I know, I know, conversions are very popular for the handymen/women among us. For a while, I entertained the idea of building a fiberglass jon boat from scratch that would have fishing decks, storage, etc. all designed to suit my needs.

The more I thought about it, the less I thought of the idea.

There can be very good reasons why boats like these are not on the market. A lack of demand, or, they cannot comply with industry standards for safety and stability.

Industry standards require flotation that will make it impossible to sink. USCG standards for loads etc. must be complied with.

I have serious doubts that boats based on conversions of small boats to mini bass boats would meet load and safety standards.

The Coast Guard has implemented a no cost program to test recreational boats, voluntarily provided by a manufacturer, for compliance with the following Federal safety standards: Safe Loading, Safe Powering, and Flotation. Under this program, manufacturers may request compliance testing early in a production run. Early testing can minimize the financial risk associated with Coast Guard imposed recalls and reduce the number of non-complying boats reaching the public.

Points to consider for this voluntary program are:

1.Testing is free.

2.Boats provided are to be less than twenty feet in length.

3.Boats that fail testing will be retested after the manufacturer's corrections are made.

4.If the boat fails testing and the number of boats in the production run is small a formal recall will not be implemented; however, all boats in the production run are expected to be corrected.

5.If the boat fails testing and the number of boats in the production run is significant, a formal recall may be implemented. Therefore, test early in a production run to minimize the risk of a recall.

6.The manufacturer may bring in boats for testing, or the Coast Guard will pick up and return boats, at no charge, that are voluntarily provided.

7.Manufacturers may witness testing and ask questions about testing methods, techniques, and procedures.

8.Boats voluntarily provided may have 1/4 inch holes drilled at selected location on the top sides and sole to let air escape during testing.

9.Boats provided will be submerged for 18 hours before testing. Flotation foam in the boat may absorb water during this process and may retain this water after testing.

We encourage you to consider voluntary compliance testing as part of your business strategy. It is free, it helps ensure that your product meets minimum safety standards, and it reduces the risk of a costly recall campaign in the future. If you would like more information about voluntary boat testing or Federal safety standards, please contact the Office of Boating Safety at 202-372-1073.

I realize some may scoff at my concerns regarding safety. But if you do, consider this. I've spent over 25 years of my life making a living catching lobsters off the coast of Massachusetts.

I've read about, and in a couple of instances seen the consequences of either ignoring, or playing down legitimate safety concerns.

Looking back, I've done some dumb things, such as fishing for striped bass in Cape Cod bay, in a 12 foot Sears jon boat. It was fine and dandy on a calm sea.

But the day I was a few miles from safe haven when the wind blew up was the last day I used that boat on salt water. It was relegated to the small ponds on the area of the Cape where we lived.

I survived my stupidity with only frayed nerves as a result.

This was years before my lobstering days.

:-?

Not sure I'm understanding what you're trying to get at. 

:-?

Not sure I'm understanding what you're trying to get at.

Modifications can make a boat dangerously unstable, and unsafe, particularly if you raise its center of gravity, and it has a narrow beam.

Just a cautionary note about wholesale modifications to any vessel.

I suppose that would be true of modifying just about anything to something different than what it was intentionally designed for. 

Common sense really.  Add a deck onto a 10 foot Semi V that's flush with the gunwales and expect to go swimming everytime you so little as sneeze.   

Industry standards, USCG standards, Federal safety standards; I've seen more than one boat sink.

Industry standards, USCG standards, Federal safety standards; I've seen more than one boat sink.

No kidding.  I was in one that almost went down.  While it's nice to know the USCG is watching out for us boaters and making sure the boats out today have adequate flotation, the testing used to test boats is rarely what actually happens in the real world out on the water.  A controlled flooding of a boat in a test tank is a whole worlds different than a 5 foot barge roller coming over the stern.   

Industry standards, USCG standards, Federal safety standards; I've seen more than one boat sink.

Sure you have.  We all have. 

If you check, you'll find that most boating accidents, sinkings, injuries and deaths, are caused primarily by one factor, human/operator error.

All the regulations in the world cannot eliminate human error.

I agree 100% with Everything you said except for one little part:

"There can be very good reasons why boats like these are not on the market.  A lack of demand, or, they cannot comply with industry standards for safety and stability."

I think the demand is there but it is not cost effective for a manufacturer to add everything while trying to keep the price low. Plus like any hobby, you sort of take pride in the work you did yourself.

Common sense and Safety first.......

I watched a Welcraft sink in a rain storm while tied to a dock & I mean it was sitting on the bottom with only the ropes visible.

I watched a Stratos & HydraSport go straight under when the motor died before it planned out.

I agree 100% with Everything you said except for one little part:

"There can be very good reasons why boats like these are not on the market. A lack of demand, or, they cannot comply with industry standards for safety and stability."

I think the demand is there but it is not cost effective for a manufacturer to add everything while trying to keep the price low. Plus like any hobby, you sort of take pride in the work you did yourself.

Common sense and Safety first.......

I'll make a slight correction.  There is a lack of demand for such a product at the price they would have to charge to make it profitable.

I agree 100% with Everything you said except for one little part:

"There can be very good reasons why boats like these are not on the market. A lack of demand, or, they cannot comply with industry standards for safety and stability."

I think the demand is there but it is not cost effective for a manufacturer to add everything while trying to keep the price low. Plus like any hobby, you sort of take pride in the work you did yourself.

Common sense and Safety first.......

I'll make a slight correction. There is a lack of demand for such a product at the price they would have to charge to make it profitable.

Yes!  Off-Topic Where did you catch that pig in your avatar?   8-)