I was wanting some ideas. I got a fiberglass flat bottom john boat for free it had a water logged front deck and a crack I have to patch. Its got a built in bench seat in the back that sits about a ft and half forward of the back. I’m thinking of building a poling platform.
My questions are
How high is a good hieight?
What is a cheap usable thing that could be used as a piling platform?
What is a good cheap pole to use?
I’m thinking bamboo push pole.
I was thinking of using a step stool to test height for visibility and hull balance.
I was also thinking I might build like a 5ft high rear deck instead of just a small piling platform.
The boats like 10 or 11ft and like 4 to 5 ft wide
PVC or wood?
I think wood would be too heavy, but it’s an option. As far as height goes, that’s entirely up to you. I typically make the top of the platform a couple of inches above the motor when it’s tilted up to its highest point. About 3 ft. is usually the max. But… I did have a customer several years ago, that wanted the top of the platform 5ft. above the deck. I thought it was way too high & potentially dangerous. I made him sign a waiver.
For your little boat, I would consider strapping a cooler down & use that. It’s amazing how much more you can see with just 12"-15" above the deck.
Bob Van Gundy
803-727-4069
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
If you go too high on that little boat it’s going to be very tippy…I’m with Bob, try a cooler first.
Wadmalaw native
16’ Bentz-Craft Flats Boat
I third Bob’s approach.
In my Bentz 14’, there are two transom boxes in the back corners. You sit on the stbd one to drive (tiller). When I get to a flat, pull the motor up, grab the push pole and stand with one foot on each transom box and my butt on the motor. Works like a charm.
One disadvantage of getting higher is that the higher you get the further the line of the push pole is from the direction you’re trying to move. This makes each push/retrieve cycle with the pole cover less ground. Staying lower makes the little 14’ hull move easily and allows better directional control.
Also, as I generally travel with my rods laying along the gunnels, poling the boat this way means my fly rod is right beside my right foot. Easy to lay down push pole and pick up fly rod in same reach.
Have a bench seat about 2/3 of the way between the transom boxes and bow deck. I put a cooler in the middle of the boat and can comfortably step from transom box to cooler to seat to bow deck.
In some ways the beauty of a smaller hull is that it is smaller. Big enough to fish two people nicely and small enough to fish one, just as well.
All that having been said/typed… if you decide to put a platform on it, get Bob to build it. Nice designs and solid work. Would cost more than a PVC build, but, would be worth saving your nickles to make it happen. Have poled several boats from atop his work.
17’ Henry O Hornet w/ Johnson 88 spl
26’ Palmer Scott project hull
14’ Bentz-Craft w/ Yamaha 25
I would practice poling the boat first; maybe from atop a cooler to get a feel for how the boat handles. For example, when I got my Jon boat I was hellbent on getting a custom welded platform so I could be like the “microskiff” guys. I first poled from the back deck on top of a cooler and quickly realized how difficult it was to handle and keep on a straight track. I have since started standing on the bow and “pulling” the boat along. I have even poled from a cooler on the front bow. Every hull handles differently so it would be wise to make sure you are ultilizing it in the most efficient way possible before spending a ton of money.
17’ Mako
16’ Alumacraft
I’m just collecting ideas right now. I’ve got less than 10 dollars invested so far. I plan to go cheap on the platform also. I might glass in some wood.
^^^what he said^^^
I put a platform on my modified V Jon boat. It works great for sight casting and to shoot marsh hens from but getting a Jon boat to track straight is next to impossible from the stern. If and when I pole it I stand more toward the middle of the boat then climb up top when I get close to fish or hens.
Why not something like a handicapped bath tub seat. Lightweight, strong, and should be available pretty cheap.
it is easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission
14’’ McKee/30 'rude(SOLD)
“Shenanigans”