What is the best way to Paint and clean up a Jon Boat

[Gunpilot]

Hello,

Thanks to all who responded about a Jon boat vs. a plastic boat.  I got a good deal on a 14ft Jon boat with a trailer.  Now the task at hand is painting it and cleaning it up.  I have wondered about Rhino lining the inside and painting the outside but not sure about how much weight it will add to the boat.  Does anyone know the correct way to prep an aluminum boatfor painting?  Sand it down, paint over the paint on it or sand or bead blast it?  Just looking for bit of advice on the right thing to do with the boat and keep it light enough in-case I have to drag it to the water.  Another thing, what pound thrust trolling motor do you recommend getting.  I think that 36 lbs thrust is the minimum and where I fish doesn't allow gas motors.  I have thought about 50 to 74lb thrust but then comes along the amount of strain it will take on a battery. Does it matter what brand?  Who offers the best affordable trolling motor?  Please let me know.

John

[Mike Cork]

Gunpilot , I have never thought about Rhino Lining and it does sound like it might work but I have no idea how much weight it will add, but you have a trailer and unless you will still have to drag it to the water the weigh won't be an issue. With the Jon Boats I have owned we used to find some old indoor/outdoor carpet and cut it to fit. This helped deaden the noise from dropping things in an aluminum boat. Cut to fit around the stiffeners and you should have about 4 pieces that remove easily.

Wow a 74 pound trolling motor used to move my 20ft fiberglass bass boat around pretty good you could water ski with an aluminum boat  If power and speed is what you are looking for go with the biggest you can get and still run on 12 volts. That 74 will need two batteries. I would think the 36 would be great and a 50's model would be more than you ever needed. I would have to recommend the Motor Guide trolling motor it is cheaper than the Minkota. Both are excellent motors but the Motor Guide is over all less bulky and usually are a few bucks cheaper.

I used to just spray paint my Joh boat and never really did any prep work other than a good cleaning with soap and water. Today's spray paints are pretty good plus if you do scratch it then it is easy to touch up.

I am sure the other guys will stop in and give you some ideas as well.

Congrats on the new boat    Keep us posted on how it goes. And we would love some fishing reports

[Gunpilot]

Mike,

Thanks for the quick response.  The deal with having to drag it into the water is there are some lakes that I go to would require a 4X4 to back it down and don't have one of those yet.  And if I get  the 74 pounded I will take pictures of someone skiing behind it.     That would be a sight wouldn't it.  Once I get it fixed up I will post a few pictures of it.

John

[MotherNature]

Jesse if you are out there looking in you and Gunpilot should get together! Sounds like the two of you are in the same boat no pun intended....

Gunpilot Congratulations on the new boat. You will have a great time fixing it up and taking it out on the water!!!

[Mike Cork]

Maybe some before and after   would be cool

I know what you mean about the 4x4, I would definitely go with a 12 volt trolling motor for sure so that you didn't have to lug around two batteries. Besides you will be amazed at how easy a trolling motor will keep you moving in an aluminum boat. I used to be able to fish all weekend before having to charge the battery. So if you went the a bigger motor it would work less and last longer, at least that is the theory  I did one time, borrow the battery out of my truck because I forgot to recharge the battery, I don't recommend that though I couldn't concentrate on fishing because I was worried I would run the battery down and not be able to start my truck

[Steve_W]

I work in a bodyshop as a painter,let me do some checking tomorrow and ill get back with some product info tomorrow night. If you use the right stuff it will last a long time, the wrong paint and you'll be doing it again next year.
I also own a old johnboat and I have to do the same thing this year, I wanted a new boat this year but I had to get a new truck and my wife said no new boat now

[Mike Cork]

Thanks Tim we will be looking forward to an expert opinion 

Got to have the truck to pull the boat, hang in there she will come around

[Gunpilot]

Cool that will work.  I am in the Army and only have time to fish on the weekends and lucky me gets to go to the field on Sunday and then am back out on Thursday night but am hoping to go fishing on Sat. or Sun next weekend.  Went last weekend and caught about 4 bass was a great day.  Can't wait to hear about the painting?  Also does anyone know if someone has a trolling motor for sale?
Or is new a better way to go!

John

[Mike Cork]

A used trolling motor can be very good. A lot of times the fiberglass rigs only come with an adaquate trolling motor and folks up grade for no other reason but to get more power. Meaning their motor is still good they just want more. I am sure if anyone knows of one they will let you know.

Where are you from? I am in the A.F. at Barksdale.

I would like to add any bodies of water you fish to your states fishing reports page. Just PM me with the names and I can have it up shortly. That way you can post fishing reports and general lake info for the rest of us, if you would like?

[Gunpilot]

I am in the Army at Fort Hood.  I mostly fish on post in all of the small ponds and little lakes.  If you know of anybody who knows where a good deal on a trolling motor is let me know.

John

[bass1cpr]

GunPilot I've got two jonboats both 14 foot. One is a Lowes big river jon wide bottom on a trailer. I have a 41 pound thrust motorguide and a 28 pound Minkota. The 41 I use on bigger lakes where I might need to battle the wind. On calm days it can be a little more than I need especially If I want to really fish slow. The 28 pound will push this boat around really well also and I use this one on the wide jon when I'm using it here at the house with two of us in the boat. Shaft length is something you need to consider. If your puttting the motor on the transom and sitting operating it the shorter shaft 28" or 30" is more comfortable to use. IF you build a bracket on the front then you'll atleast a 36" to 41" shaft and a tilt type handle. IF you plan to stand and fish in the boat I would recomend having a jon with at least a 40" wide bottom for stability. MY wide jon is 48"wide at the bottom. I can handle pulling this boat in and out of the water by myself pretty easily depending on the bank and how much of a drop there is to the water. As far as flooring and sound dampening I took the rubber bed mat out of my old chevy S10 and cut it to fit between the ribs with a snug fit. Then I  made some small 2" wide angle brackets and drilled and screwed these to the cross ribs holding down the mats on the front edges only. This gives you a sure footing in wet conditions and lets water drain underneath them. Also when I want to clean it out I just lift the rear edge and lift them out. The Rhino lining will help dampen the sound and increase your footing but I believe it use to cost about $100 dollars for enough to do a jon boat. The bed mat was about $35. Just some Ideas hope this helps ya.

[Mike Cork]

Will do Gunpilot...

[Gunpilot]

bass1cpr ,

Thanks for all of the details I will have to look into the rubber matting I never thought of that.  I saw a website about building up a jon boat to a BASS KILLING RIG but I have to be practical and efficient.  Did you caulk and seal when you added the brackets.

John

[bass1cpr]

IF you were sitting in the boat looking forward the side of the rib facing you is where you drill the holes. They don't go thru the bottom only the rib so there's no need to caulk. Do you understand where I'm telling you to drill the holes?

[Gunpilot]

it is drilled into the bottom of the benchseats and none on the sides.  Right

[bass1cpr]

Close. The ribs are about 1 to 1 1/2 inche tall and two inces wide. They start on the sides and go across the bottom and back up the sides. Where they go across the floor is where I'm talking about. Let me see if I can make a drawing to simulate this for demonstration.

            > [__] IF this were the rib going across the floor you'd drill where the arrow is pointing. Does this make sense.

[Gunpilot]

I think so you mean at an angle into the rib that is off of the bottom sheet in the boat

[bass1cpr]

 Where the ribs go across the floor is where you'd drill the holes. On the vertical sides of the ribs.

[bass1cpr]

I wish my computer had an Etch-A Scetch built into it LOL

[Gunpilot]

Thanks I will look into that what is the best way to patch a hole.  I heard JB WELD works good.

[bass1cpr]

Yep it will work if you don't have access to a welder.

[DAWG]

I think the Rhino lining would be rather heavy. I have a friend that converts jon boats all the time. Any questions you have he would most likely be glad to answer for you, but he is not on this board. Iwill talk to him today for you. feel free to PM me for a possible phone # for him.

[Steve_W]

Ok i  go this link from my paint supplier
http://www.armorpoxy.com/html/marinebottom.htm
I don't recommend sanding aluminum (you don't want to make it thinner)
Just use a Scotch Britte pad(that green thing your wife uses to do dishes with)and comet cleanser, rinse well with water. If you don't have a spraygun just get a foam brush and paint away.


sorry about adding a link, that's the easiest way to get the paint and info.

If anyone has any questions on glass boat repairs just let me know I fix them at work,everything from holes to scratches

[Mike Cork]

TimTool, adding a relevant link the way you did is just fine. Thanks for digging the info up for us. 

I will be hitting you up on the glass boat issue I have a ton of scratches that I have been working on. I started with a rubbing compound then to a polishing compound and topped it off with a wax. Came out pretty good but it was a brutal job

[Steve_W]

That paint is for above the water line. for below the water line I use a new clear that once it gets hard it actually improves when wet, if you PM me ill link you up for that(don't want to give all my secrets away  lol)
As for the light scratches on glass start by sanding with 1000 grit wet sand paper it will speed things up .Don't worry about going through the gel coat it would take hours of sanding to do that. I usually start with 360 grit myself and step it up, but i know how much gelcoat is on them and can fix it if i go through  lol
then go to the compound then a good wax(better than polish as most of them wash off after a week or so) and get a cheep buffer with a woolpad