I have been looking at several cheap ways to get on the water.  I am considering a kayak, scanoe, or small jon boat that i can fit in a full length pickup bed.  I have never fished in a jon boat and was wondering how stable a 1436 would be compared to a 40" wide scanoe?  It would be used mainly on small lakes.

Get the 1436 Jon boat. I have one and it's a great little bass killer. Plenty stable and scoots with a small motor. I can stand up in it to fish if I want and I'm 6'2" 220, with it you can get back in the shallow nasty stuff that the big guys can't. Just stay out of the whitecaps, it's still a small boat...Bob

comparing the 1436 to a canoe is like trying to campare a 20' Ranger to a 1436 jon boat when it comes to stability. Plus, you would have to get a 17' canoe to be anywhere near stable, and that's a bit much out the back of a pickup. Then when by yourself in the canoe, you have to fish it backwards and put your spare tire in it to keep the other end down. The jon will want to raise it's nose a bit also and go in circles when by yourself, but nothing like the canoe.  I put a ton of hours in a canoe when I was young and that was all I had to fish out of. Thought I was in high cotton when I got me a 14' jon

I love my 14' jon boat and for small water and back areas where quite frankly you wouldn't go in a bass boat it is the ticket. In comparing it to a canoe, well I can stand and fish in my jon and have never had it tip me out when i was sober. Can you think of anyone who can say the same for a canoe? If so then i want to shake their hand. It will scoot with a small motor like he said and is one of the most fun boats to own. You aren't afraid to go places like you would in a more expensive boat. Me and ol' stump jumper have gone many a mile.

Peter

I would recomend that you check a 1448 out. I've got one and it is great. I believe  240 pounds and 48" bottom width.

This is a good topic!  I am thinking about getting a 14 x 36 jon boat.