Jon Boats: The Ultimate Off-Road Vehicles
Okay, I’ve got to admit that I think a 16-foot bare-bones jonboat with a pump on it is one of the coolest boats on the planet. Don’t get me wrong, I love my current guide boat—a Pavati Destroyer tiller sled. That boat has faithfully served me season after season in comfort, fishability and style. It runs shallower than any full-sized sled I have ever operated…but there are just some places even it won’t go.
That’s where the good ol’ jonboat comes into play. A 16-foot flat-bottom jon weighs next to nothing, scoots along with minimal power and will just about run on a wet lawn.
Over eight seasons of guiding in the backcountry of Southwest Alaska, I’ve driven uncountable miles in these things and it’s absolutely mind-blowing where a little jet jon can take you. Up tiny, tiny creeks (don’t forget coming back down is harder!), over logjams and beaver dams and through impossible shallows and nearly dry gravel bars. A jon can get you there…
And by the way, getting there is often more fun than the actual destination!
Made from super light-gauge aluminum, jon boats are extremely light…yet surprisingly durable. You can abuse these poor things (believe me, I have!) and they can take a pounding. In fact, I still have a small, old Sears Gamefisher johnboat that I bought in my 20’s that I have absolutely bludgeoned over the years. There’s no way the thing should still float but it does.
The light hull weight of a small jon is one of the things I really like about them. When you are blazing up a creek that’s a couple inches deep, there’s something very comforting in the knowledge that…should you tattoo a sand bar or dry patch of gravel…you will be able to drag the boat back into deeper water. That’s obviously not a luxury afforded to full-size sleds.
Another really sweet advantage to running a light boat is you can get away with a lot less horsepower. They typical 16-foot jonboat will take up to about a 40-hp motor (check with the individual manufacturer for specs). Obviously, a smaller motor means less fuel burn. Trust me, a jerry jug or two of gas is so much nicer on the pocketbook than the big 150- to 250-horse beasts hanging off the back of most big sleds.
There are plenty of companies out there that make these little back-country exploration vessels: Lund, Lowe, G3, Sea Ark and Tracker are a few just off the top of my head. Depending on the manufacturer, 16-foot jons come in widths from 48 to 52 inches. I prefer the slightly wider models just for stability and planeability’s sake. Smoker Craft makes a 16-footer with a 60-inch bottom and it is a very nice boat, with floors, side trays and an internal fuel tank, but it’s also more expensive than the basic, no-frills jon boat.