I am looking to get a Jon boat for some fishing on a small lake and can't say I have spent too much time in a Jon boat. Would I notice a big difference in stability of the flat bottom vs v hull on a small lake? Shallow water won't be too much of an issue.

Depends on the width. Stability should be about the same either way, though the vhulls have better secondary stability and jonboats have better initial stability, the difference is slight.

It's more of a matter in comfort moving at speed in chop.

probably not. what i will say is a V Hull would be better suited if you ever decide to take it to a bigger lake and its windy. nothing like trying to get out of a storm without some sort of v on your boat.

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nothing like trying to get out of a storm without some sort of v on your boat.

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SLAP. SLAP. SLAP. SLAP.

Not enjoyable.

Reading this I picture the type of small lake fishing I've done with a Jon boat, which has been strictly trolling motor on the back. If you are going to run an outboard, it'd be best not to get a flat bottom because the chop can get brutal trying to cross open water with a flat bottom

I do plan to have a small outboard on the back, less than 10hp. I'll probably target v hulls and only go with flat if the right deal presents itself.

I'm just the opposite. I would go with a flat bottom.

Stability is probably a wash although I think a flat bottom has less movement if you are easing around. There isn't much of a "V" in a small aluminum boat and with a 10hp motor it's going to be about the same amount of rough.

If you are going to put a trolling motor on the front or someone is going to fish there....flat bottom.

If you are ever going to haul it in the back of a truck....flat bottom.

How big of a lake are we talking and what's your budget?

You can find tons of inexpensive flat-bottoms on CraigsList. For some reason the v-hulls seem less common.

You can get a bare-bones semi-v jon that's 16' long for $2700 plus the trailer & motor. A 25hp would be plenty for this rig.

It's for White Rock Lake in Dallas, about 1000 acres, 2.5 miles long. I'd like to keep things under $1k so craigslist is where I am looking and there are plenty of options.

The basic idea:
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/boa/3662769302.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/boa/3658668569.html

And this blue thing intrigues me due to the flat deck and width.
http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/boa/3575433090.html

What's the make on that last one? Looks like an oversized Bass Buster.

How about throwing in another grand and you can have my Bass boat with 115 Evinrude, 16 footer, two live wells, 80 pound trolling motor. Wont win any beauty pageants, but dependable.

Be careful of the real small V hulls in 12ft and under and 42" and under widths. Damn things can be extremly tippy in the small sizes. The flat bottoms will handle a load better and the v will be smoother and better in rough water. I would stick with flat bottom for anything under 14ft for stability though.

After many, many years of running a 12' flat bottom up and down the Lampasas with my grandfather, and a 10' flat bottom up the Leon with my other grandfather (into Mother Neff Park), my dad bought a 14' v-bottom a few years ago that we have been running on the Leon below Belton dam, and it is the best river boat yet. Built like a brick sh*thouse and cuts through nicely, especially with the low flows since we are slowly drying up in desert-age-2013.

[This message has been edited by adpotts (edited 3/12/2013 1:52a).]