How Much Does A Jon Boat Cost?

Jon boats are very popular small craft on the market. They are in high demand all around the world because of their versatility, and their stability for transportation and water-based utility work. However, most of all, the one thing that attracts the buyers most is their cost. They are the least expensive boats compared to other boats in the same class.

In today’s article, we will discuss in detail “How much does a Jon boat cost“? So if you are deciding to buy a new boat, read the complete article; I’m sure you would decide to buy Jon Boat.

On average, a typical Jon Boat costs between $18,000 and $45,000. However, the purchasing price of Jon Boat mainly depends on different factors like its size, construction material, length, model year, speed range, and a number of modifications made to the boat. For example, a 12 ft. Polythene Jon Boat can be bought only for $550, while a 12 ft. aluminum Job boat can be bought for as much as $3000. Moreover, high-end 21 ft. Jon boat cost about $30,000.  

Before discussing the cost in detail, let’s look at Jon Boat’s introduction.

What is A Jon Boat? What are the Main Advantages? 

Jon boat is a small, light aluminum or fiberglass fishing vessel with a flat or nearly flat bottom. Most of the Jon boats have built-in bench seats. Among all the different types of boats on the market, jon boats are the least expensive; it makes them an ideal option for fishermen and those who want to enjoy sailing without investing too much money.

Other than this; Jon boat also provides a number of other advantages, including;

  • Need an inexpensive gasoline outboard motor with low horsepower or battery-powered engines.
  • It can be used in both shallow fresh water and salt-water 
  • Its maintenance level is very low

Pull all these advantages together, and it can be seen easily that Jon boats are not only inexpensive to buy, but the things like storage and fuel bill are also very low, which makes them more demanding and reliable. However, just like the beautiful moon has a spot in this, there are also some drawbacks of Jon Boat, like:

  • It’s not comfortable, specifically when there are waves.
  • It needs to be re-painted on a regular basis
  • It’s not possible to stand and walk from the bow to the stern, particularly on 10 ft. or 12-ft. long models.

Cost For purchasing Jon Boat:

The cost of buying a Jon boat greatly depends on the size and construction material of the boat. Below is a quick guide to the typical cost of Jon boats of different sizes:

  • A 10 ft. Jon boats can cost about $700 to $800
  • An 11 to 13 ft. Jon boats cost from $850 to $1000
  • A 13 to 14 ft. Jon boats typically price between $1500 and $2,250
  • A 15 to 16 ft. Jon boats usually range in price from $2,500 to $3,250
  • A 17+ ft. Job boats with the capacity of 6 persons can cost as much as $3,800

However, before considering a Jon boat purchase, it’s important to consider the size of the boat that you need.

The Jon Boat’s construction material is not very important regarding the price, but it may be important to you. For instance, an aluminum boat used to fish in salt water will corrode quickly as compared to fiberglass or wooden boats. However, aluminum boats are much more plentiful in the marketplace.

Cost of Jon boat In Relation to other boats Models:

Jon boat is gaining popularity, not because of its versatility, simplicity, and affordability, but because its price also makes it much more appealing to people.

They are much cheaper compared to other fishing and hunting vessels, such as a fishing boats, which usually cost from several thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. It’s very difficult to keep the cost of a good fishing boat below $20,000; however, Jon boats can make it easy for you; you can buy a good Jon Boat below $20,000.

How much does it cost to build a Jon Boat?

You may be wondering whether it is easy to build your own Job boat or not? If so, then how much it can cost. Well, it’s not a difficult task to do, even though it is fairly cheap. You will only need to spend your money to buy plywood and some fairly cheap materials such as glue. Of course, it’s assuming that you already have the correct tools available at your home.

If you already have rudimentary tools of woodworking, then you can easily build your own plywood boat by spending a few dollars.

Can you finance a Jon Boat?

Like any other large purchase, Jon Boat can also be financed; however, it may not be available from the seller of the boat.

Just like the road vehicle finance, you can easily get the boat purchase-specific finance.

Most of the time, some major boat sellers offer finance options at the point of sale, so you just need to enquire from them directly if this option is available.

How much does Jon Boat maintenance cost? (Is it high?)

The maintenance cost of Jon Boat depends on which type of boat this is. For example, a fiberglass boat used in freshwater fishing needs much less maintenance than an aluminum boat used in saltwater.

A wooden boat needs much of your attention to ensure that it remains waterproof. Regular checks on paintwork are essential, and repainting it when needed is also recommended. Just by looking at the wooden boat, you will be able to know that it needs some TLC; however, as a rule of thumb, you should give it one coat covering of varnish once per year and sanding and full repainting every 3- 4 years, to keep it last longer.

If you keep an eye on Jon Boat and give it regular maintenance checkups, you can identify inexpensive small problems before they become big expensive problems.

New Job boat Vs Used one

Buying a new Jon boat is really very simple. So, whenever you see any boat in any shop near you, just buy it! Moreover, buying it online is also a good option to consider. Most sellers with low physical overheads usually sell them online at reduced prices. But one thing to be very careful about, don’t buy until you physically examine it!

No doubt, you can save a lot of money by buying a used Jon boat instead of a new one. However, if you intend to buy a used boat, you should perform some essential checks before giving over your hard-earned cash. Below are a few guidelines regarding the used Jon boat buyer guide that will hardly take 2 to 3 minutes, but trust me, they are worth it!

Used Jon Boat buyer guide To Follow Before Purchasing One

Whenever you buy any used item, performing proper checks is necessary. If you are going to buy a used Jon boat perform the following checks before you hand over your money to the seller:

Inspect the boat for cracks and leaks: 

A small hairline spider crack on a fiberglass boat is not a problem, but if the crack is larger than 2″, then it’s really a much greater problem.

Start the engine

Surely, start the engine to check; is it hard to start? Does it make noise? Is it overly noisy? If the answer to all questions is YES, then better think twice, dude!!

Check the oar locks

If the Job boat is fitted with oar locks, you must check the sockets for cracking and corrosion. If the oarlock is loosed because of cracking or corrosion, then go find another boat.

Test the oil

Test the oil by touching it; if it has a milky texture, it simply means that water is getting into the engine, and its days are numbered!

Check the transom

It is the most often place where cracks and rot appear first, so it’s important to give it a good look.  

Also, look for previous repairs that may have been carried out; if the boat is previously repaired, you really need to get someone qualified to look at the boat before purchasing.

Test for corrosion; it’s really important when you’re buying an aluminum boat with the signs of peeling paint. An aluminum boat with peeled paint is a sign that it has been used in salt water, which may start to erode soon. So if the corrosion is minimum, it’s not a matter of worry, but if it is widespread, then better to look for another one.

Final thoughts

The cost of Jon Boat can vary significantly depending on its size and material. However, compared to other fishing boats, they are much more affordable.