How to Make a Bottom in a Jon Boat

Putting a bottom in your jon boat means that you won't be walking on the inside of the bottom of your boat. That extra layer of material between your feet and the bottom will have a sound damping effect. Your movements won't be "telegraphed" to the fish in the area. Also, your electric trolling motor sounds will be slightly absorbed by the carpeting and diffused through the hull of the boat, so the fish won't be able to tell exactly where the sound is coming from. With a bit of work, you can stop scaring the fish.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Marine plywood
• Pencil
• Calculator
• Jigsaw
• 1-by-2 lumber
• Hammer
• Nails
• Utility knife
• Marine carpet
• Heavy duty stapler

Instructions

1. Measure the length of the bottom of the jon boat with a tape measure. Measure the width at the most forward part of the bottom of the jon boat--the bow measurement. Measure the width of the bottom of the rear of the boat, the stern measurement. Measure the width at the widest part of the center of the jon boat (the beam).

2. Draw a line that's as long as the measurement taken at the beam, along one edge of a piece of marine plywood with a pencil. Divide the beam measurement by 2 with your calculator and measure that distance along the pencil line. Mark this location--this is the centerline of the boat.

3. Divide the length measurement by 2 and draw a line this length, perpendicular to the beam measurement, from the center of the beam measurement, along the centerline. Divide the bow measurement by 2. Draw a line equal to 1/2 the bow measurement, left from the centerline. Draw a line equal to 1/2 the bow measurement, right from the centerline. Divide the length measurement by 2 and draw a line this length, perpendicular to the beam measurement, from the center of the beam measurement, along the centerline. This floors the forward one-half of the boat. Floor the rear half of the boat using the second sheet of marine plywood. Divide the length measurement by 2 and draw a line this length, perpendicular to the beam measurement, from the center of the beam measurement, along the centerline. Divide the stern measurement by 2. Draw a line equal to 1/2 the stern measurement, left from the centerline. Draw a line equal to 1/2 the stern measurement, right from the centerline.

4. Cut the 1-by-2s to the length of the bow measurement with the jigsaw. Nail a 1-by-2 to the bottom of the two pieces of marine plywood, one 1-by-2 every 2 feet, perpendicular to the centerline of the plywood.

5. Cut two pieces of marine carpet so that they are 2 inches wider than the beam measurement and 2 inches longer than the length from the beam to the bow and the beam to the stern. Lay the carpet on top of the plywood, wrap the edges of the carpet under the edges of the plywood, and staple in place on all sides. Set the carpeted plywood sheets into the boat.