Who makes the best aluminum jon boat?

[Olphart]

I'd go to Bryan Marine before I'd go back to U-Haul. Some of the equipment rental places might also do the hitch and light hookups. Light hookups aren't as easy as they used to be. It's been several years (about 8) since I had a hitch installed by U-Haul in CS and the jerk took ALL day to do it and wanted to charge extra for the time. Since you are looking at a jon boat, Sea Ark is a good brand, but stay away from any brand with a raised deck and a semi-V or a V bottom as your center of gravity is higher. They will make it extremely difficult to stand up and stay that way. Welded will be structurally stronger than riveted. Also, go with a 16' length minimum. Get as wide as you can find, no less than 4ft across the bottom. Talk to Steve at Bryan Marine about what you are looking for.

[Bonesplitter]

Boat right, period.

Amen to that! You find one better, let me know!

[TxDispatcher]

I was about to mention Bryan Marine as well. They have SeaArk boats there that you can look at while you're checking on hitch/plug install. SeaArk makes a dang fine boat, that will with care outlast you. JMO

P.S. My opinion and a dolla fiddy will get you a cheap corner store cup of coffee

[Tex1986]

I've had great luck with my war eagle...

[Eagle19]

Wow. So to install a receiver hitch and wire it for a trailer is gonna cost me a bundle? Didn't know it would be that cost prohibitive. Im not looking at a custom made boat fellas. Im talking about something I can take my wife and son out in that is safe and comfortable. Honestly Id love to have a custom 20 footer, but, who has an extra $20,000 dollars laying around?

I use to fish on gibbons with a 14ft jon boat and a mud motor. It was awesome because I could get pretty far up the creeks during the bass spawn and tear the bass up because the water was clear and nobody could fish it.

If you like to fish in the deep don't get anything less than a 16ft. Gibbons gets really windy and hard to fish because of it. If you have the money try for an 18ft. Unless you want to get into the Navasota River as well then I would stick with a 16ft.

Really for the money an alumacraft/bass trackers used are a pretty decent deal and great family/multipurpose boats. Gatortrax and custom boats are good if you like rivers or do a little bit of everything. But gatortrax aren't fun on Somerville or lake Bryan. It's a constant battle for me on what boat I want. I keep tellin my wife I need two. Haha

[Eagle19]

Also a hitch install and trailer light install only take about two hours to install yourself. Unless you're trying to wire a 7-8 pin connector, haven't installed one of those yet.

[texasnavy05]

gibbons creek is small enough to get around on a kayak.

[CityLimitSlayr]

Not meaning to hi-jack your thread... Just thought some of my questions could be beneficial to both of us.
Im dealing with a similar issue, however, I can narrow it down I little bit. I'm looking pretty closely at the new xpress 17' or 18' bayou hulls pushed by a 40hp Yamaha. The problem I'm having is that most aluminum boats are designed for either hunting or fishing. I want both. A boat with an open floor plan so I can shuttle 2-3 guys to a duck spot with 3-4 dozen decoys but also be able to set up for fishing with a big enough back bench/deck to give to person in the back a little room. I like the .125 hull, but want the keel ribs and not a slick bottom so the boat doesn't slide on a tight corner.

Any further advice or suggestions?

[Eagle19]

Not meaning to hi-jack your thread... Just thought some of my questions could be beneficial to both of us.
Im dealing with a similar issue, however, I can narrow it down I little bit. I'm looking pretty closely at the new xpress 17' or 18' bayou hulls pushed by a 40hp Yamaha. The problem I'm having is that most aluminum boats are designed for either hunting or fishing. I want both. A boat with an open floor plan so I can shuttle 2-3 guys to a duck spot with 3-4 dozen decoys but also be able to set up for fishing with a big enough back bench/deck to give to person in the back a little room. I like the .125 hull, but want the keel ribs and not a slick bottom so the boat doesn't slide on a tight corner.

Any further advice or suggestions?

You would like that setup. My buddy has one pretty similar to a war eagle(can't remember which brand) but he hunts and fishes and I've been with him several times. It's a side console 16ft with pods on the back, he has a Yamaha 50hp and put a jack plate on it. It's a semi v and has the ribs but he'll still slide on the river. He loves it though. He said the only other design he might get is a center console and 18ft for when he runs lines on the river. It's a pretty realistic setup for everything.

I'm looking at trying to get an older alumacraft and do some work to it to get the same setup he has.

[Hogmauler]

Taking all this in fellas. I have narrowed it down to a 16 foot minimum, and yes, I have been to Bryan Marine. They have some awesome Seaark boats there. The Ranger at Gibbons Creek has a Seaark as well and sent me there. Once again, I cant spend a pot of money at this point. So, I am looking for a used boat. My garage is 20' seven". Will a 16 foot boat on trailer fit in there?

[Mayhem]

As far as rigged out fishing Jon boats go boatrights are the best hands down IMO.

Pm sent.

[Huggybear]

As far as rigged out fishing Jon boats go boatrights are the best hands down IMO.

Pm sent.

Does your brother still want to get rid of his?

[Mayhem]

does your brother still want to get rid of his?

pm sent

[DOUBLE.A]

Not meaning to hi-jack your thread... Just thought some of my questions could be beneficial to both of us.
Im dealing with a similar issue, however, I can narrow it down I little bit. I'm looking pretty closely at the new xpress 17' or 18' bayou hulls pushed by a 40hp Yamaha. The problem I'm having is that most aluminum boats are designed for either hunting or fishing. I want both. A boat with an open floor plan so I can shuttle 2-3 guys to a duck spot with 3-4 dozen decoys but also be able to set up for fishing with a big enough back bench/deck to give to person in the back a little room. I like the .125 hull, but want the keel ribs and not a slick bottom so the boat doesn't slide on a tight corner.

Any further advice or suggestions?

That's a dang nice boat.

[BWDean]

Taking all this in fellas. I have narrowed it down to a 16 foot minimum, and yes, I have been to Bryan Marine. They have some awesome Seaark boats there. The Ranger at Gibbons Creek has a Seaark as well and sent me there. Once again, I cant spend a pot of money at this point. So, I am looking for a used boat. My garage is 20' seven". Will a 16 foot boat on trailer fit in there?

A lot of nicer boat trailers have a folding tongue, or at least you can unpin the tongue and remove it if you can block up the front of the trailer.