Recent content by saltybob

I bought a 1442 Alumacraft flat bottom jon boat. (1442 means its 14 feet long and 42 inches wide.) I plan to fish mostly in calm waters near home and not travel very far. I’d like to buy an outboard motor that is small, light and easy to handle, but powerful enough to plane the boat. I fish...

Thanks very much for all those great suggestions! I was playing around today with different positions for the battery & box. I found that I could secure it pretty well by running a heavy bungee cord with one end clipped under the drain below a rib and bringing the cord through a bracket...

I don't have a wooden deck, just the aluminum floor.

I guess the title of this message just about says it all. I need to keep a trolling motor battery with box from sliding and bouncing around on the floor just behind the transom of my 14 foot aluminum jon boat. I'd be very grateful for any suggestions. Bob

Electro Battery in Tampa, FL (727-323-48480 has the following Universal Batteries: 55 Amp 39 lbs. 9” long x 5 ½” wide x 9 1/8” high: $125 new; $45 reconditioned 35 Amp 23 lbs. 7 ¾” long x 5” wide X 7 1/8 high: $64.50 new; $35 reconditioned. These are deep cycle batteries sometimes used for...

I called I called Electro Battery in Tampa, Fl. and they recommend the following batteries manufactured by Universal Battery. They say these are deep cycle batteries while lawn mower batteries are cranking batteries. One is 55 Amp, weighs 39 lbs., is 9” long x 5 ½” wide x 9 1/8” high: $125 new...

I am planning to buy a 1436 Jon Boat and want permanent navigation lights instead of the ones with flashlight batteries that clamp onto the hull. The motor is manual start so I don’t need a battery except to provide electricity for the navigation lights and maybe a small trolling motor if I add...

At first I thought I’d look for a wider boat but now I think a 1436 would be just about right for me. I’d be interested in hearing from anyone who owns this boat as to how they like it, pros & cons, etc. Also, I could use some advice regarding what motor would be best. I’ll be fishing alone...

I'm planning to buy a 1448 Jon boat. I see that Alumacraft and G3 have boats in this size. The Alumacraft weighs 285 lbs. and the G3 233 lbs. I weigh about 185 and will be fishing alone. Both boats are rated for 25 maximum HP. I’m wondering how big a motor I should get. I don’t need a lot of...