My friend is looking at buying a new large jon boat, which has a 30 gallon livewell in the front deck section.  It runs perpendicular to the boat and has a divided baffle.   The boat also has a 20 gallon fuel tank in the front of the boat as well for added bow weight. 

My question to you all is will he have any issues with beating fish up having it up there like that?   It seems many if not most of the main large jon manufacturers are going to front livewells to help keep weight off the stern... surely they have thought that through?

Anyone with such a setup and experience?  He will be fishing bass tournaments with this setup on occaision, but not usually in any giant bodies of water, just a few thousand acre lakes.

Thanks in advance!

I recently bought a 16' aluminum boat with the livewell in front of the steering console. It is the dumbest place for it in my opinion because that is where the driver's weight will be as well making the boat totally side heavy. I plan on moving it to the middle and extending the deck over it. But for now I am leaving it.

I have never thought of fish getting beat up on runs, I will let you know how it turns out for me this season.

What I have read and heard is that the fish get beat up pretty bad but I have no first hand experience.

There is a reason bass boats are designed with most of the weight aft. 

If you have ridden in the bow of a boat into a heavy chop, then ridden closer to the stern, you'll understand that the ride is much rougher toward the bow.

With a jon, you're not looking for speed but be aware that in a chop with all that weight forward, you are likely to take water over the bow, simply because the weight does not allow the bow to rise fast enough.

Weight aft is much easier on passengers and components.  Too much weight aft and it may make the boat difficult to get up on plane.

It's a balancing act no matter how you look at it.

In the past, even fiberglass bass boats have had bow livewells.  I'm sure it was done for the convenience factor so the guy at the front didn't have to go to the back of the boat with a fish.  The problems were many.

Increased weight at the front causing the OB to have to lift even more bow weight causing for a bouncier ride in rough water.

Due to that bouncier ride, the fish can and do get beat up more.

Water, water everywhere.  Regardless of how well a front livewell was sealed, it would seem that a rough ride down the lake would send water up and over the top of the LW thus getting the carpet on the floor immediately behind the livewell, soaked.

Bad idea.  I've never used the front livewell on any boat I've owned and normally turned it into a storage area or ice chest. 

In the past, even fiberglass bass boats have had bow livewells. I'm sure it was done for the convenience factor so the guy at the front didn't have to go to the back of the boat with a fish. The problems were many.

Increased weight at the front causing the OB to have to lift even more bow weight causing for a bouncier ride in rough water.

Due to that bouncier ride, the fish can and do get beat up more.

Water, water everywhere. Regardless of how well a front livewell was sealed, it would seem that a rough ride down the lake would send water up and over the top of the LW thus getting the carpet on the floor immediately behind the livewell, soaked.

Bad idea. I've never used the front livewell on any boat I've owned and normally turned it into a storage area or ice chest.

X2, they are junk. Better to seal them off and make a cooler or dry storage with them. I converted my front one into a cooler.

Thanks for the input guys.  Would it help if the livewell had more water in it, i.e. it is filled higher?  I believe this tank is 31 gallons, and I figured the more full you could fill it the less sloshing that could theoretically occur. 

I never really considered the weight forward being a problem.  I imagine with the light weight of a jon your not going to have many issues with the bow not rising, even with 20 gallons of gas up front.  By the time you throw a 4 stroke and three batteries on the back I'd say you'll still be sitting lower in the rear.  Either way its going to weigh less than a fiberglass boat.

Heres the boat he is considering.  It a G3 1860 SC with a 90 hp 4 stroke.  Actual beam is 86".

http://g3boats.com/GatorToughJons/?m=1860SC#