How to Make a Jon Boat More Stable

There is no doubt a jon boat is one of the most versatile small craft available to sportsmen and watermen. The shallow draft design is perfect for hunting waterfowl, fishing the flats or accessing shallow areas to tend crab pots, dig clams or simply provide transportation to a favorite camping site.

But, for all the benefits the jon boat offers there is one common complaint among users- a general lack of stability. This means that jon boat owners often find themselves asking “How can I make my jon boat more stable?”

Why is Your Jon Boat Unstable?

Spend a few days on or near any popular waterway and you can be sure you will observe jon boats being used for a wide range of tasks including hunting, fishing, commercial applications and even simple transportation. However, you will also see a large number of boaters using other design for tasks the jon boat is probably better suited for.

Why would these boaters select a different, less suited and most likely more expensive design? In some cases, it is lack of knowledge, but in many cases, it is a fear that the jon boat is too unstable.

Unfortunately, although the theory that jon boats are too unstable may be a little bit over blown it is nonetheless based in fact. As perfect as these little work horses are their small size and often narrow beam width can make them difficult to properly manage when used incorrectly or by less experienced boaters. It is possible to make a jon boat more stable, but before you decide whether or not this is the right step you need to understand why your jon boat is unstable.

  • The hull design – the first reason a jon boat may be less stable in specific situations that other designs is the hull itself. Although there are some jon boats that include a semi-v or modified hull the majority are a simple flat bottom design. While this feature is a key to being able to reach shallow areas, bump over river rocks or reach backwater fishing spots it does not ride well in rougher water.
  • Beam width – although there are some larger jon boats with beam widths approaching 5-6’ the majority are much narrower, often nearer to 3’. Even compared to other small craft this is narrow and lends the boat to further instability when the users are moving about. This can be especially dangerous when tending crab pots, pulling the anchor or even battling a big fish.
  • Improper loading – the importance of proper loading can not be overstated. Any boat design will falter if not loaded properly, when you add the flat bottom and narrow hull design this problem can be magnified. It is important to understand how to load you boat and what its capacity limits are (we researched 33 different jon boats varying from 10 to 20 feet in length and wrote this article on jon boat weight capacity). Most boats will have a capacity plate mounted inside the passenger area which will list several important figures: total number of passengers, total weight of passengers, maximum horsepower and total combined weight (passengers & gear). Exceeding ANY of these figures can severally limit your boat’s stability regardless of how it is loaded.
  • Overpowering – there are two ways a boat can be overpowered; the use of a motor with a horsepower exceeding the recommended maximum and the use of a motor that weighs too much. In most cases using a motor that is within the maximum horsepower limits will avoid a weight issue, however, there are situations where this is not the case (if you need a starting place, we researched 33 different jon boats with varying lengths and put together this post on maximum jon boat horsepower by boat length). If installing an older motor or non-standard design it is important to remember these designs often weight more than a conventional, modern outboard. In either case you run the risk of overloading the transom and reducing the ability to properly control your jon boat.
  • Inexperience – when you take the first three factors and add an inexperienced crew it is only a matter of time before difficulties are encountered. Any boat operator needs to understand not only the basics of safe boat operation but specifically how their individual boat handles.

Steps You Can Take to Improve Stability

Now that you know what can cause your jon boat to be unstable it is time to look at what some of the options are for improving it. Some options will be simple changes in behavior while others will require adding accessories or even changing the construction of the boat itself. It is important you select the method that will address your specific concerns and correct why your jon boat may be less stable than desired.

The easiest steps, and one which require zero investment in terms of cash, involve learning how to use your jon boat properly. Remember, these boats were generally made to be shallow water work horses. Although many users do venture out onto open water, even offshore, this is something you should reserve for when conditions are perfect.

Even with major changes to the hull, which we will discuss later, a flat bottom boat is not meant for long voyages on deep, open water bodies. Knowing your boat’s limitations does not stop with only using it on the proper waters, it also includes be aware of how much it can carry and whether or not it is rated for the engine you intend to install. Remember, while improper loading and overpowering are a major contributing factor, when it comes to instability each are solved by simply following the manufacturer limitations.

The next steps you can take involve altering the boat design. Some of these options are temporary and some can even be added or removed as needed. Some can also be DIY projects completed with inexpensive kits or parts available at the local marina or home improvement store. Others are permanent in nature and will most likely require the involvement of professional craftsman. The decision as to which is best for you will often come down to how much you want to invest, both in terms of time and money, rather than which will provide more stability.

Adding Buoyancy

The jon boat relies on displacement, not buoyancy, to float. Adding aftermarket buoyancy will achieve two things – it will counter the effects of a heavy load and it will cause the boat to ride higher in the water. Both of these changes will result in increased stability. Adding buoyancy is not especially difficult, but it does need to be done in a specific manner to be effective.

  • Buoyancy needs to be added to the outside of the hull. Placing floatation in the interior, such as under seats, below deck or in a bow compartment will prevent the boat from sinking quickly but will not increase stability during use.
  • Buoyancy needs to added in a way that it counters those features causing your boat to be naturally unstable. Adding width will not address a problem caused by too much weight at the stern, likewise, lightening the load will not make a narrow jon boat any safer.
  • Even after you increase buoyancy the boat will still be a jon boat and it will have limitations, although they may be somewhat expanded.

Flotation Pods – in a previous article concerning 9 essential jon boat accessories we featured flotation pods, now you know why. These simple metal box shaped additions, which resemble transom steps, not only add buoyancy ( and therefore stability) they do so without altering the overall design of the jon boat. There is no loss of storage, not dramatic increase in size or weight and are relatively easy to install. The small Beavertail pod for example is only 16″ H x 17″ W x 22″ D in size, weighs 20lbs and is suitable for boats between 14 – 16 ft in length but add 160lbs of additional flotation. This is an impressive return on your investment. Plus, they can be bolted on and later used on a different boat or welded for permanent installation.

Installing flotation pods to the exterior stern causes the jon boat to sit higher in the water and is an excellent means of countering problems caused by engine weight or gear/passengers sitting in the rear seat. An additional benefit of raising the stern is that it will also reduce the possibility of backwash, a dangerous situation during which water crashes over the transom.

Outriggers – outriggers are nothing more than flotation added to arms off either or both sides of the boat, similar to outrigger canoes you have probably seen. This method of adding stability is one of the oldest means of stabilizing boats of all sizes and will work well on many jon boat designs. Proof of how effective outriggers can be is found in the fact that Polynesian mariners used canoes outfitted with outriggers to travel throughout the Pacific Islands.

If you choose to add outriggers to your jon boat you have several options, including both commercial kits and many DIY designs.

  • Smaller jon boats could benefit from simple bolt / strap on kits designed for canoes or kayaks. Most of these stabilizers are designed to prevent tipping, with the pontoons catching the water if the boat starts to lean, rather than riding in the water throughout use. This may mean that users on jon boats will still experience some feeling of instability when moving about but will reduce the risk of capsizing. If you want stabilizers that can be easily removed when not needed and stored between use you could consider something like the Mexidi PVC Inflatable Outrigger Stabilizer Kit or Prettyia Sidekick.
  • Larger hulls can also benefit from the addition of outriggers, however, you will need to upgrade the size accordingly. There are many companies that supply outriggers kits, again they are primarily designed for kayaks or canoes but can be readily adapted for jon boats. Models suitable for larger jon boats include those available from Wave Armor and DuluthPack to name a few.
  • DIY options are limited only by your imagination. Your design can be as simple as larger, sealed PVC tubing pontoons mounted to metal or smaller diameter PVC tubing arms. Larger pontoons can be constructed from dense foam, covered with a protective coating such as plastic dip (commonly used for tool handles) or even paint on truck bed liner. More industrious owners have even repurposed the pontoons from other boats or built their own, although the later does require some specialized skill such as welding.

Gunwale floatation – another option is to add flotation to the exterior portion of the gunwales. Some jon boat manufacturers do sell bolt on kits or you can construct your own from almost any dense plastic or foam material. Simply cut the material to length, round the edges to avoid sharp edges and drill mounting holes or add brackets to allow it to be attached to exterior of your boat. Although these will not provide the level of stability outriggers can achieve, because they do not extend outward as far, they will help prevent capsizing which is a major danger of any small craft and a leading cause of boating fatalities.

Non-flotation stabilizers – Sometime flotation is not the answer, all you need to do is adjust how the boat reacts in the water. There are three general methods of doing this; adding stabilizers to the hull, adding stabilizers to the outboard or hanging stabilizers off each side.

  • Hydro foils – mounting a hydro foil to the outboard motor. These stabilizers resemble a large whale tail and come in single- or two-piece designs. Regardless of which design you select it is mounted to the outboard’s cavitation plate, just above the prop. Hydro foils function by redirecting the water over it’s enlarged surface, creating additional lift like the flotation pods mentioned earlier. The result of this increased lift is a smoother ride, increased speed, greater control and ultimately more stability. There are many different options when it comes to hydro foils, but it is important to select a model specifically intended for use on smaller vessels such as the Marine Dynamics Hydro Tail Junior Stingray.
  • Trim tabs – this option functions similar to the hydro foil in that they rely on changing water flow to achieve their purpose, the difference is tabs mount to the transom rather than the outboard. By adjusting the tabs up and down you can increase the lift at the transom. This in turn will improve handling, increase speed (especially out of the hole) , correct for uneven weight distribution and prevent listing to port or starboard. Again, there are many options available but the Nauticus SX9510-60 Smart Tab SX Composite Trim Tabs are specifically designed for boats under 19 feet and automatically adjust for best performance.
  • Outrigger stabilizers – if you have ever seen a commercial fishing trawler you have also seen outrigger style stabilizers, they are the large metal plates that hang off either side. When lowered into the water these outriggers act similar to flotation outriggers in that they reduce the roll associated with passing traffic or natural sea motion. Although most commercially available models will be too large for a jon boat you can have small models fashioned at almost any metal fabrication shop.

Make you boat wider – the final option is to increase the width of the boat itself. This is the last resort because it is both the most expensive and the most difficult option. Make no mistake, increasing the width of any boat is not to be taken lightly. This is major construction and will require both specialized skills and equipment. This is not something that the average DIYer should attempt in the garage. Although the exact steps will vary slightly from boat to boat here is a basic idea of how it is accomplished:

  • Place the boat upside down on a stable work surface
  • Cut the boat directly down its length from bow to stern
  • Separate the two halves by a distance equal to the increased width you desire
  • Add ribs to the interior of the hull to reconnect the two halves
  • Connect a sheet of metal to the open space between the two halves, attaching to ribs and down each side
  • Add sealant to all joint to prevent leaking

Conclusion

Now that you have basic information concerning why jon boats are unstable and how to correct these issues it is time to decide which is best for you, your specific jon boat and the conditions you operate in. Remember, when selecting a stabilization method it is important not to negatively impact the features of you jon boat most desirable. It is also important to remember that while each of these methods will add stability to your jon boat none will make your jon boat impervious to tipping, swamping or capsizing. It is important that you remember every jon boat has limitations, so learn what those limitations are and operate accordingly.