Need some help, I am, hmmm how to say this.. Broke (relatively) and I want to continue fishing on a regular basis. I have a Lowe 1648 and Pops has his Skeeter.. Problem is the gas is getting so high that even using the Jon is getting too freaggin' expensive. (Jon too tore up to sell, Dad's boat not worth anything in this Oconomy)

I want to continue on as I have.. Fishing every da_n weekend.. This has gone on long enough that I am slowly realizing that $3.00 gas is a thing of the past (made worse by no drilling in the gulf.. Had to throw that in, sorry)

Sooo, here is what I am kicking around..
I was considering purchasing a small.. I mean small.. 14 or so foot Basic Basic Jon with a tiny trailer.. The really small ones with the little banana tires.. And putting a class 1? Or 2? Hitch on my commuter, a 2001 Chevy Cavalier.. It gets 30 mpg empty, a 4 speed auto, I would only tow in 3rd to save the tranny..

I am not worried about the car, it can handle it, that is not my question. What I am getting at is have any of you done anything similar, and do you have any regrets? I have a 2000 junk Ram that gets 11-12 empty so suggesting a 12-14 foot Bass Pro Topper and throwing it in the bed is a moot point.. And I am not buying a more fuel efficient truck.. Like I said I am not (too well) well off.

Momma is telling me to get a replacement for the Jon since she has been scabbed back together about 5 times.. So I need to get my mind right on what to do.. I am a boat fisherman.. Too lazy for bank fishing.. Any input would be much appreciated. Thanks

Oh yeah, I already have a short shaft 10 horse tiller, so that is covered..

Take your pick: http://www.outcastboats.com/outcast/products/default.aspx?series=3 :cool:

I'd go with a class I on the Cavalier. I used to have a Dodge Aries with a 2.2L 4 banger and towed a utility trailer loaded with a lot more than a 14' jon boat and trailer would weigh. I don't think you'd need to stay in 3rd gear. I could be wrong, but I think you could put it in D and let the tranny take care of downshifting when necessary. If you do find it downshifting a lot then use 3rd. Already having the outboard will save quite a bit since the motor is the most expensive part. I think you've got a good plan in mind. Now comes coming up with the scratch to execute it.

Oh, I should have mentioned, I am always fishing with a buddy, 100% of the time. Sooo I must have enough room for Pops or Little Bro.

I have the money, well for now.. I am just so hesitant to buy one because I have never had a truly smallish jon.. The Skeeter was our first boat.. And then I got the jon after Pops discovered Pyramid.. Pyramid ruined us for using the big (Useless) bass boat and we never would have bought the thing if we had known better. My little junker jon taught me a lesson about not realyy knowing what you need until you have experimented around a bit, and in boats just what you NEED is ALL you need. My buddy has a 14 foot by 36" and admittedly it is a bit tipsy, but I remember being completely dis-satisfied with my Lowe when I first fished it (in relation to the glass boat).

Even outboards.. I have a 82 35hp and the 62 10hp always seems to fit the bill, even @ Baldwin... The 35 sale may help pay for part of the new rig..

I can't seem to find listed prices.. These fellas always want you to call and chat it up with them, WT?... I visited my brother down by Dallas and they had many sporting goods stores that had excellent deals on little packages..(Gander's had a great deal on a Crestliner 14 ft combo) Can't seem to find any info on any around here, any inpu(?

So I am welcoming any input.

My first boat was a 14' jon. I don't remember how wide it was, but it was wider than 36". I got a lot of use out of it. I was using oars though instead of an outboard. It doesn't take a big car to pull them, even one made of heavier aluminum like the one I had.

I pulled a 16' jon with a 25 hp Merc for years with a 75 Pinto wagon...no issues.

Worst part about going that small is being limited on what I can do @ Baldwin.. Oh who am I kidding, I will still go!

No seriously, I would love to get a Lowe 14 mod-v but that isn't really a smallish jon, it is approaching a semi-meaty, may need a small pick up to haul it size boat, I better stick with an old school flat bottom.. Or at least that is my thinking.. I guess I could look at the hull weight of the mod-? Vs the flats, the semi v makes a big difference on Baldwin.

Whosur, that is still half-ass in the back of my mind.. My current trailer is excellent, adjustable for length and it is full square tube stock.. Standard Lowe Big Jon trailer.. Problem is the trailer really is slighly beefier than it needs to be.. I don't want to poss tax a tranny to save on going to a smaller more appropriate trailer (for the car). I love, love my current hull, 1648 Lowe.. All the damage and wear and tear is 100% my fault (and the state of illinoid dept of transport LOL). I have considered purchasing the same replacement hull and this time not building any decks or added weight to it.. I will have to look at the hull weight of 1648 vs Lowe 1448, vs Lowe or other 1436 or similar flattie..

Since you're determined to fish Baldwin you might want to like at deeper hulled boats instead of jon boats. You don't see as many round bottom. V, or semi-V aluminum boats in this area, but they would be safer on Baldwin because of having more freeboard.

If you will be doing anything besides puddle jump you will not be happy with anything less than 1448, mod V. There were many times I wished I had one instead of the big jon. Jons WILL beat you to death on windy days.

One Word................. Craigslist. Just Last Week I Saw A Small Flat Bottom John On The Free Page! Lots Of Stuff On There For Those That Just Want A Cheap Boat.

I agree.. One that I am considering is the Lowe "Angler" series.. They are affordable, well built from what I have seem @ Cabelas in St. Louis county... I think I need to physically take my 35 and or my little 10 horse 1962 gem and verify that they are long enough shafts for that rig.. The short shafts are nifty and compact until you try to set them on a non-short transom hull.. I would love to fing one used in good condition but you just don't see them around here. The first time I had my Lowe on Baldwin with the 35 I could not believe how badly that lake beat the poor boat up.. It handles it though. Since that gentelman drowned recently I have less interest in running the 35 and have been running the 10, just a little safer than jumping the caps. If I settle in on a tru old school flat bottom it will limit me to milder summer days for the hot pond. :(

I am leaning towards more towards new, kind of tired of taking on other people's problems.. Junk you know.. I will check Craigslist..

Just crunching on the calculator, the Cavalier is capable and regularly gets 30 mpg mostly highway... Even if it drop the mileage down to 20 mpg, that is still doubling my current mpg towng with my hunk of dodge with my current rig. That is worth consideration.. That's a lot more fishing! Looks like the Cav has a GVWR of 880 lb, and a towing capacity of 1000 lbs, now to plan a rig that somewhat stays within those requirements. I imagine that baot positioning fore/aft on the trailer is critical for proper/ not too much or too little tongue weight. Wonder how that little front wheel rig will do on some of Pyramid's gravel ramps?

Those ramps are going to be your biggest challenge. As far as tongue weight, unless you"re a big weight lifter, if you can lift the tongue you should be all right.

I had a 91 ram.. When we first bought the Skeeter we assumed it was positioned properly on the trailer.. Wrong.. We were towing north to Mark Twain lake in light rain. We were driving up a very slight incline at about 65 mph in a staight line, just talking fishing, driving straight.. All the sudden the ass end of the truck kicked sideways and the tires were spinning.. May have been an oily spot in the pavement, who knows.. We moved the front winch assembly forward a bit (moved boat forward) and just night and day difference.. Too much tongue weight is most definately better than too little (boat pulling back tires off ground on dips etc)... That balance was more what I was referring to.. I can't/won't be beefing up the soft sedan rear suspension.. I am leaning towards a Lowe 1448 modv or another 1648 modv, and no decks built in or anything(weight). Getting a little closer... The Angler series are all 20" transom boats.

Oh.. I see what you are saying.. If too heavy to lift too heavy for tiny car.. Agreed.. Probably not a bad mesuring stick..

You are right that you don't want the weight too far to the rear either.

Getting a little closer. Took time today to finally call around today for some pricing. Was suprised, the little Lowe's were a bit higher than I had expected.

On a whim I called Trout and Sons in St.James Missouri. They specialize in shallow water jet boats. I had Joe Trout on the line, described what I needed and was impressed, they will build me a custom Blazer 80 guage fully welded rig- with many more ribs in it than a Lowe for considerably cheaper than any of the Lowe dealers. He really was impressive to talk to, now to decide on 14 vs 16, and new trailer or re-use my Lowe trailer. A brand new galv Blazer with 14"radials is $1090, not too shabby. I can configure the hull any way I want, typical full across seating, or split to walk right up the middle..

Sounds like I need to estimate what I may be able to get for my 94 Lowe 1648 if I sold it with the trailer. I have no garage now in my "Recession House" :) and had not considered how old it gets pulling up to the house and seeing my beater rig.. Wonder how hard it is to re-rig the Lowe trailer for the Blazer flat-bottom? Probably easier to just get the new trailer, my old trailer looks kind of rough..

Flat bottom on Baldwin is going to be a bit rough, but I don't think they make mod-v hulls @ Blazer. Still trying to stay light for the fuel prices/towing.

Lots of options on setting up your small jon on a budget...

http://www.tinboats.net/forum/

Okay, somebody said Craigslist.. I have been watching it.. And it is starting to pay off. You can't find exactly what you want, but you can get darned close and for a bunch cheaper..
I am looking at a 14 foot Bass Tracker camo and galv trailer.. All 2005 for asking price $2000.. That will pull really well behind the 4-pot Cavalier.. Sounds like an older gent, usually that bodes well for being well taken care of and barely used.. Cross my fingers!

2005 Grizzly in the drive, Woo Hoo! I love it! Have not fished it yet.. Have quite a bit of head scratching and rigging to do before fall gets here. Been working too much anyway to get away. Boat is pristine, no scratches, no dings/dents, looks like he never even beached it, underside is perfect. Now to get a hitch for the Cavalier. I will also have to build a cooler livewell, trying to research wich method works best. Can't wait to get the hitch on and give her a tug with the car, I am sure it will do fine, I can wheel it around by hand just fine. And then on to.. Baldwin, that will be the test.. Hope it will do good, won't know (till its too late) till November's fist hard winds.

What size Grizzly and what size outboard are you pushing it with? Your Cavalier should handle it. I pulled a utility trailer loaded heavier than that with an '85 Aries. My neighbor set up a livewell using a 12VDC aerator pump that connects to his outboard battery using aerator tubes along the edges of the cooler.

First trip out with new (used) boat and different tow vehicle. Cavalier towed surprisingly well.. Launched at a number of lakes with non-paved dirt ramps, did not even hint at spinning a tire. The boat was the surprise. 14 foot Grizzly with 35 hose Johnson short shaft.. !! My gosh !! It moves!! Wow, I was blown away, two adults, all our gear and one extra battery than belonged in there and the little rig GPS-ed on the Blackberry at 35 mph.. Really a good surprise, I can fish bigger water if I want, thinking next weekend we are going to run all over Carlyle and possibly below the dam a bit as well. The car got 21 mpg towing, not too shabby.. I do have to go really slow on the gravel @ Pyramid though, the car just doesn't like the wash boarded out gravel roads. Over-all just tickled with the little rig, I dropped my dad off @ Redhead to back the trailer down.. I made one last pass down the lake and back and came back with a big smile, "Toy Boat" was stuck in my head the rest of the day. (LOL) Fishing was not the emphasis.. But it was lacking luster.. (Pyramid) I am kind of wondering if I can get 40mph out of her with just me, and a different trim adjustment? Anyway, thanks for all the input on the rigging, I have no regrets, and when I got home I had no guilt for spending boku bucks on fuel!! Thanks