Hey Guys! I bought my first boat!

BoyoBoyle · 06-26-10, 11:12 AM

Dont look down and start laughing too soon! Read this first!

Haha, so after about a year of looking around craigs list all over Northeast and ebay for a jon boat, i finally stumbled upon one in my hometown at an amazing deal (that WOULD happen). My whole plan is to find a jon boat and trailer, clean it up, paint it, modify it, and catch bass with it. So this is what i picked up just a few days ago and i am pumped!!!

The guy was asking 750$ for the boat and trailer, but i honestly told him i only had 500$ (the truth), so he went for 500!!! It's a Lowe 18' Big jon boat... its HUGE!! I was hoping to buy a 14', but i am more pleased with this monster!

Anyways, I brought it home, sent in for all the title and registration work, and now i begin saving up money again to do all the mods. I took the bought out in some water the other day and it doesn't seem like leak anything major. I plan on sealing it again anyways.

This is the general plan...
OUtside of the boat painted dark blue, inside painted either cream or flat gray. Flooring all across the bottom, probably gray carpeting. I would like to build a deck that is level with the bench in the front and connects to the side of the deck thing in the very front. That way the deck in the very front will be like a mini deck to attach things like fish-finders/radios/etc, while the slightly lower main deck in the front will have chair and some storage compartments. I would also like to attach a seat onto the rear bench. Pretty simple so far, just one deck.

Ok..... now... This thing is huge! so i got like... i didn't measure, but at least a good 6 feet in between the two benches.... i think i should do something with it rather than just leave it wide open. Im thinking about either making a padded bench in the middle with seats that flip up for storage, or even making two side storage boxes along the sides for rod storage/whatever needs stored. Im really leaning towards the idea of the two storage boxes on the side, it would look really slick, but i also kindof want a place for an extra two people to sit. HHmmmm...

il have to think about that.

As for a motor. Im a college kid running on a budget so im probably just gonna start out with a 55lb thrust trolley motor on the back. I'll save up in the future for a gas-powered outboard.

Well thats about it!!!
Heres the pictures....

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Not liking the dent...

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CamG · 06-26-10, 11:44 AM

Congrats!!!

That'll make a real nice fishing platform for sure.

Bassboss · 06-26-10, 11:46 AM

LOL!! Nice boat, other than the color and name!

Sounds like it'll be a sweet boat once you sand blast the paint off, or repaint it. Personally, I'd go with a camo out side, and inside, and same color carpet as you want! And definitely a different name!

JerseyFisher · 06-26-10, 12:07 PM

check out tinboats.net there is a lot of helpful info on there about modifying jon boats. Good luck. I'm in the same situation as you, still looking for my first boat. I check craigslist daily still can't find the right one. Enjoy!

nofearengineer · 06-26-10, 12:18 PM

Dude...just like a first car, the main thing is that you are going to be out there, instead of sitting on your couch, wishing you were out there.

That can be a great boat once you have it set up. We had an 18' john boat when I was a kid, with a 25 hp Johnson, and it wasn't much for skiing, but we fished the heck out of it.

BoyoBoyle · 06-26-10, 12:23 PM

Thanks a lot guys.

Your right Nofear, it may not be out on the water yet, but at least instead of sitting on the coach i can go out and work on it.

And tinboats.net is a great source. I've been a member since I started my jon boat hunt, and it is THE site for everything jon boats!

And the deck should be great. I have a little pond in my backyard that i take it on to test for leaks and stuff, and I went on it today and walked all over the boat, jumped around, and the thing is so stable. I was able to sit on the edges and it was still good. Its gonna be great.

Bassboss · 06-26-10, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nofearengineer

Dude...just like a first car, the main thing is that you are going to be out there, instead of sitting on your couch, wishing you were out there.

That can be a great boat once you have it set up. We had an 18' john boat when I was a kid, with a 25 hp Johnson, and it wasn't much for skiing, but we fished the heck out of it.

haha!!

Sounds like winter for y'all!!

BassMoJo · 06-26-10, 02:40 PM

Congrats on the boat man. Remember don't cut any corners and do it all right the first time you don't want to be on the water wishing you did that or shouldnt have done this!

Abbeysdad · 06-26-10, 03:27 PM

Good find.
Ditto - take yer time and think it through and make sure your happy before it gets permanent. You'll have a lot of good peaceful time on her so treat her right.
Oh yea, and she really does need that paint job!

WTL · 06-26-10, 08:03 PM

Ah yes, the Ghetto queen. Saw you on another board. That boat is a great find, it gives you tons of options.

bamabassman · 06-26-10, 09:51 PM

i LOVE the name! whatever you do DO NOT CHANGE THE NAME! congrats on your new hawg mollie machine.

bassinbob · 06-27-10, 11:39 AM

Good luck with the rebuild. nice find.

carolina-rig-01 · 06-27-10, 05:37 PM

There is nothing quite like a new boat. Congrats!!

triglet · 06-28-10, 04:39 AM

im with bamabassman you have to KEEP the NAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ski · 06-28-10, 11:33 PM

You're from PA, where did you get the boat, Northeast Philly? (ghetto queen)
Congrat's on the boat.

Abbeysdad · 06-29-10, 12:37 PM

Will that dent pound out?

geezer1 · 06-29-10, 02:47 PM

Man, I love project boats! Have fun with it, BoyoBoyle.

WaffleJaw · 06-29-10, 04:10 PM

I saw your post on Tinboats this morning while I was looking around.
Thats a hell of a find btw....Thats alot of boat for 500 and you owe that guy a christmas card for knocking off $250!haha!

Barthez · 07-07-10, 12:55 PM

Congratulations! I can imagine how you feel right now!

All the best and always remember, safety first.

06-26-10, 11:12 AM	#1
BoyoBoyle BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 92	Hey Guys! I bought my first boat! Dont look down and start laughing too soon! Read this first! Haha, so after about a year of looking around craigs list all over Northeast and ebay for a jon boat, i finally stumbled upon one in my hometown at an amazing deal (that WOULD happen). My whole plan is to find a jon boat and trailer, clean it up, paint it, modify it, and catch bass with it. So this is what i picked up just a few days ago and i am pumped!!! The guy was asking 750$ for the boat and trailer, but i honestly told him i only had 500$ (the truth), so he went for 500!!! It's a Lowe 18' Big jon boat... its HUGE!! I was hoping to buy a 14', but i am more pleased with this monster! Anyways, I brought it home, sent in for all the title and registration work, and now i begin saving up money again to do all the mods. I took the bought out in some water the other day and it doesn't seem like leak anything major. I plan on sealing it again anyways. This is the general plan... OUtside of the boat painted dark blue, inside painted either cream or flat gray. Flooring all across the bottom, probably gray carpeting. I would like to build a deck that is level with the bench in the front and connects to the side of the deck thing in the very front. That way the deck in the very front will be like a mini deck to attach things like fish-finders/radios/etc, while the slightly lower main deck in the front will have chair and some storage compartments. I would also like to attach a seat onto the rear bench. Pretty simple so far, just one deck. Ok..... now... This thing is huge! so i got like... i didn't measure, but at least a good 6 feet in between the two benches.... i think i should do something with it rather than just leave it wide open. Im thinking about either making a padded bench in the middle with seats that flip up for storage, or even making two side storage boxes along the sides for rod storage/whatever needs stored. Im really leaning towards the idea of the two storage boxes on the side, it would look really slick, but i also kindof want a place for an extra two people to sit. HHmmmm... il have to think about that. As for a motor. Im a college kid running on a budget so im probably just gonna start out with a 55lb thrust trolley motor on the back. I'll save up in the future for a gas-powered outboard. Well thats about it!!! Heres the pictures.... Not liking the dent...

06-26-10, 11:46 AM	#3
Bassboss BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Shawano, WI Posts: 7,761	LOL!! Nice boat, other than the color and name! Sounds like it'll be a sweet boat once you sand blast the paint off, or repaint it. Personally, I'd go with a camo out side, and inside, and same color carpet as you want! And definitely a different name! __________________ If you can't fix it with heavy squats or fish oil, you're probably going to die.

06-26-10, 12:18 PM	#5
nofearengineer BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southwest IN Posts: 5,630	Dude...just like a first car, the main thing is that you are going to be out there, instead of sitting on your couch, wishing you were out there. That can be a great boat once you have it set up. We had an 18' john boat when I was a kid, with a 25 hp Johnson, and it wasn't much for skiing, but we fished the heck out of it. __________________ Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.

06-26-10, 02:40 PM	#8
BassMoJo BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Hampstead, MD Posts: 801	Congrats on the boat man. Remember don't cut any corners and do it all right the first time you don't want to be on the water wishing you did that or shouldnt have done this! __________________ This is my Signature there are many like it, but this one is mine.

06-26-10, 03:27 PM	#9
Abbeysdad BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Central NY - Finger Lakes Posts: 1,307	Good find. Ditto - take yer time and think it through and make sure your happy before it gets permanent. You'll have a lot of good peaceful time on her so treat her right. Oh yea, and she really does need that paint job! __________________ Fish now, work later

06-26-10, 11:44 AM	#2
CamG BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Superior, NE Posts: 974	Congrats!!! That'll make a real nice fishing platform for sure.

06-26-10, 12:07 PM	#4
JerseyFisher BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: New York, NY Posts: 156	check out tinboats.net there is a lot of helpful info on there about modifying jon boats. Good luck. I'm in the same situation as you, still looking for my first boat. I check craigslist daily still can't find the right one. Enjoy!

06-26-10, 12:23 PM	#6
BoyoBoyle BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 92	Thanks a lot guys. Your right Nofear, it may not be out on the water yet, but at least instead of sitting on the coach i can go out and work on it. And tinboats.net is a great source. I've been a member since I started my jon boat hunt, and it is THE site for everything jon boats! And the deck should be great. I have a little pond in my backyard that i take it on to test for leaks and stuff, and I went on it today and walked all over the boat, jumped around, and the thing is so stable. I was able to sit on the edges and it was still good. Its gonna be great.

06-26-10, 08:03 PM	#10
WTL BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,466	Ah yes, the Ghetto queen. Saw you on another board. That boat is a great find, it gives you tons of options.

06-26-10, 09:51 PM	#11
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	i LOVE the name! whatever you do DO NOT CHANGE THE NAME! congrats on your new hawg mollie machine. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

06-27-10, 11:39 AM	#12
bassinbob BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pitts. Pa. Posts: 3,801	Good luck with the rebuild. nice find. __________________ you can have my fishin rod when ya take it from my cold dead hands

06-27-10, 05:37 PM	#13
carolina-rig-01 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Webb City, MO Posts: 6,387	There is nothing quite like a new boat. Congrats!! __________________ You only live once. But if you do it right, once is enough.

06-28-10, 04:39 AM	#14
triglet BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 39	im with bamabassman you have to KEEP the NAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

06-28-10, 11:33 PM	#15
ski BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 7	You're from PA, where did you get the boat, Northeast Philly? (ghetto queen) Congrat's on the boat.

06-29-10, 12:37 PM	#16
Abbeysdad BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Central NY - Finger Lakes Posts: 1,307	Will that dent pound out? __________________ Fish now, work later

06-29-10, 02:47 PM	#17
geezer1 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Lakehills, Tx Posts: 185	Man, I love project boats! Have fun with it, BoyoBoyle.

06-29-10, 04:10 PM	#18
WaffleJaw BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Dallas,TX (DFW) Posts: 2,212	I saw your post on Tinboats this morning while I was looking around. Thats a hell of a find btw....Thats alot of boat for 500 and you owe that guy a christmas card for knocking off $250!haha! __________________ [nelsoncustomrods.com]

07-07-10, 12:55 PM	#19
Barthez BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: McLean, VA Posts: 16	Congratulations!! Congratulations! I can imagine how you feel right now! All the best and always remember, safety first.

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