Jon Boat vs Canoe – Which is Better One for You?

No doubt, you can face difficulty when someone asks you Jon Boat Vs Canoe! Indeed, the decision is difficult, but once you get to know about each in detail it may be easier for you to decide.

So here we are enlightening all the capabilities of a Jon Boat and a Canoe. This might help you decide.

You might be wondering that:

Whether we can replace them with each other or not?

Yes, we surely can. Any of the two can be used as there are a lot of features that are common in both of them.

But what should you do when you are left with an option to choose only one? Plan a sea trip for yourself, because after reading this article you’d definitely want to buy either one of them.

Before getting into detail, let’s just have an overview of the two:

These are the most basic factors when it comes to Jon Boat Vs Canoe.

Now:

We are going to discuss each factor in detail to help you make the right decision for yourself.

Jon Boat – For Experienced Ones:

Jon boat is basically a flat bottomed boat with either two or three bench seats. It is mostly made up of aluminum, wood or even fiberglass.

Because of their structure, Jon boats are generally meant for calmer waters. As its hull is almost flat, it stays on top of the waves and cannot cut them the way a V-hull might do.

If you are young and have less experience, Jon boat is not the right option for you. You can easily take it into smooth and calm waters, but you might face difficulty handling it in rough waters.

Speed of a Jon boat:

A small sized Jon boat with a simple trolling motor go very slow at a speed of 5mph. Whereas, a bigger size having a rather bigger motor can go at a speed of 30mph or even more.

Therefore, the speed of a Jon boat depends on how big or small it is.

Weight and weight capacity of a Jon boat:

If you are alone then you might have trouble in dragging the boat to the waters. Jon boats are typically heavier. An average 16-foot Jon boat made of aluminum weighs around 300-400 pounds. You cannot handle this much weight when you are traveling alone.

So, if you are planning to go by yourself go for a smaller size or else opt for a Canoe.

Maintenance and Reliability of a Jon boat:

Jon boat can last for a long time when it comes to reliability. The durability and life of a boat actually depend on the material from which it is constructed.

Jon boats are mostly made of aluminum, hence, last for decades. Since aluminum does not catch rust and is also non-corrosive, it increases the life span of a Jon boat.

However, maintaining a Jon boat can be difficult. The body of a Jon boat, which is mainly of aluminum, can be welded and mended easily, but its engine can be a problem for you.

Transport and storage:

Jon boats are a bit difficult to tow on cars because of their large weights. However, if you have a Jon boat, you might be needing trailer or a truck to tow this much weight.

Smaller sized Jon boats can be towed by a car, still there is a chance of destroying or damaging its engine. Limit your speed to under 60mph if you are using a car for this purpose.

Some extra features:

When you want some fancy features in your boat, your choice should definitely be a Jon boat. You can modify it according to your requirements. You can easily change its shape and change its structure because they are customizable.

Also, if you are planning to go fishing to different places, Jon boat can serve you well in this regard. Because of its powerful engine and speed you can easily roam around different places in a very short time.

Canoe – For beginners:

A Canoe is a narrow vessel having both ends pointed. In the older times, Canoes were made of wood strips which have now been modified to different materials such as royalex, Kevlar, fiberglass and sometimes aluminum as well.

In addition, a Canoe serves well for camping, racing or for fun.

Although it lacks all those fancy features that a Jon boat has, but it would be great for you if you are a beginner and not much experienced.

So, all you need is a few oars and a life jacket and you are on the go.

Speed of a Canoe:

Canoes are slow as compared to a Jon boat. With an average paddling, you can up to a speed no more than 4mph.

However, this is an average speed of a 16-foot canoe. It can vary depending on the sea direction and also wind speed.

Weight and weight capacity of a Canoe:

If you are planning to go by yourself, canoe is the best choice for you. A 16-foot canoe might weigh around 60, which can easily be dragged into waters by yourself.

Thus, canoes are very much lighter than Jon boats.

And when it comes to weight capacity Canoes win here too. A typical 16-foot canoe made of fiberglass has a weight capacity of 1100 pounds which is fairly good.

Maintenance and Reliability of a Canoe:

Canoes generally last for decades or even more. As they are mostly made up of fiberglass, aluminum, Royalex, and Kevlar, they remain in good condition even after several years.

As these materials do not catch rust easily and are also non-corrosive; thus, the life of Canoe increases.

Canoes made of aluminum are more reliable than those made of fiberglass.

Although both can be repaired, still people prefer buying a new one rather than investing on its repairing as they are not so expensive.

When you ask Jon boat vs Canoe, in terms of maintenance, I would definitely say Canoes. Canoes do not require any proper maintenance other than its cleaning, which is not a big issue.

Transport and storage:

When it comes to towing, Canoes do not require much effort. All you need to do is simply strap it to your car top and you can take it wherever you want.

Also, they are very easy to handle because of their less weight. You can easily drag them into the waters when you reach your desired location.

And when you have come back from your trip and worried about where to store your Canoe; again, you don’t need to worry about it. Storing Canoes is quite easy. You can even stack them on top of each other and leave them like that for long as well.

So, next time you plan a trip for your holiday, and thinking where and how will you keep your boat afterward, you can go for a canoe without any worries.

Conclusion:

So, these were the most common factors when it comes to Jon Boat Vs Canoe. There are other secondary factors that also matter, but here we just have created an overview for you to make the right decision.

Certainly, both have some advantages and disadvantages, but definitely, there should be one that fits well for your situation.

Choosing the right boat for you can make your trip even more awesome without any difficulties.

Hopefully, you might have made up your mind what to buy on your next trip and will be well-informed when buying either a Canoe or a Jon boat.

Have a safe trip ahead. Good luck!