New boat!

keggs17 · 06-02-11, 02:11 PM

hey fellas, i recently obtained a free 12ft alluminum john boat, and i would like to set it up for some small tournaments we have at a local lake. what size outboard and trolling motor could i get away with?

MississippiBoy · 06-02-11, 02:34 PM

A 12-footer won't support much weight, so you'll be really limited. Maybe a 9 hp (at the most) outboard, with a 20-30ish pound trolling motor. Remember that whatever the passenger/load rating on the information tag is, it doesn't include any weight of motors, fuel, batteries, etc. Heck, I'm not even sure it'll have that Coast Guard tag.

keithdog · 06-04-11, 07:52 PM

Keggs, I've been fishing out of a 12 foot jon for about 10 years now and the whole time I've had a 55# Motorguide trolling motor to get around. I can't say for sure how well an outboat would work but I know my clearance level with two people in the boat is pretty darn shallow. If I were you I woould do what I wish I had done and save a few more bucks and get at least a 14-42 jon. The extra room will help immensly and you will be much able to support a gas motor. Plus a 12 foot jon gets rather crowded with a gas tank and a large battery in the rear.

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06-02-11, 02:11 PM	#1
keggs17 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 55	New boat! hey fellas, i recently obtained a free 12ft alluminum john boat, and i would like to set it up for some small tournaments we have at a local lake. what size outboard and trolling motor could i get away with?

06-02-11, 02:34 PM	#2
MississippiBoy BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ridgeland MS Posts: 3,923	A 12-footer won't support much weight, so you'll be really limited. Maybe a 9 hp (at the most) outboard, with a 20-30ish pound trolling motor. Remember that whatever the passenger/load rating on the information tag is, it doesn't include any weight of motors, fuel, batteries, etc. Heck, I'm not even sure it'll have that Coast Guard tag. __________________ I smell smoke, and I hear sirens. Do you think that's a problem?

06-04-11, 07:52 PM	#3
keithdog BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: IN Posts: 8,308	Keggs, I've been fishing out of a 12 foot jon for about 10 years now and the whole time I've had a 55# Motorguide trolling motor to get around. I can't say for sure how well an outboat would work but I know my clearance level with two people in the boat is pretty darn shallow. If I were you I woould do what I wish I had done and save a few more bucks and get at least a 14-42 jon. The extra room will help immensly and you will be much able to support a gas motor. Plus a 12 foot jon gets rather crowded with a gas tank and a large battery in the rear. __________________ Just one more cast, and then some!

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