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Forum nameTackle and Boats
Topic subjectRE: Traditional vs. modified V Jon boats
Topic URLhttp://www.calfishing.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=12&topic_id=2793&mesg_id=2795
2795, RE: Traditional vs. modified V Jon boats
Posted by swimbait, Mon Jun-07-04 09:58 AM
I had a 14' regular jon and now have a 15' modified V jon (Triton 1546MVJ). The modified V takes the waves better and is much more stable. The stability may have more to do with the width of the boat than the hull style though. The 15 footer I have now has a 46" bottom width and a 70" beam and I'm sure my 14' was not that wide. You could stand up in the 14' while it was going and surf it down the lake like a surfboard by leaning one way or the other lol.

The modified V needs more power to push it through the water vs. the regular jon. You actually need enough push to get the bow out of the water to get it moving. I have a 5hp and it's pretty much a joke. I just plow along :) The welded boats I think are a bit heavier than the riveted boats. Not that you want a riveted boat, but it's worth mentioning.

I'm pretty happy with my current boat as a fishing platform and the overall handling and such, but the quality is really not that impressive. The paint is chipping and peeling up pretty bad after just one year, and the bow clip in the front is leaking water through the bolts which is really lame. It only gets under water when two guys stand up front, but still ... to have a 1 year old boat and have a leak is retarded. Fixing leaky aluminum boats is another subject, but my personal opinion on that is that it is impossible to fix a leaky aluminum boat. I tried every type of sealant recommended on my old boat and nothing worked. Just this weekend I tightened the bolts back up and siliconed them in. I'd bet it's leaking again in a few trips.

Good luck with your boat hunting. It's worth agonizing over it to find the one that is right for you :) If I could do it all again, I'd still have bought the same one.