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A jon boat (or johnboatMerriam Webster Dictionary
/ref>) is a
Jon boats with beefed-up aluminum construction, and powered by jet-drive outboards, are becoming more popular since they are capable of operating in extremely shallow water. They are thus frequently used in rocky rivers and areas where submerged obstructions, such as oyster bars and coral, might damage a boat with a deeper draught.
A jon boat (or johnboatMerriam Webster Dictionary/ref>) is a
flat-bottomed boat
A flat-bottomed boat is a boat with a shallow draft, two-chined hull, which allows it to be used in shallow bodies of water, such as rivers, because it is less likely to ground.
The flat hull also makes the boat more stable in calm water, whic ...
constructed of aluminum
Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. It has ...
, fiberglass
Fiberglass (American English) or fibreglass (Commonwealth English) is a common type of fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber. The fibers may be randomly arranged, flattened into a sheet called a chopped strand mat, or woven into glass cloth ...
, wood
Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulose fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin th ...
, or polyethelene
Polyethylene or polythene (abbreviated PE; IUPAC name polyethene or poly(methylene)) is the most commonly produced plastic. It is a polymer, primarily used for packaging (plastic bags, plastic films, geomembranes and containers including bott ...
with one, two, or three seats, usually bench type. They are suitable for fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...
, hunting and cruising. The nearly flat hull of a jon boat tends to ride ''over'' the waves rather than cut ''through'' them as a V-hull might; this shallow draft – only a few inches – enables the jon boat to operate in very shallow water, but limits its use to calm waters. Jon boats typically have a transom
Transom may refer to:
* Transom (architecture), a bar of wood or stone across the top of a door or window, or the window above such a bar
* Transom (nautical), that part of the stern of a vessel where the two sides of its hull meet
* Operation Tran ...
onto which an outboard motor
An outboard motor is a propulsion system for boats, consisting of a self-contained unit that includes engine, gearbox and propeller or jet drive, designed to be affixed to the outside of the transom. They are the most common motorised method ...
can be mounted. They are simple and easy to maintain, and inexpensive, though with many options to upgrade. Typical options may include live wells/bait wells, side or center consoles, factory installed decks and floors, electrical wiring, accessory pads/mountings, and casting and poling platforms.
Jon boats are available commercially between long and wide, though custom sizes may be found. The simple design includes an open hull, without a bilge
The bilge of a ship or boat is the part of the hull that would rest on the ground if the vessel were unsupported by water. The "turn of the bilge" is the transition from the bottom of a hull to the sides of a hull.
Internally, the bilges (us ...
, leaving the ribs exposed. Many users choose to cover the ribs, producing a flat, level surface.
The Wasserwacht
The Wasserwacht (; ''water watch'' or ''water guard'') is a German lifeguard service. It is one of the five voluntary societies of the German Red Cross. The Wasserwacht is a non-profit organization made up of on volunteers.
Tasks
The main tas ...
branch of the German Red Cross
The German Red Cross (german: Deutsches Rotes Kreuz ; DRK) is the national Red Cross Society in Germany.
With 4 million members, it is the third largest Red Cross society in the world. The German Red Cross offers a wide range of services within ...
has chosen jon boats for their civil protection units for use during floods.
History
In the late 19th century flat-bottom boats became popular inThe Ozarks
The Ozarks, also known as the Ozark Mountains, Ozark Highlands or Ozark Plateau, is a physiographic region in the U.S. states of Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and the extreme southeastern corner of Kansas. The Ozarks cover a significant portio ...
, being ideal for traversing the shallow waters in the Missouri Valley.
These vessels were found useful for float fishing, duck hunting and carrying timber. Visiting tourists and travellers enjoyed the idea of flat-bottomed boats, as they could fish standing up and did not have to fear tipping over.
Jet-drive propulsion
Jon boats with beefed-up aluminum construction, and powered by jet-drive outboards, are becoming more popular since they are capable of operating in extremely shallow water. They are thus frequently used in rocky rivers and areas where submerged obstructions, such as oyster bars and coral, might damage a boat with a deeper draught.
References