Looking for a used jon boat to take the 4 year old up some creeks and fish on some lakes.

Any advice on buying one of these used?

What should I check for and more importantly, how should I check them?

Transom, Engine, Leaks, Trailer?

I have been around boats a bit, but never an aluminum jon boat.

Specifically looking at 2 16 ft console boats in the 6k range right now a 2000 crestliner with a 50 hp mercury or a 2005 alumacraft with a 40 hp yamaha.

I don't have any recs on what to look for, but assuming the same condition, I'd go for the Alumacraft/Yamaha combo. I had a 14' Alumacraft w/ a 25 hp Yamaha on it for a few years in college, and it was fantastic.

harge57 said:

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Looking for a used jon boat to take the 4 year old up some creeks and fish on some lakes.

Any advice on buying one of these used?

What should I check for and more importantly, how should I check them?

Transom, Engine, Leaks, Trailer?

I have been around boats a bit, but never an aluminum jon boat.

Specifically looking at 2 16 ft console boats in the 6k range right now a 2000 crestliner with a 40 hp mercury or a 2005 alumacraft with a 50 hp yamaha.

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It's a jon boat, there's not a helluva lot to check.

Try to stick with a welded one and just go over it looking for cracks in the welds. Beyond that take a good look at the trailer like you would any used boat/trailer. Make sure the lights work, the wiring is solid, all the grounds are correct, and the hubs/axle are solid. Figure on replacing the hubs in the first year or at a minimum re-packing the bearings.

With the motor, if you don't have the ability yourself, take it to a mechanic to have the compression tested. And never buy without running it.

I almost jumped on one about 18 months ago. Just make sure the boat and trailer have a title. We were given a boat and trailer from a family member when I was a kid and we just wanted to take it to the ranch where we have a pond. My dad spent weeks trying to get licensing for the trailer to no avail. Finally he said screw it and just pulled it to the ranch one night and got lucky. It's been there ever since. If you already knew that then my bad. Just an easy way to get something and be stuck with something you can't ever use if you plan on taking it to public waters.

Compression test the motor. With that boat and price point, that's what you're buying.

You don't need welded. If you find one, great, but don't limit yourself to it. We're taking about a boat you should bE able to find for 300 bucks. I have a couple of riveted boats and they are over 40 years old, have had small branches fall on it while it sat under trees, it's been dented from underwater shallow snags, and still they don't leak a drop. I'm inclined to think that a riveted boat has to be quite abused to leak. Check craigslist and offer up. There are still a lot available after Harvey where people bought one and used it once.

Don't spend $6K on just a jon boat. I bought my boat for $6500 about 4 years ago and got way more than just a jon boat for that. Mines a all welded War Eagle that's a "finished out" boat with front and back decks, a floor, live well, depth finder, Jack plate, trolling motor, etc.. 2004 1756 Boat with a 01 Yamaha 70. Aluminum trailer as well.

Depending on if you're just looking for something to dump off the bank or actually use a boat ramp you should be able to find a better deal and newer boat for less than $6K. $6K+ and you start getting up into boats like mine.

Heres mine. Also, I fish and hunt some really skinny water out of it. I'm up in creeks all the time, you do need a boat ramp though.

The most important thing to look for, is a clear title for the vessel if you plan to use it with any type of motor (including trolling motor) on public waters. Without a clear title you cannot register it. If it has an outboard, you need a title for it as well.

Lots of good advice given to you on here...............but never purchase a used boat and motor/trailer without taking it out for a test drive. If the seller refuses that its best to walk away. On a test drive you can check for leaks and that the outboard cools and runs as it should, and you can check all other components IE. bilge pumps, aerator pumps, troll motor, electronics etc.
On the outboard.... with the boat out of the water spin the prop and see if you see wobble in the prop shaft. If so it probably has had an impact and the prop shaft is bent. Check the lower unit oil to see if it is clean and not milky in color which would indicate a prop shaft seal leak.
When on the test drive look to see that the engine has a good "pee tail" coming out showing that the water pump is working. Ask how many hours are on the engine if it does not have an hour meter.
Crawl under the boat and look for hidden hull damage. Also, to check the transom...tilt the engine up a bit and press your weight down on the engine and see if you see a flex in the transom or stringer system.
As stated have a good mechanic check compression and if it is oil injected make sure the injection system is working as it should. If it is a four stroke check the oil dip stick for clean oil and proper levels.
On the trailer look at the tires for dry rot and look behind the wheels to see if it is throwing grease out the back of the bearings.
Again...don't purchase a used rig without taking it to the water....it will answer all your questions doing that.

I have a basically brand new aluma-craft 21 ft tunnel hull with a 115 Yamaha SHO engine w about 20 hours on it .. paid $27,500 and added a jack plate, 7" Lorance, Minkota I-remote trolling motor and a Powerpole .. have about $32 k into it ... I don't use it because I have an El Pescador ... it's about 3 years old.

I'd take $24k

And yes it was an impulse buy one winter to run the shallows for reds .. only to figure out my El Pescador will do the same thing ... it was a dumb purchase

Just spend all your money on JB weld to try and keep most of it above the water

I got one for sale I just posted in classifieds. We can ride and fish all day long on "test ride" if you want.

captwiggy said:

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I got one for sale I just posted in classifieds. We can ride and fish all day long on "test ride" if you want.

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Dang, 5 posts since joining in 2012! Where you been hiding?

Nice looking boat. If those are current pictures it looks to be in damn fine condition.

Great looking boat. Out of my price range.

I have been around boats all of my life. Worked in the industry for several years. I currently own five boats.
I have heard all of the comments about owning a boat.
The best advice I have ever heard is as follows.

You are prepared to buy a boat when you can burn a handful of $100 bills and not cry.

You have any photos of it?

cledus6150 said:

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You have any photos of it?

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No I would have to get some... it's stored in a shed out at the ranch.. if I get some I'll post them on this thread..the boat is 2 hrs from where I live