I’ve only owned one jon boat, it was a 1542 War Eagle. loved it and would get another in a heartbeat (though a 1648 this go around).
jon boats come in 2 flavors: welded and riveted. you want the former
Lowe is a great boat, tuff as nails and has a lifetime hull warranty backed by a well established secure company. Check out the new Ranger aluminum line too, Ranger quality in a Jon boat and priced right there with the others. With all of the boat builders that went under, I would not only check out the quality of the boat and customer reviews, make sure it is an established company that will be around to honor whatever warranty they offer.
War Eagle
1542 WarEagle
25 Yamaha 2 stroke tiller
Great help guys, still deciding on boat, too many choices. I think I have decided on a Tohatsu 4-stroke since it has a 5 yr warranty. Anybody owned one or have any experince with them. I know little except they are made by Nissan & originally from Japan & started there in 50s I think. They make smaller outboars for other guys Like Merc. Any advice on them would be great.
The small Tohatsu’s are great engines. They have been around a long time and have carried a lot of other labels.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Small craft surveying and repair
To stay on topic, the best jon boats are the ones that I build 
I hate aluminum. Hot in the summer, cold in the winter and noisy all the time
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Small craft surveying and repair
I like aluminum. Very durable and with rhino liner spray in they are sweet. My fav is xpress.
i just got a 1756 G3 with a 50 hp yamaha and love it- lots of room to fish and can get real skinny. came with a duck blind too so duel purpose.
Well after a lot of searching I finally found the best Jon boat for me & the money, the free one in the back yard. The motor was blown & transom rotted so I am parting out the motor & put a new transom in. The Polar Kraft is made for a tiller steer but had a remote steer with a cc console in it so I took off the motor & console, ripped out all the old wiring and rod holders. I have put in a new transom, paint job, new floor, modified the trailer & replaced hub bearings, in the process of re-wiring & adding rod holders, and bought a new Tohatsu tiller steer to go on it. I got it from Robins Marine in Garden City, great guy. I live 3 hrs away so when I got there he had the motor & paper work all ready. I backed up to motor & he mounted it up, mounted water/fuel separator, went thru few things, crank it up few times, signed some papers, & was out in less than an hour. Once I finally finish I will post some before & after pics of it.
what horse power motor?
the small tohatsu’s are GREAT motors
Chris, what’s the $$ range on a 2072?
I went with a 25hp, boat only weights around 500-550 with the floor and all I have added. It works fine for what I need it for. I typ only have to go 1000 feet or so from the landing or sometimes I run down river a 1/2 mile to a mile at teh most. When I come to the coast I go to Murrells Inlet or Pawleys island & neither are big places that you can run long distances at high speeds anyway.
quote:
Originally posted by chris Vwhat horse power motor?
the small tohatsu’s are GREAT motorswww.teamcharlestonmarine.com
www.joinrfa.org
I wouldn’t trade my 30hp for anything.
“There is something about hunting those fish that will stick with me and my future fishing plans like a bad case of striper herpes”
-SCOF
All johns are flat bottom, even the mod-v’s. Grizzlies are .100 all welded. They are tough as nails. I beat on one for 4 years with a mudbuddy on it. I’ve had duracrafts, they are .080. It was nice, but lots of flex. I have buddies with war eagles they are .080 as well, nice but flexy. Cousin has a g3 that’s really nice. One buddy has an alweld that is a tank. Customs are usually as much or cheaper and built better and you get exactly what you want.
“All johns are flat bottom, even the mod-v’s”
the alweld modified V has 3degrees deadrise at the transom
they are definately not “flat”
the boats with floors are elded in and fitted at teh sides, with nowhere for junk to get trapped.
the seaark floors are screwed in and have large gaps around the ribs where junk (shrimp) get trapped and stink