As most of us have already figured out, this sport is about the next best thing.

The next trip you'll take...

The next rod/reel/lure you'll buy...

Ever since I got my jonboat, I've been thinking about my next boat.  My wife, more or less, has given approval to stepping up to what she calls a 'big boy boat' for the bigger lakes.  But honestly, at this point, I'm not interested.

I only get to fish on weekends, and the big lakes close to ATL get pretty crowded.  My options are to deal with crowds, or to drive ~2 hrs to less crowded lakes.  Neither interest me at this point.   So what's left?  The ultimate jonboat

So if you were going to customize a jon boat, what brand/model would you start with?

Ultimately, I'd like to end up with a boat with the following:

--front and rear decks

--front and rear storage

--rod locker

--bow mount TM, and 2 transom mount TMs

--storage for ~6 batteries

--built in livewell/cooler

Which jonboat maker makes a jonboat that's most conducive to the above modifications?

No, I probably won't be buying/building this anytime soon, but I'm bored so humor me

Get a 16X72.  You can do all the things you mentioned and have room and stability.  I have a good friend that has one and it fishes 3 very comfortably.

Kelley

Who makes a 16x72?  I've seen 1648s and 1652s, but not one that wide

I've built many a Jon boat into bass boats so I'll let you in on a few secrets

1. you will want a Modified Vee bottom for a smoother ride while still maintaining a shallow draft

2. bottom width plus beam equals stability

3. welded hulls offer less flex then riveted hulls

4. aluminum framing & decking is the only way to go

5. By the time you figure material & labor cost you can buy one that is already a bass boat.

There are only 2 models on the market I would consider building again and they are Xpress and Alweld; I would not buy anything under 16' in length or with a bottom of less than 44. Both Xpress and Alweld offer Super Value Utility Series which are stripped down versions that you customize to your specification.

Who makes a 16x72? I've seen 1648s and 1652s, but not one that wide

I called my friend and he had the boat custom made in Louisiana in the 70's by a guy that made boats for commercial fishermen.  Sorry my mistake!!

Kelley

Look for a good deal on a used aluminum bass boat that already has most/all of what you want. You may only have to replace the carpet and fix up the trailer some and may be cheaper than a new large jon boat with the expense/time of putting all the stuff you want in it.

G3 if you're buying new/used.

G3 if you're buying new/used.

I have a G3 1548 now.  I like it a lot -- but then again, it's the only boat I've fished out of for a considerable amt of time

Chris, will you be taking this boat to Allatoona and/or Lanier?

If so let me know what you come up with because I will be looking to do something similar a year from now after I get out of school.

I thought about the cost involved with building myself and with the cost of raw material and not having a mig or tig and no training with welding aluminum I have concluded that a rig already built like Xpress or G3 might be a more economical and better way to go about it if you can find a used rig at a fair price.

If your not set on aluminum and can wait a bit until fall or so you could find a deal on a nice glass rig if you look long and hard enough (especially if your willing to travel to get it)

You have a leg up on me...I don't have any boat and stuff fishing the shore

BTW which tech are you at? I'm at Polytech

I think if you want a 72" bottom you are going to have to bump up to 18ft unless you want to have one made.

Think about Lowe roughnecks, they are all welded and pretty tought boats.

I found it hard to find something non stripped down with a bottom width greater than 60 inches thats not like 20 ft.  I ended up getting the G3 1860 CCT which is a bottom width of 60 but the beam is 80 or 85, I cant remember.  Great boat, very stable and can easily fish 3-4 people.  I added the pontoons onto the back near the tunnel which makes it more stable.  Their open deck non center console boats would probably be good to start a project with, and they are mostly modified v.  Probably something much like you have.  You'll have loyaties to every brand just like anything else.  But like Catt said, if you buy something just to modify it more than likely you could just dish out the little extra to go ahead and just get one prerigged with compartments.  I dont like how most aluminums have progressed to have the nice paint on them now, no better than the gel coat you have to worry about.  Plus they are glossy and I use mine for hunting too so thats a whole other thing.  Id definately go all welded though.

If you are dead set on building your own I would highly suggest Alweld since they offer a wide variety of floor plans, decks, side consoles, gun/rod boxes, & live wells all of which can be either factory installed or owner installed.

http://www.alweld.com/index.htm

Thisngs are so hard on many people finacially right now that you can buy a nice 10 year old Bass boat for less than what it wil cost you to make one! Ive seen 10 or 15 year ols NICE Bass boats in my area for 2000 and up! If they are around up here in the northeast for that cheap Im sure they are everywhere for that money if not for less. If you are set on building just remember W-I-D-E-R is always better obviously. I made a nice one out of a G 3 BUT it ended up costing me more than a nice older fiberglass boat would have with a 90 horse. Good luck.

Alweld does appear to have some good options for various layouts... however that website is atrocious.

Alweld does appear to have some good options for various layouts... however that website is atrocious.

Yea huh