Building a 15'6" jon boat - what should i be aware of?

Originally Posted by gonzo

I read many inquiries about becoming a boatbuilder or a designer. I started as a kid without any thought of making money. The fun, which after thirtyfive years hasn't diminished, was too much to care about anything else. Today, even though I make a living from it, working on boats is as much play as work. What's your story?

i want to know as much as possible about building a 15'6" jon boat for i am a beginner. i have read about construction of a boat and i formulated my own plans. what in particular should i be aware of.(especially cutting plywood)

[jprev]

What you should mainly be aware of is a wealth of books on plywood boatbuilding or books about boatbuilding in general.

Boatbuilding In Your Own Back Yard SS Rabl
Boatbuilding With Plywood Glen L Witt and Ken Hankinson
Devlin' Boat Building Sam Devlin

There's many more. These are some I have and have found useful.

Regards,

Joe

[Pedigree Cats]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

i want to know as much as possible about building a 15'6" jon boat for i am a beginner. i have read about construction of a boat and i formulated my own plans. what in particular should i be aware of.(especially cutting plywood)

When you get into it, I did some design mods you might be interested in. Short note: Cut a notch out of the bottom of 6" up and across the aft a transom bottom. Idea is to make the water rise sooner and by setting the engine bach 4 " or so, it can be raised to do two things of benifit. At least 6" to 8" shallower water to run in and by adding a surface piercing prop, about doubling your normal speed. Drag of the engine is reduced substancially, be carefull of water pichk up for engine, to high no water and a low water pick up must be added. Kind of fun running circles around people and suckering them into shallow water they can't use. I did this on the White river in Mountain View AR. (Just a thought, have fun)