Jonsboat

Hi Chuck,

Both Jonsboats have been completed and in the water.

Last weekend, I was able to run mine for the first time on opening day of the inland fishing season. Attached are some photos of "Angelica" - my boat.

I do not have any good photos of my partners boat yet. His was completed earlier this year but the only photo I have of it is sitting on its trailer on a snow covered driveway. His boat is different from my own. He wanted a very large casting deck in the bow and followed the more basic seating in the original plan. We did build similar wales too but also expanded the width of the rear seat so he can comfortably stand and pole the boat if desired.

I hope you enjoy the photos of Angelica. I am very happy with the way it performs and am satisfied with the modifications I chose to build in.

The modifications to the original Jonsboat plan include some functional and decorative ones. The wales are solid mahogany and very strong. The seat heights and widths are higher and wider. Their seat tops are also solid mahogany, stained and varnished to match the wales. The front seat houses the battery and wiring harness with fuses. The top for it is easily removeable and is secured by spacer blocks and velcro. It also has a 7" x 7" pin socket for the swivel seat. The rear seat matches, but is permanent. There is storage under the seat accessible from the rear. Note also the portable stainless steel "spider chair" and swivel seat which can be used for additional seating.

Rod trays were installed as you can see. They are natural cedar. The battens connecting the seat tops with the rod trays are mahogany and add a decorative touch.

The boat is wired for navigation lights, power plugs for a trolling motor both fore and aft and a 12 volt power source aft. I mounted these under the aft starboard knee brace, accessible to the operator. The aft navigation light pole is stored in clips located under the aft lip of the seat across the seat brace.

The bottom is fiberglassed wrapped around the chine logs. A special coating of graphite and epoxy creates a very slippery and abrasion resistant surface over the entire bottom.

The 8HP motor pushes this boat really well and gets up on plane right away with two big guys aboard. I have no idea what its speed is but the boat clips along pretty fast in my opinion. Of course I had to also cut down the transom height in order to fit the regular short shaft motor.

It is a very quiet and stable boat. Another benefit was noted when beaching. The sweep of the bow and shallow draft makes it possible to just step off the boat on dry land, not a couple of feet out in the water.

This has been an enjoyable project and I am very pleased with the results.

Best,

Jim Hauer