Being able to get around your jon boat safely and securely is important when avoiding any man overboard situations. Installing jon boat grab bars is a fantastic way to improve the overall safety and value of your jon boat, even if you feel it’s already rather safe. From simply standing up while on your jon boat to handling heavy waves, there’s no doubt grab bars come in handy.
So, what makes a good jon boat grab bar? Good jon boat grab bars are made out of durable material, such as stainless steel and aluminum, and are generally located near the cockpit on a jon boat. Grab bars come in various shapes and sizes, so choosing the jon boat grab bars depends on the use-case.
Making sure you have grab bars on your jon boat means you’re making safety a priority on your jon boat, which every jon boat captain should take into account. We all know that feeling of free fall, and we also know the feeling when we have something to grab onto when experiencing free fall. If your jon boat isn’t equipped with a good sized grab bars or you don’t have one at all, read on to learn what makes a good jon boat grab bar.
How to Choose a Good Jon Boat Grab Bar
When choosing to install grab bars onto your jon boat means knowing exactly what to look for when it comes to your use-case. The most likely use-case is that you’ll have them installed near the cockpit of your jon boat so you’ve got something to keep you stable when driving around.
Knowing the proper use-case as well as the best materials are all important aspects to consider when getting your next jon boat grab bars. I personally have a grab bar installed toward the stern of the boat close to the cockpit so that when I’m driving the boat I have something to grab onto if it gets a bit bumpy. However, people also have them installed toward the bow of their jon boat. Either way, it’s smart to have grab bars installed on your jon boat.
It’s also important to have grab bars on your boat because it’s better to grab onto something that’s there to actually be grabbed onto as opposed to another part of your boat. Maybe you or someone grabs onto a stanchion and rips it off or even grabs the steering wheel and causes a sudden and dangerous turn. Grab bars solve these problems once and for all, which should be convincing enough.
If you’re in the market for jon boat grab bars, I’d suggest taking a look at the various materials you can purchase before settling on one of the other. The most popular materials for jon boat grab bars include stainless steel and aluminum. Depending on the functionality you’re looking for and the style of your jon boat, you’ll want to pick one over the other.
Stainless steel jon boat grab bars are an excellent choice because they’re likely to last a very long time. While they’re generally more on the expensive side, they’re well worth the money in the long run. I personally try to outfit my jon boat with stainless steel additions as much as I can, which also gives it a consistent style apart from the functionality aspect.
With jon boats generally being made out of aluminum, it’s obvious that aluminum jon boat grab bars are a popular choice among jon boaters. Aluminum is a great option when compared to stainless steel since it’s lighter in weight and comes at a less expensive cost. However, aluminum can corrode, so longevity can be an issue.
Whether you end up choosing between stainless steel or aluminum grab bars for your jon boat, the most important thing to remember is that it fits the proper use-case. Like I mentioned before, providing stability for anyone standing up is the major point to get across, which is why grab bars are perfect for captains steering their vessel in the cockpit.
Apart from using grab rails for captains in the cockpit, grab rails can also be used toward the bow of the boat. On sailboats it’s virtually always the case that you’ll have grab rails right at the fore of a vessel above where the anchor and it’s chain are let out. Well, this can also be a great place to put a grab bar to ensure no one venturing out to the bow of your jon boat while speeding along doesn’t accidentally go overboard.
Best Jon Boat Grab Bars
Marine Fiberglass Direct Safety Grab Bar
I’m a big fan of equipping my jon boat with durable, long lasting additions, which is why I wholeheartedly suggest the Marine Fiberglass Direct Safety Grab Bar (link to read reviews on Amazon). These grab bars are a perfect addition to any jon boat since they’re made out of high-quality, mill-finished aluminum that’s tough enough in any circumstance.
This grab bar by Marine Fiberglass Direct is a fantastic choice for a safety grab bar regardless of where you install it. Not only is it well-manufactured with heavy-duty, non-polished aluminum, it’s also extremely easy to attach to your jon boat. Whether you’re in freshwater or saltwater, this grab bar that’s made 100% in the USA will support you for years to come.
Fishmaster Marine Towers and Accessories Boat Grab Bar
There are only a few grab bar manufacturers that I truly like since I prefer to outfit my jon boat with additions made out of high-quality materials. If you’re in the market for grab bars that fit this description, the Fishmaster Marine Towers and Accessories Boat Grab Bar (link to read reviews on Amazon) is a great option for you.
If you plan on equipping your jon boat with these grab bars by Fishmaster Marine Towers and Accessories, it’s important to know they’re made out of incredibly durable aluminium with stainless steel mounting hardware. As a matter of fact, it even comes with a 5-year warranty, which easily shows you just how confident about their grab bar’s quality and durability.
How to Make Your Own Jon Boat Grab Bars
If you’re not looking to buy grab bars for your jon boat and are more interested in the DIY side of things, then you might be wondering how to make your own jon boat grab bars. Well, it actually isn’t that difficult to make them since it’s essentially just a bar that you grab onto, but it can be challenging to fasten them.
Making your own jon boat grab bars means you have to decide on the material you’d like it to be made out of as well as the dimensions they should be. It’ll likely be the case that if you’re making your own jon boat grab bars, you’ll probably be using metal materials such as stainless steel and aluminum.
Below are the basic steps on how to make your own jon boat grab bars:
- Measure the exact dimensions you want.
- Decide on the material you want to use.
- If you’re not machining it yourself, find a machine shop to make the grab bars.
- Install the grab bars onto your jon boat.
It’s important to know the exact measurements you need for your jon boat grab bars, especially when it comes to the length, width, and curvature. Maybe you want a grab bar that’s shaped like a long horseshoe. Maybe you want your grab bar to be a square tube instead of a circular tube. Either way, you want to settle on these dimensions based on your needs from the get-go.
Once you’re clear on the required dimensions of your jon boat grab bars, you’ll need to decide on which material you want to use. I’ve said time and time again that I’m a huge fan of stainless steel because it’s strong and long lasting. While it may be a bit more expensive at first compared to the alternatives, you’ll pay less in the long run.
Now you have to find someone to machine your grab bars based on the required dimensions and materials you’ve settled on. If you have your own equipment to machine your own grab bars, even better! Otherwise, you’ll likely be able to find someone easily in your local area or even just head down to the hardware store to have them made there.
Once you’ve had your grab bars machined based on your exact design, it’s now time to install them on your jon boat. In this step, you’ll be putting holes in your jon boat, so be sure you’re installing your grab bars exactly where you want them. You definitely want to make sure wherever you install them, it’s a strong base you’re attaching them to so there’s no risk of your new grab bars from being ripped out when actually grabbing them.
And that’s it! You’ve installed your own custom jon boat grab bars. If you go with stainless steel, you’ll pretty much be done dealing with them for the rest of your jon boat’s life. Either way, you’ve added an important safety addition to your jon boat that’ll come in use right when you need them most.
