Sears Jon Boat Info Needed

[NoBoatKnowHow2024]

Hi all! Definite newbie here trying to find some info from all of you seasoned pros!

My grandfather passed and I inherited an old Sears jon boat with the following details:
•Aluminum hull
•12' length
•42.25" transom
•No HIN (pre-1974?)
•Model #012803 (port bow)
•2 seater
•No other info

I need to register it in NH.
I know I need a Bill of Sale, but can't draft one without the data required by the State.

Any thoughts on year, manufacturer, etc.?

I planned to keep it's nostalgic charm and sea foam green color, but I caved and am letting my 14 yo give it new life. We got an Evinrude 5hp outboard and he sanded it down and painted it a sleek black. We're replacing the transom wood with some PT to mount the motor and he got lots of cool accessories for it (lights, safety gear, hull number decals, rod mounts, seat cushions, etc.).

Any help you can offer on finding the rest of the missing details would be so helpful!

 

[Scott Danforth]

I wouldn't spend any money on it until you get it registered in your name. Right now it belongs to your late grandfather.

DO NOT USE PRESSURE TREATED LUMBER ON ALUMINUM

the chemicals in pressure treated lumber will dissolve the aluminum.

Fiberglassics may have a sears listing for the gamefisher jon boats.

 

[NoBoatKnowHow2024]

I wouldn't spend any money on it until you get it registered in your name. Right now it belongs to your late grandfather.

DO NOT USE PRESSURE TREATED LUMBER ON ALUMINUM

the chemicals in pressure treated lumber will dissolve the aluminum.

Fiberglassics may have a sears listing for the gamefisher jon boats.

Hi Scott,

Thanks so much for the insight!

Money was already spent and the project is underway, but the Trust from which I inherited the boat indicates that all of my grandfather's tangible personal property, to include the boat, is to be distributed according to the Trustee's discretion. My issue is creating the Bill of Sale for the Trustee to sign to formally effectuate the transfer. I work at a law firm and have the ownership/transfer bit under wraps, I'm just missing the boat data needed to draft the BOS.

I'll check Fiberglassics, but you think it's a Gamefisher? That's helpful!

Duly noted on the PT; I'll switch it out to a metal transom mount. I've seen a few that look nice. We could likely fabricate something using metal plates too.

Thanks for your time!

 

[airshot]

All metal transom on small boats is not best practice either. Most small boats use clamp on motors and an all metal transom can cause those clamps to loosen or slip. Most boats with all metal transom have the motor bolted on. That piece of wood not only strengthens the transom, it also gives the motor clamps something to bite into. Most folks just use a piece exterior plywood and seal it up real good. My 12' Jon boat has a piece of exterior plywood with just varnish on it. Over 8 years old and still like new.

 

[NoBoatKnowHow2024]

All metal transom on small boats is not best practice either. Most small boats use clamp on motors and an all metal transom can cause those clamps to loosen or slip. Most boats with all metal transom have the motor bolted on. That piece of wood not only strengthens the transom, it also gives the motor clamps something to bite into. Most folks just use a piece exterior plywood and seal it up real good. My 12' Jon boat has a piece of exterior plywood with just varnish on it. Over 8 years old and still like new.

This is great feedback, thanks! Still having trouble finding any solid data on the manufacturer based on the model #012803.

 

[airshot]

Over the years, many different mfgrs made boats for Sears, JC Penny, Montgomery Ward and others. Best price for a certain quantity also got the contract of putting their name plates on their boats. You might post some pics as your boat might be recognized before numbers can be interpreted.

 

[Scott Danforth]

if you have the old registration numbers, they can look it up from there.

 

[JimS123]

All metal transom on small boats is not best practice either. Most small boats use clamp on motors and an all metal transom can cause those clamps to loosen or slip. Most boats with all metal transom have the motor bolted on. That piece of wood not only strengthens the transom, it also gives the motor clamps something to bite into. Most folks just use a piece exterior plywood and seal it up real good. My 12' Jon boat has a piece of exterior plywood with just varnish on it. Over 8 years old and still like new.

Good advice. But even better advice is to use bolts.

EVERY boat I have ever owned has had the motor bolted. Of course, they have all been trailer boats and the motors were left on when travelling. If the motor bracket was not fitted with bolt holes I added U-bolts and secured it real well.

Ever seen a motor fall off? I have. It's not pretty. Of course it wasn't mine...

 

[airshot]

Back when I had clamp on motors, I always used a safety chain, my current little kicker is a clampon but has a safety cable. Never had one slip with wood to clamp on but have saw a few slip off all metal transoms.