I just bought a jon boat and would like to make a few modifications to it.  I'd like to remove the back side of the middle bench and the styrofoam to store life jackets, tackle, etc.  Is the styrofoam really necessary?  I think it's there to keep the boat afloat if it gets full of water, but how often does that happen?  And losing support for the bench won't be an issue as I plan on building a small deck above it that will be supported by other means.  Thanks.

I had a boat sink on me once. I was glad the foam was there.

I just bought a jon boat and would like to make a few modifications to it. I'd like to remove the back side of the middle bench and the styrofoam to store life jackets, tackle, etc. Is the styrofoam really necessary? I think it's there to keep the boat afloat if it gets full of water, but how often does that happen? And losing support for the bench won't be an issue as I plan on building a small deck above it that will be supported by other means. Thanks.

The foam is there for a reason. Please use some common sence , I see you have a small child.

I think it's there to keep the boat afloat if it gets full of water, but how often does that happen?

Not often, but it's better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it.  

I think it's there to keep the boat afloat if it gets full of water, but how often does that happen? Thanks.

Not oftenly it happens but when it does happen you better have it, besides, the seats are part of the structural integrity of the hull. So don 't remove anything !

Now if what you want is a much sleeker looking rig you can always go this way:

or this way:

or this way:

Thanks guys.  Guess the styrofoam is stayin.

Probably a good Idea to keep most of it.

John boats only have the bare bone minimum to start with, take any out and you could regret it one day. One qubic foot of foam only supports approx 60 pounds. You figure up the qubic feet of foam in your boat and you will be wanting to add, not take any out.  1 1/2 - 2 qubic feet is just to keep the boat afloat, add, your weight, your gear and possible passenger, and you start running out of flotation real quick.  That's just afloat on the surface of the water, not keeping any of it above the water.

Now I'm not trying to start an argument here, but we clearly have crossed signals going on. A new user asks is styrofoam necessary in a JohnBoat, and most everyone who replied implied that it was indeed necessary. Okay, that said, when "gatorbassman" was asked where the styrofoam was in his post titled "Birth of an electric Bass Boat. FINISHED" his reply was "Floatation foam is a possibility but will add several hundred dollars to the cost. " YIKES!! What's the price of a life??

How about a little clarification please.

Raul,  Where did you find pictures of those two Jon Boats? I will be starting a project like picture 2 very soon.  Are there any other forums, for Tin boat owners that have some more information on decking, etc.?

Raul, Where did you find pictures of those two Jon Boats? I will be starting a project like picture 2 very soon. Are there any other forums, for Tin boat owners that have some more information on decking, etc.?

http://www.myjonboat.com/

James Heddon, to answer you question, is floation foam necessary in a boat.  NO it's not necessary, you can always use a boat without, as was done for many years before it became a Coast Guard requirement for the manufactors to add it and as is still being done in older boats.  It's nothing more than a safety device, the same as life jackets.  

There have been more than a few people that have drowned that could have still been alive had their boat had flotation foam that would have given them something to hold onto when it got swamped.   I have personally been in a boat that a guy stood up to take care of nature, lost his balance and capsized the boat and threw me out also.   The boat didn't flip upside down but complete filled with water by him panicking and trying to get back in.  After getting him a life jacket on, we were able to bail the boat out enough to get in by each of use getting in on each end.  We got the boat to the shore and finished emptying the water out and finished our fishing.  

Had it not been for flotation foam in the boat, we would have lost everything and possibly his life because he didn't swim well and totally panicked when he went into the water.

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James Heddon, to answer you question, is floation foam necessary in a boat. NO it's not necessary, you can always use a boat without, as was done for many years before it became a Coast Guard requirement for the manufactors to add it and as is still being done in older boats. It's nothing more than a safety device, the same as life jackets.

There have been more than a few people that have drowned that could have still been alive had their boat had flotation foam that would have given them something to hold onto when it got swamped. I have personally been in a boat that a guy stood up to take care of nature, lost his balance and capsized the boat and threw me out also. The boat didn't flip upside down but complete filled with water by him panicking and trying to get back in. After getting him a life jacket on, we were able to bail the boat out enough to get in by each of use getting in on each end. We got the boat to the shore and finished emptying the water out and finished our fishing.

Had it not been for flotation foam in the boat, we would have lost everything and possibly his life because he didn't swim well and totally panicked when he went into the water.

I didn't ask the question, someone else did.  The truth be told, I cut an opening in one of my factory benches, and turned it into tackle storage.  I removed the styrofoam from the compartment and relocated it in the bow.  I am well aware that the sole purpose of the styrofoam in JohnBoats is to keep it at the surface even if it is full of water.  Had you experienced your mishap in "gatorbassman's" modified boat, your fishing buddy, the one not wearing a life vest at the moment of the mishap may well have drowned!  What's the price of HIS life?

Keeping this on topic.  In reference to the original thread starters question,  It would seem he's not an experienced boater given the questions asked.  That said,  the responses to his questions were appropriate.  Bringing up gatorbassman's project boat is a completely different matter.  Gatorbassman was well aware what the ramifications of not adding the flotation to his boat were.

I am sure folks will give me grief about this but i just don't think that flotation is totally necessary. Is it nice to have if the boat capsizes or gets swamped, sure it is. I don't think it's so much a life saving issue like everyone has stated (that's what life jackets are for) but rather more of a means to be able to recover the boat easily (i.e. not on the bottom)

I will make one acception to this though and that would be in the case of boats going out in large bodies of water or the ocean in which case it could easily mean the difference between life or death. Being able to cling to a boat makes it much easier to be spotted by plane or boat. Either way a jon boat has no business being in the ocean or even a really large lake where the waves can get rather large and easily swamp a little jon boat.

I digress, it really just depends on you. I have a 14 ft jon boat that i am currently working on and have already cut out both the front and back seats. For me it' really a non-issue. I plan on cutting the big styrofoam blocks that I got out from underneath the seats into slabs and then putting those under neath the plywood floor that i putting in. I also plan on putting a little bit on the sides of the boat as well and securing it with some spray foam. If I have any left over i'm sure i can find some secure places to put it so that I keep all of the origonal flotation that the boat came with.

Just some food for thought.

Looks great .