Six inch Jack Plate on Jon Boat

[Johnson44]

I have a Duracraft 18' X 60" John Boat, probably about a '92 or '93. I have taken everything out and off the boat. I will replace the old rotten plywood floor entirely and run one 48HP Johnson motor. Questions:
Is plywood the best floor material?
Would "5/4" deck boards work well for a floor?
Cover with carpet or vinyl or paint/varnish?
Use the 6" Jack Plate that came with the rig or bolt the motor directly to the transom?
Also looking for ideas for a livewell and a new steering console?
Compression is good so I plan to rebuild both carbs and do the water pump kit, and lower unit refill.
How do you lube the control cables?
Anything else?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Six inch Jack Plate on Jon Boat

5/4 is way overboard, and heavy. mount directly to transom. seeing you are replacing deck, i would go center console.

this is a perfect console for that size boat.
http://www.toddusa.com/productdetails.aspx?id=38&f=4

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Six inch Jack Plate on Jon Boat

Since you've already got the jack plate I'd go ahead and use it. Prop will be running in "cleaner" water further aft and you'll get a little bit better performance. Plus it will be easy to fine tune the engine height.

If it were me I'd use 1/2" plywood for the deck and glass both sides, or at least glass the top and paint the bottom with resin to waterproof it. Carpet would be ok, but if you'll be doing a lot of fishing maybe a skid-proof paint.

 

[pootnic]

Re: Six inch Jack Plate on Jon Boat

If you plan on keeping the boat for a long period,aluminum may be something to look at.As far as how thick(aluminum/plywood)depends how wide(far apart) your ribs are on the boat.
Don't buy pressure treated wood for your boat.
Some type of waterproofing or epoxy on the wood,will make it last longer.
On what to cover it with,depends on what you do with your boat and how you want to clean it and keep it.
Livewells can be bought or made out of coolers,again depends what you plan on doing,tournaments,pleasure?
Heres a site with some good mods on jon boats and aluminums.
tinboats.net

 

[Johnson44]

Re: Six inch Jack Plate on Jon Boat

Thanks to all for the info. I cannot figure out how to post to tinboats.net. Lots of good info there. My post from yesterday seems to have disappeared?