Weight capacity in a Jon boat

DukAddict · 01-09-2006, 12:29 PM

Our new Jon boat says the weight capacity is is 525 lbs. Is it safe to go over that weight capacity if were going to use the boat on mainly SI? If so how much can you go over that? Thanks

Brett Neffendorf

MarshBum · 01-09-2006, 12:31 PM

I would advise against that.

Load it up to where you think you can be under the limit. Use it. Make a note of how it handles and how far the water comes up the gunwale. Adjust from there.

MarshBum

Snakebite · 01-09-2006, 12:50 PM

YIKES :shocked: I way overloaded my Smoker Alaskan on a lake to ferry gear to a campsite across, and I didn't like it!

I've seen guys in teeny little boats trolling the Yaquina with only inches of freeboard. Scary! Can you say PFD?

Swamp Puppy · 01-09-2006, 01:32 PM

Duk - i won't tell you anything other than to use your own common sense and good judgement. i have been in a similiar size john boat with 2 adults, 3 bags of dekes, guns, ammo, food, etc ,etc,

just be smart.

thehunt · 01-09-2006, 02:31 PM

Is that really a question you need to ask? Water is water right? In other words, no, you should not put your 3 draw buddies and 3oo decoys in the boat with you. Be smart, be safe. They are only ducks. With that said. Go get 'em, take turns rowing all the gear to the spot!!!

D3smartie · 01-09-2006, 02:44 PM

S.P.- Brett has no common sense j/k but seriously....

b.n.- Take it out this summer and get used to running it around. I have an 11 foot boat i would tackle just about anything in, and a 14 footer that i am scared to death to even put in the water.
Once you are comfortable with how the boat handles under various loads then you will be able to decide how much it can hold.

newportfisher · 01-09-2006, 03:10 PM

When your over here for the Summer Brett, we will try it out with some stuff to see how it handles before duck hunting....

P.S.

I cant swim

Chesapeake · 01-09-2006, 03:25 PM

Whatever you decide, keep in mind that duck water is cold and waders are hard to swim in.

Be safe.

ajfishfinder · 01-09-2006, 03:26 PM

2 guys 400lbs, 1 dog 100lbs, outboard and fuel 75lbs, lunch and cold drinks 25lbs, 200 dekes 50lbs, 3 guns 25lbs, 200 shells 25lbs---guess something ain't gonna make it.

Tough choice.

MarshBum · 01-09-2006, 03:30 PM

0

billc_sbio · 01-09-2006, 03:55 PM

Brett,

I'd certainly stay within the recommendations of what's on the printed plate, which BTW are required specifications mandated by the U.S. Coast Guard.

However...I'll tell you a little story...

Before I went to buy my Grumman Sportcanoe, which is a "canoe-like" boat w/square stern but wider than a standard canoe (often called a "freighter canoe" up in Canada), I had the catalog. I was AMAZED at its rated load capacity.

So I ordered the boat from a local dealer and it arrived. When I picked it up, I looked at the Mfg.'s Plate and it was only rated for about 2/3rds of what the catalog stated! :shocked:

I asked the dealer, "What's this?!!"

and he told me that this plate was under the (then) "new guidelines", recently required by the USCG.

Those new requirements were, because my boat was set up to accomodate a motor (as well as paddles and/or oars, or a sail), the model was now being considered a "boat" instead of a "canoe".

He went on to tell me that a boat was required to be rated at how much weight was loaded into it and it would still have 12" of freeboard (the height from the waterline to the gunwale).

IF it were still being rated as a "canoe", as it had been under previous regulations, it would be rated at how much weight it would carry and still have 6" of freeboard.

AND, if it were up in Canada (where they really USE these things the most) it would be rated with 4" of freeboard!

So the difference in the various rating systems, were something like this...the same vessel, rated as a boat it had a max capacity of something like 475#, as a Canoe ~795# and up in Canada >1,000#!

Now, all of those capacities are considered "safe" by the various agencies that regulate that plate's data. Had my boat been built a year earlier, the plate would have that higher number on it.

So boating really has to do a lot with the wind/water and weather conditions that you take a boat out in.

To make it from Parking Lot #2 on the westide, out to ML#2...you could probably throw in that extra case of shells you need to get your limit and get away with it. :grin:

Taking your little boat out on the Lower Columbia (or ANYWHERE on the Columbia in windy conditions) is probably NOT a good idea!

For insurance/liability purposes, you never want to be overloaded!

duckboy · 01-09-2006, 04:12 PM

You know Brett,

This is one of those things where you need to all get together before the launch and ask your buddies, "who among us wishes to go for a swim?"

The answer will be "none of us" unless you hangout with Chris (quackhead) and his dad (The notorius "Naked gun" of longview. (ps chris, that would be a great moniker for your dad"

With the above response from your buddies, you will have 2 options if you wish to get out and hunt.

1, go for it and gamble on a solitary swim, or perhaps a nice group swim.

Now, dont get me wrong, a group swim with a couple of nice hens, perhaps a cold sam adams, and the august moon, can be a great and solid good time, but with 2 or 3 other drakes, a big old lab slapping his wet black mass in your face as you struggle to shore... .that is just a plain old drag.

Sometimes i run into a glitch where I have more buddies than space, so what i do is get them to all chip in a few bucks and we fill a gas can with some extra gas.

Then i drive the deeks out with a guy, or 2 guys that know the deploy drill and we let them set up while i run back and get the guns/ammo boxes/ gear/ and usually the guy we left back at the launch to watch all of that stuff with the dog.

Works out well for us.

Better to be safe than to loose it all in just enough water to drown your spirits.

DukAddict · 01-09-2006, 04:31 PM

I talked with Rob and we planned on going out for an afternoon hunt this week sometime. Taking the boat out, loading it up with us and some gear and seeing how it goes. Then go back grab some more gear and see how that goes... and so on to see how safe it is with what amount of gear, Thanks for the info.

Brett Neffendorf

waterfowlin101 · 01-09-2006, 04:41 PM

Hey Brett, why are you worried about weight...(skinny f*****)

...you should be more concerned about legroom

.

Jon

Bill Monroe · 01-09-2006, 04:46 PM

You should also invest in two inflatable (camo, of course) SOSpenders...well worth it. I've got four. You should borrow a couple first time out.

BrotherWolf · 01-09-2006, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Hey Brett, why are you worried about weight...(skinny f*****)

...you should be more concerned about legroom

.

Jon

rotflmao...

thats what I was thinking also...LOL

Swamp Puppy · 01-09-2006, 05:28 PM

just remember your PFD...and decoy bags don't count. lol.

BrotherWolf · 01-09-2006, 05:47 PM

Quote:

just remember your PFD...and decoy bags don't count. lol.

What do ya mean they dont count???.... there coast gaurd aprroved arent they...hehe

Anytime anyone goes boating, there's a chance to fall overboard. A PFD (Personal Floatation Device) is designed to keep your head above water and to help you remain in a position which permits proper breathing. An average adult only needs artificial buoyancy of 7 TO 12 DOZEN DECOYS to remain afloat, and virtually all approved PFD's decoys provide this amount of floatation. Don't take chances-know the facts about your decoys.

When buying a PFD decoys, always check the labels to make sure it is approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. It must be well-designed, fit well, and it must be in good condition to meet Coast Guard requirements.

DukAddict · 01-09-2006, 07:00 PM

hahahahahaha Thanks Jon I apreciate that. I made sure before buying the boat that I had enough room to atleast sit in the boat! haha

Brett Neffendorf

Swamp Puppy · 01-10-2006, 07:53 AM

BrotherWolf - I've seen Bret shoot. The way he sluices birds, his dekes are too full of holes to be a proper floatation device!

:smile:

Hunt'nFish · 01-10-2006, 08:59 AM

Brett,
It is common to see small jon boats with floatation tubes fixed to their sides. It up's the weight carrying capacity and adds stability. Some BIG black PVC pipe with caps on both ends strapped and riveted to the side at the waterline would do the trick. I'd also stuff them full of styrofoam peanuts as well. Spray in foam is heavy and decreases floatation and eventually water logs.....styrofoam floats forever!
Otherwise get a bigger boat or tow the dekes in a kayak.
Hunt'nFish

DukAddict · 01-10-2006, 09:23 AM

Thanks for the advice guys, ill take it up with Rob and see what we can get done.

Ed- HAHAHAHA, Yeah so what if half of the birds I shot this year are from sluicing... still good to eat :smile:

Brett Neffendorf

Headhunter · 01-10-2006, 02:20 PM

Quote:

BrotherWolf - I've seen Bret shoot. The way he sluices birds, his dekes are too full of holes to be a proper floatation device!

:smile:

That was too funny Ed!

DukAddict · 01-10-2006, 02:21 PM

Jimbo you cant be against the sluce my man, we drilled 2 mallards off of an 80 yard sluce on seal so you know you love it :smile:

Brett Neffendorf

Headhunter · 01-10-2006, 02:26 PM

I don't remember and 80 yard sluce

but I do remember two ducks on the water and only one of us getting one :grin:

Quackhead · 01-10-2006, 06:54 PM

Hey Todd I will make sure I let my dad know :grin:

How did I get pulled into this post

just kidding

Definitely do not go over the limit if possible bret. I know the trooper checks boats out there. How he would check all your weights I don't know but make sure you have lifejackets cause he did check me for that yesterday.

SalmonSeason · 01-10-2006, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Hey Brett, why are you worried about weight...(skinny f*****) ...you should be more concerned about legroom

Now that's funny and I don't even know the guy

Here's a suggestion for any boater Length times Width divide by fifteen does give u the legal amount of people,,but other factors have to be considered...and Overloading is a Violation Be Safe and Have Fun

Headhunter · 01-10-2006, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Hey Brett, why are you worried about weight...(skinny f*****) ...you should be more concerned about legroom

Now that's funny and I don't even know the guy

Here's a suggestion for any boater Length times Width divide by fifteen does give u the legal amount of people,,but other factors have to be considered...and Overloading is a Violation Be Safe and Have Fun

Salmon...now you expect the guy to do math too....geeze you really don't know Brett

DukAddict · 01-10-2006, 10:08 PM

hahahahahaha Man I havent attended a math class that ive actually passed in like 3 years... wait does that even make sense? Put it this way... I hunt more then I attend my math class.

Brett Neffendorf

Headhunter · 01-10-2006, 10:14 PM

DA we just like to heckle you my friend.

I know you can count up to 28 with all the ducks you been smacken.

bullslayer · 01-11-2006, 06:13 PM

I have a 14ft. Lowe "bigjohn" and wouldn't consider hunting more than 2 out of it. I run 36 decoy's, 2 hunters, 15 HP Honda and all the accessories and that's the max I'd go. I bet I'm overloaded already, but the boat handles it fine. I never run the river in the dark anymore. No duck is worth dying for. Be careful and have fun. Kris.