Have you ever wanted to sleep on your jon boat? Having a tent out when camping out in the wilderness is a priority for sure, but there’s no doubt that you’d need a tent when camping in your jon boat. Deciding if it’s the right move for you means understanding what’s possible when putting a tent in your jon boat.
So, can I outfit my jon boat with a tent? You can outfit your jon boat with a tent as long as you’re ready to do a little handy work. Installing a canopy or tent on your jon boat can be difficult, but putting in a little time will go a long way.
Being able to have your jon boat outfitted with a tent means you’ll be able to enjoy the great outdoors while cruising around in your jon boat. Whether it starts to rain or you want to escape the heat of the sun, a tent or canopy is a great option when considering the next upgrade to your jon boat.
Tents for Jon Boats
While not the most common thing to do to a jon boat, outfitting yours with a tent is an option. Most jon boaters would put a canopy or some sort of shade on top of their jon boat instead of a tent, but there are those that would love to camp out on their boat. That’s who this post is written for.
Outfitting a tent onto a jon boat means you’ll have to do a bit of investigation on:
- The size of your jon boat.
- The area you’d like to cover with a tent.
- A tent that can cover the selected area.
- The weather conditions you’re willing to endure.
- How you’ll attach your tent.
These are just some of the important considerations to take into account when outfitting your jon boat with a tent. The great part is that by investigating these topics, you’ll have plenty of options for getting a tent on your jon boat regardless of the size.
The first thing you’ll need to do when looking to outfit your jon boat with a tent is to measure your jon boat. This means knowing how long and wide the area of your entire boat’s interior and exterior. By knowing this, you should be able to gauge what’s possible when considering the size of the tent you might need.
It may be the case that you don’t want to cover the entirety of your jon boat, which is why I suggest deciding which area you want to cover with your tent. Now, you need to be careful here because there can be a lot of nuances when it comes to truly decide where you want your tent located. Will you have enough space to lie down or sit? What are you encapsulating with your tent?
Once you know the specific area of your jon boat you’d like to outfit with a tent, you’ll need to go out and find a tent that can cover that area. Now, there are no specific types of tents made for jon boats, so you’ll need to bare minimum find one that’ll cover that area so you can then cut and adjust the tent to properly fit that area. Alternatively, some boaters will just use a bimini top that has plastic drapes that can fold down and strap or buckle to the side of the boat to somewhat function as a tent.
When finding the tent that works for you and your jon boat, you want to most definitely consider the specific circumstances you’ll find yourself in while camping on your jon boat. It may be the case that you live in a mostly sunny area, in which case you’d want a tent that keeps UV rays out and stays cool. Maybe it gets a bit rainy where you are, so you’ll need to invest in a waterproof tent. These are important considerations before buying a tent you’ll be outfitting on your jon boat.
Now that you have your tent and you know where you’re going to attach it, it all comes down to getting it put on your jon boat. I suggest cutting out the bottom of the tent so that you can still get around on your jon boat when the tent is up. Also, finding a way to get the poles attached to the side of your jon boat is key and may require you to install some holders where you can place those poles (similar to a fishing rod).
The most difficult about this process is installing a tent onto your jon boat. Luckily, with a little handy work and creativity, you can get a tent installed on your jon boat soon enough. As I mentioned before, it’s not the most common way to go when accessorizing jon boats, but there’s no doubt there are jon boaters out there camping with a tent on their jon boat. So why not you?
Can I Sleep on a Jon Boat?
If you’re looking to outfit a tent onto your jon boat, then you’ll likely be wanting to take a snooze while you’re out on the water. The question of whether or not it’s possible to sleep on your jon boat definitely exists since there are plenty of jon boaters looking to spend more time out on the water.
You can most definitely sleep on your jon boat as long as the area that you’re cruising around in allows for boats to stay overnight. There are certain considerations you should take into account before embarking on the adventure of sleeping on your jon boat, but they’re relatively easy to account for.
Make sure that the weather is not going to be too intense for you when sleeping on your jon boat. Maybe it starts to rain very heavily causing you to get wet and uncomfortable. Maybe the wind kicks into high gear causing your tent to fly away leaving you exposed. And maybe it’s just too hot to endure inside an enclosed space such as a tent.
When sleeping on a jon boat, you definitely want to make sure you’re safe from any of these weather situations. It doesn’t take long for them to creep up on you, especially when you’ve dozed off. Either way, before sleeping on your jon boat, consider heading in if the weather forecast is too hazardous.
Tips for Sleeping on Your Jon Boat
Sleeping on a jon boat is something that I’ve done several times, but never with a tent. While outfitting jon boats with a tent isn’t the most common thing to do, it actually makes sense if you plan on sleeping on your jon boat on a regular basis. Either way, there are some important tips to consider when sleeping on your jon boat.
For one, you want to make sure that your tent is securely fastened to your jon boat. There’s no way you want it to fly away in case a little or a lot of wind comes your way. That would ruin your sleeping experience most definitely, which is why installing your tent properly is so important.
You also want to consider getting yourself an anchor that’ll effectively keep your jon boat firmly in place while your sleeping. If your jon boat starts to drift while you’re out like a light, there’s no knowing where you’ll end up the next time you wake up. Luckily, jon boats don’t need big, expensive anchors to stay put.
If you’re looking for a good anchor for your jon boat, you definitely want to check out the Extreme Max Complete Grapnel Anchor Kit (link to read reviews on Amazon). I use one of these all the time on my jon boat whenever I’m fishing and don’t want the boat to drift. It’s a fantastic option because it’s portable, has a buoy marker for the rope, and it’s able to attach to a multitude of bottom conditions, such as coral, rock, and weeded areas.
Another important tip for when you decide to sleep on your jon boat is to keep an alarm handy and set it before snoozing off. This is important because you should always be alert when out on the water, especially if you’re the captain of your vessel. It’s your responsibility to keep the boat and anyone else on your boat safe.
Staying safe on your jon boat is of the utmost importance, which is why I suggest keeping a first aid kit and spare water on your jon boat before dozing off. Again, you never know when you’ll wake up to hazardous weather conditions that cause you to dehydrate or bounce around on your boat causing injury.
If you do decide on sleeping on your jon boat, the last (and certainly not least) tip is to consider outfitting your jon boat with a tent. While there aren’t too many options out there, the Aleko Canopy Boat Tent Sun Shelter for Boats (link to read reviews on Amazon) may be a good option for you. It seems to be able to withstand both extreme sunny weather while also withstanding the winter cold. The best part is it’s probably much easier to outfit this to your jon boat than a normal tent since it already has the bottom cut out and all the necessary attachments.
