JON BOAT - Weight Reduction ?

Hey Everyone

I have a 14 foot jon boat that tips the scales @ 135 lbs.  I was wondering ways I can reduce this weight?

I would like to reduce some weight, as this boat is a car topper, and would like to keep it that way.  I would like to get it to around 100 lbs if possible.

How much does each seat roughly weigh, and what is under them?

Thanks

Is that what it was gutted, with nothing in it?  If so, theres not much you can do.  The bench seats provide structural integrity for the sides.  Also, they have flotation inside them to keep your boat at the lakes surface, even if it gets swamped.  Like i said, not much you can do.

Is that what it was gutted, with nothing in it? If so, theres not much you can do. The bench seats provide structural integrity for the sides. Also, they have flotation inside them to keep your boat at the lakes surface, even if it gets swamped. Like i said, not much you can do.

yes that is the dry weight with nothing it in.

as for the structural integrity of the boat, i feel that there are enough ribs in the boat to compensate for the loss of the seats.  it is not like we are going to be hitting things at high speeds with the sides of the boat.

the other boat i did have was not a jon boat, and did not have any ribs.  the sides and bottom were flat, and we pretty much tortured it without any structural problems or anything like that.

If you are going to take the seats out , make sure you have a darn good life jacket !

Is that what it was gutted, with nothing in it? If so, theres not much you can do. The bench seats provide structural integrity for the sides. Also, they have flotation inside them to keep your boat at the lakes surface, even if it gets swamped. Like i said, not much you can do.

yes that is the dry weight with nothing it in.

as for the structural integrity of the boat, i feel that there are enough ribs in the boat to compensate for the loss of the seats. it is not like we are going to be hitting things at high speeds with the sides of the boat.

the other boat i did have was not a jon boat, and did not have any ribs. the sides and bottom were flat, and we pretty much tortured it without any structural problems or anything like that.

You CAN 'T TAKE OUT THE SEATS, it 's the flotation device of the boat.

135 pounds is pretty light for a 14 fter, my 12 ft weights 145 pounds and I cartop it everywhere.

thats not that heavy, a 14ft is almost a non cartopper anyway.  alot of people take out seats and turn them into a bass/john boat but they lay down wood on the bottom and put pedestals in  and sit, how and where would you sit if you took the seats out

hit the weight room ;D

hit the weight room ;D

lol

i think we have a winner

though i still might try to reduce the weight some how

If you are lucky like I am.  There is a sort of hump next to the ramp.  I pull my pickup so that it backs to the opposite side of the hump.  then I pull the canoe up the lake side of hump.  Now it's just a straight slide into the p/u.

Man, I am soooooooooooooooo clever.  

Well, you could always take a metal hole-saw and drill many holes through the unsupported sections of the hull.  This would greatly reduce the weight of the boat and the flotation chambers would keep it afloat - sorta. ;D