In kansas we have wind, lots of it....it's common to have 10-15 mph wind, so i'm wondering what kind of boat would be good for a starter boat. I want a jon boat but i'm not sure if it will get blown or tip in the wind...When is it "to" windy for a jon boat? what is less effected by the wind, a flat bottom or vhull aluminum boat...What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

Thanks...FM

I have fished Toledo Bend for years out of aluminum Jon boat; what you will need to learn is where all available boat launches are located and be prepared to trailer to different parts of the lake.

Flat Bottom: extremely rough riding in choppy water, will beat both you and you tackle to death.

Full V Hull: what you gain in a smoother ride you will loose in stability while at rest

Modified V Bottom: will allow you a smoother ride in choppy water and not tipsy at rest.

A boat with at least a 44 bottom this will give you stability at rest; I would go with no less than a 16' x 44 all welded.  

Lawrence, KS here and I own a welded Sea Ark 1548MV...and the wind really can mess with me. My boat has a 20 inch transom which adds to the problem by having more surface area for the wind to push around compared to a 15 inch transom boat. I just simply fish super early mornings before the wind picks up and I watch the weather forecast to see what direction the wind will be blowing that day. That way I can plan my route and hit the spots most affected by the wind first thing...then retreat to the wind protected areas as the wind comes up.

What's a modified...?

Modified V is the compromise between a deep V and a Flat bottom.  Key word being a compromise.  Having not owned one I can only say that I hear it is a good compromise.

What you want is a modified V bottom not a modified V bow; a modified V bottom has at least 6 degrees running the entire length of the bottom. Examples are G3, Triton, Xpress, Weldcraft, Weldbilt, Waco, and War Eagle just to name a few.

This photo is a little big but it shows the modified V bottom the best; it's a War Eagle

I've only fished smaller lakes ( less than 200 acres) but my 1548MV does well running through small whitecaps produced by 25mph winds. She'll get on plane and skim across with very little bounce if any and I stay pretty dry for the most part. I'm powered by a Johnson 25HP and I get about 26-27 mph on my GPS.

F.M., COOL MAN you are thinking boats!  

My question is:  where are you planning on using this boat?  Large lakes like ElDorado, Marrion?  or for smaller lakes like Butler CO., Eureka City Lake, Sedan new lake?  or smaller private lakes under 200 acres?  

I think you need to ask yourself this question in order to get quality answers about which one is best because what is best in KS is in the eye of the user and that depends where he plans on using it in my in my opinion.  

Good to see you looking into boats!  Fall/winter is the time to buy!  

Hydrilla  

F.M., COOL MAN you are thinking boats!  

My question is:  where are you planning on using this boat?  Large lakes like ElDorado, Marrion?  or for smaller lakes like Butler CO., Eureka City Lake, Sedan new lake?  or smaller private lakes under 200 acres?  

I think you need to ask yourself this question in order to get quality answers about which one is best because what is best in KS is in the eye of the user and that depends where he plans on using it in my in my opinion.  

Good to see you looking into boats!  Fall/winter is the time to buy!  

Hydrilla  

Hey dude, i've been thinking like butler and eureka....what do you use?

I have a 18'4" 1989 Champion with a 175 Merc on it.  I sometimes wish I had my 20' boat back but that has only been a couple of times in the two years since I sold her (the champion is a narrow, deep boat and handles like a larger boat in the high seas).  BUT, I also have a 20' war eagle with an 80lb M.G. Trolling motor (it also has a mud engine but I take it off during the summer for fishing).  AND I have 3 jon boats, a 16', 14' and a 12' I use the same trailer to haul any of them or two of the three.  I bought my first jon boat in 1984 with lawn mowing money and I still have her!  I inherited one from my grampa and bought the 16' about 5 years ago.  In addition I have pontoons and a couple older belly boats.  

I have been at this a long time and am not in the habit of selling anything, now I am pretty much covered anywhere inland in the U.S.

I don't know your budget but I think a 16' or 18' modified V like above will work out well.  A trailer is a big help.  Purchase a great overpowered TM for the bow and if you don't have money left over for an engine don't sweat it yet, spend a year then buy the main power source.  If you are fishing Butler, Eureka, Sedan city/county lakes you will be fine with an overpowered TM IMO.  

The best deals IMO for Kansas are the older tracker or similar boats that are everywhere.  I just took a quick look on ebay and found 3 on the first page!  There was an older v-bottom with a deck constructed in front and back with a 25hp tiller and a trailer for $455.00 right now, I am sure it will go up a little, there was a '84 tracker with center console stearing with engine and trailer for $2,500 this will probably go up a little and an '2004 Tracker Griz center console that was at $4,500.00 that will at least hit $5,000.00.

F.M. good luck in your search.  I hope the info helped you.  Once you go boat it's hard to go back!  

Hydrilla

I have a 18'4" 1989 Champion with a 175 Merc on it.  I sometimes wish I had my 20' boat back but that has only been a couple of times in the two years since I sold her (the champion is a narrow, deep boat and handles like a larger boat in the high seas).  BUT, I also have a 20' war eagle with an 80lb M.G. Trolling motor (it also has a mud engine but I take it off during the summer for fishing).  AND I have 3 jon boats, a 16', 14' and a 12' I use the same trailer to haul any of them or two of the three.  I bought my first jon boat in 1984 with lawn mowing money and I still have her!  I inherited one from my grampa and bought the 16' about 5 years ago.  In addition I have pontoons and a couple older belly boats.  

I have been at this a long time and am not in the habit of selling anything, now I am pretty much covered anywhere inland in the U.S.

I don't know your budget but I think a 16' or 18' modified V like above will work out well.  A trailer is a big help.  Purchase a great overpowered TM for the bow and if you don't have money left over for an engine don't sweat it yet, spend a year then buy the main power source.  If you are fishing Butler, Eureka, Sedan city/county lakes you will be fine with an overpowered TM IMO.  

The best deals IMO for Kansas are the older tracker or similar boats that are everywhere.  I just took a quick look on ebay and found 3 on the first page!  There was an older v-bottom with a deck constructed in front and back with a 25hp tiller and a trailer for $455.00 right now, I am sure it will go up a little, there was a '84 tracker with center console stearing with engine and trailer for $2,500 this will probably go up a little and an '2004 Tracker Griz center console that was at $4,500.00 that will at least hit $5,000.00.

F.M. good luck in your search.  I hope the info helped you.  Once you go boat it's hard to go back!  

Hydrilla

I think he's mostly looking for a boat 16ft and under, being 15 years old and a first boat, $4,000 is a LOT to spend. Not sure, might be wrong, but that's what it sounds like.

I never assume anything but that is why I included the little v-bottom for $455.00 (with trailer, deck and engine).  Thanks for the heads up!  

hydrilla, are any of your job boats for sale?... :

Sorry Young Grasshopper, I will keep an eye open for you.  

http://wichita.craigslist.org/boa/438455869.html

I'm eyeballin that one in wichita, if only I had a good method to tow it. Sounds like a good start for you, File mob!