River Boat Project

[Okuma]

Been working on this boat off and on since January and wanted to share some photos. It's a 14' Jon Boat with a Jet Drive Outboard. I bought with the jet drive hanging off of it

Had the jet drive completely rebuilt, got some pontoons put on the back for extra floatation, rewired everything, added a 2nd battery in the front to run the trolling motor and bait tank, and built a front deck. I wanted to build the front deck out of aluminum but ended up going with pressure treated plywood just due to ease of working with it. If it ends up being too heavy I may go back and rebuild it.

I still have to put some more floatation in the front under the deck so I haven't bolted it down yet. Hopefully I can get it finished up this week and get some fresh dents in it this weekend!

Also learned how to use rivets and a rivet gun on this project. Rivets are one of those things that intimidated me for some reason but really was no big deal after watching one youtube video on it.

First two pictures are from the day i got it.

 

[dougiemac]

I asked for a rivet gun for Christmas when I was 11. Dude I riveted everything! It was addicting to an 11 year old for about a month, then I ran out of interest. Now I can see more things and opportunities that rivets can be useful (i.e. kydex holster).

nice looking project. Hope it floats ya.

 

[RdKill]

Pretty Sweet Ride! Shouldn't this be in the "Giveaways" or "Free Stuff" forum though?

 

[Okuma]

Got it just about finished today, check out the floatation I used under the front deck

 

[mtw45]

Who welded rear pontoons for you, i'm considering doing something similar ?

 

[Fatal_Bert]

very nice set-up steve, that jet drive is awesome. I gotta get one of those. here's a pic of my modest river ride.

 

[rimfireguy]

sweet Rig man now all you need is a few trot lines and some shiners for bait and you're good to go

 

[awestmo]

Awesome. I've never seen a jet drive on a Jon boat, I bet it's the cat's meow.

How do you steer, with the handle on the left?

 

[CardsFan]

That's an excellent river boat! Small and easy to get unstuck in shallow narrow rivers. If I had the money I would get another jet very much like that one.

We got an Outlaw Lynx several years ago, and the first time out I beached it on a small sandbar, slid the bow up a horizontal log, and it was STUCK! There was no way my wife and I could budge it. The group of jet boaters I hung with at the time advised on the importance of keeping a come-along and tow straps in the boat at all times. After 90 minutes I was able to get it floating again. That was not a fun experience, but I laugh looking back at it now.