Ideas for 1648 Lowe Big Jon

[JustinNC]

Anybody have any ideas for a larger deck? I've seen several decking options here and there, but very few for the Big Jon.

I have a 1988 50hp mariner with a tiller conversion on it. I think I am going to put a console back in it and go back to wheel steering. I thought Id like the open floor plan (no front bench), but there is no storeage and everything just seems strewn about. So, any Big Jon mods on here? I searched a while lastnight, but didnt have much luck with that model. The search terms were very generic for this board lol.

 

[JustinNC]

Also just wanted to thank the site for all the wealth of information posted here! I've wore the search function slap out I think.

 

[MrSimon]

I had a 16' Lowe Big Jon. Great boat!

I had very little time prior to my first fishing trip with the boat, so I slapped in a very simple front deck that ran between the middle bench seat and the little mini-deck up front. I put a swivel chair right in the middle. I used some 2x4s I had in the garage and a sheet of plywood. It took about three hours to put the deck in.

I had planned to rip it out and re-do it after the trip, but the I liked it so much I just left it in. Sometimes simple is best.

 

[JustinNC]

I like that. I wouldnt mind the lower deck if there was a way to incorporate all the lower space for storage, and I got a different trolling motor than what I have now. Right now it has a bow mount tiller handle trolling motor on it. A pain with no real deck space!

I am missing the front bench. I also want to see if I can find a spare console from another boat to put in mine. Im tired of tiller handle!