
The biggest issue of running a tiller steered jon boat when alone is weight distribution...hard to get them up on a plane with the majority of the weight at the stern...lots of guys jury rig tiller arm/ twist throttle extenders so they can sit in the center...

Or put a couple of buckets of water in the front. Need a place for my fish anyway.

gstrom99 · May 6, 2023

paulsharvey said:
I'm not spending a dime until I have a title for the boat, so its sitting in the yard.

and the trailer.

etpm · May 6, 2023

I feel for you because of your family pickpockets. Both of my parents are now dead. My mom died about 3 years ago and my dad last January. There has been ZERO strife among family members. Instead we all work together. Where the will says the assets go is where they go. And none of us will complain. We all love each other and our parents loved all of us. I just don't understand greed and I don't understand how families will tear each other apart over money.
Eric

paulsharvey · Oct 25, 2023

paulsharvey said:
Well, I guess I'll drop an update. I quit boat shopping, wife's uncle died without a will, no kids, 1 sister, 1 brother, and a long term live in girlfriend. My MIL "gave" us his Carolina Skiff J15 15 ft flats boat with a 25hp Etec Evinrud. Currently it's not mine or wifes; it's still dead uncle in laws; as it seems things are dragging out in escrow. Nothing brings the hate, pick pockets, and greed out like a family member dying...

Boat was in Salt water it's whole life; needs water pump, trim motor, battery, and maybe starter. Aluminum trailer needs leaf springs. Told wife, I would love to end up with the boat, But I'm not spending a dime until I have a title for the boat, so its sitting in the yard.

So, after storing the Skiff for like 10 months, it was awarded to my wife's other uncle. Her mom called her, and said Uncle would be up to over to pick it up. She was pissed and told her mom, you come get it, I don't want uncle at my house, and it better be gone by the time she got home from work.

So, I went ahead and got a title for the Jon boat, but haven't really started looking for a motor really. I'm kinda torn; you can get a 6.5 4 stroke Hang Kai for like $900; or like a 4 hp Honda/Suzuki for $1600. Also thought about the surface drive or mud motor route, but don't think I'll go that way. Probably gonna prowl FB Marketplace for a bit, not in a hurry.

MossRoad · Oct 25, 2023

ddgood · Oct 27, 2023

We have a small 12-32 Ouchita john boat that my dad bought the dad I was born. I used it duck hunting and fishing a bunch growing up. Mostly paddled it but skmetimes used and Johnson Seaking 3hp that had 360deg tiller steering and a shear pinned prop. We put a 15hp off my buddy’s dad’s boat one day and it was scary fast for a couple of teenagers. That’s boat is still up at our place and get used to fish in our small lake or run some catfish lines but it seems a lot smaller these days than back then.

These days I have a 15-44 5deg V Jon boat and a 30hp Tohatsu 2 stroke. It’s a great boat for 2 persons and will run close to 32 mph lightly loaded.

I would get. 3-5 hp for the small boat and go with a 9.9 is you get the 14’ boat for where you plan on boating

Gem99ultra · Oct 28, 2023

paulsharvey said:
Well, I guess I'll drop an update. I quit boat shopping, wife's uncle died without a will, no kids, 1 sister, 1 brother, and a long term live in girlfriend. My MIL "gave" us his Carolina Skiff J15 15 ft flats boat with a 25hp Etec Evinrud. Currently it's not mine or wifes; it's still dead uncle in laws; as it seems things are dragging out in escrow. Nothing brings the hate, pick pockets, and greed out like a family member dying...

Boat was in Salt water it's whole life; needs water pump, trim motor, battery, and maybe starter. Aluminum trailer needs leaf springs. Told wife, I would love to end up with the boat, But I'm not spending a dime until I have a title for the boat, so its sitting in the yard.

" it seems things are dragging out in escrow. Nothing brings the hate, pick pockets, and greed out like a family member dying..."

Ain't is so! There oughta be a law that required every person to have a Will. At least some of the in-fighting will stop. You'd think the value of a jon-boat would never come into play. But then, you'd be wrong.