I am about to buy a friends 1432 Jon Boat for a hundred dollars and I was just curious about decking and what kind of stability I should expect. I am also curious about using the middle bench for a livewell and what would be my best way to go about it.

Welcome to the forums. We are glad to have you with us.

A 1432 is to narrow to put a deck on. You should expect to fall out several times a year. To test this statement, put the boat in the water and stand on the bench then walk from one side to the other and see how tippy it gets. I personally wouldn't do it. But you can put a floor in it and carpet it to quiet the thing down.

So I could do something like the low budget hookers boat?  would I still be fallin out if I just put the floor in it and some seats on short posts

Mine's a 1436.

I sunk a floor in the front and I feel plenty stable fishing alone, though I wouldn't put a floor any higher.

I've never tipped while fishing with a partner...but I am careful.

Good luck.

Daniel, That's a great way of doing it............Not to high but not all the way to the bottom. I like that.

The only thing I might have done differently is use 1/2" plywood...although as small as the deck is, I don't know how much weight difference it would have made. Here's a pic from the bottom...

Man, Those angled cuts on those 2x4s look like they were a lot of fun. :

I would have been pulling my hair out.

What size plywood did you use?

Man, Those angled cuts on those 2x4s look like they were a lot of fun. :

I would have been pulling my hair out.

What size plywood did you use?

It was some odd fraction that was between 5/8" and 3/4"

I coated it with several layers of Helmsman poly. I don't remember the cuts being too difficult and I'm no carpener.

We'll see how long it holds up.

I really appreciate it guys I am really looking forward to starting my work on it...I just have one more question about trollin motor thrust...Im in college and don't have much money so my budget is pretty slim but would a 30lb be to small for me and a buddy.

I also have a 9hp motor that I am eventually going to put on there but that probably won't happen til the summer and I'll move the TM to the front

30# should be fine. It doesn't take much power to push a small jon around.

You may want to watch my video of 14 ft x 38 inch bottom.

That video looked pretty stable...I definately think I am going to deck below the benches just to make sure it stays somewhat stable

I just made it final and am the proud owner of a 14ft jon boat...I will post pictures as soon as I get some and keep yall posted on my mods.

Thanks to everyone who responded to my first post, I really appreciate it and feel very welcomed

I just put a 36 powerdrive on my Jon Boat should be plenty fo it.