Hey all, I have made a layout for how I want to convert a 14 foot Jon boat. So if you all can tell me what you think that would be sweet. Thanks,

Matt

with the big motor and all of the batteries in the back it might make the front ride high!  Which hurt especially on a john boat because the more in the water, the less the wind effects it!

Jeff

So if I maybe but 2 batteries up front for the TM and fish finder and left 1 or 2 in the back for the rear TM that would be good? I also may build a livewell  in the front so that should weigh it down a little

I would attempt to put the trolling batteries in the front. Under the front deck or even under the front seat... that should give you better balance overall.

Alright sounds good, my plan for the front as to have a hatch like on a tracker Grizzly so I can build a battery box. Also hat do you think I should do for a livewell? would a cooler be best or would a metal box built in to the boat be better? my friends dad is a fabricator so I could ask for his help.

No, keep the batteries at the back, because the boat has more displacement from mid way to the transom. Adding weight to the front with you on the front will make the transom sit higher in the water while you are fishing, When running the outboard, you want most of the weight at the transom for the best on-plane performance.

Simple physics.

OK can I have the livewell towards the middle or front?  :-/

Depending on the capacity of the livewell, it's position CAN be anywhere you have room. The larger the capacity, the further you want it from the bow. Figure how much water it will hold and multiply that by the weight per gallon to determine the location. Directly behind the front swivel seat looks like the prime location depending on capacity.

The problem with outfilling a flat bottom jon boat is the lack of displacement at the front 1/3. Those hulls are narrower at the bow and the bottom is curved upwards towards the bow. All of that is less water displacement as opposed to semi-V or modified V hulls that have depth in the forward hull to make up for the lack of width and the upward taper.

A friend of mine has a Grizzly 14' jon boat and those have a narrower bow than a regular jon boat so when he in on the bow fishing, the bottom of the transom is almost at the surface. --a kite in the wind with a couple of batteries and a small outboard at the transom.