Bowfishing boat set up
Contributors to this thread:Bowfishing
From: huntinelk
03-Mar-22
Have some time to kill, so here is the evolution of our 14 x 40 jon boat up to this point. This doesn't involve politics or covid, but I'm going to give it a shot anyway....it does involve bow stuff
Happened across this boat and trailer for a steal close to home. It's something we have talked about for a few years, figured this would be a good start. After the boat sat in the yard for a year and half I finally made enough time to get it ready to start hunting fish.
There is a lot of information on jon boat modifications on utube, some of what I have done are variations of other people's ideas.
I started with building a deck on the front to shoot from, nothing too elaborate but functional....didn't watch enough videos to know that you aren't supposed to use pressure treated wood against aluminum....until I had it done.
From: huntinelk
03-Mar-22
I ordered a Swamp Runner long tail mud motor kit and put a 23hp Briggs on it. With the long tail you give up reverse, but we haven't had many issues without having reverse yet. If the boat will float there the long tail will push it.
From: huntinelk
03-Mar-22
Maiden voyage making sure it was going to float, quick spin to figure out how bugs needed working out.
From: huntinelk
03-Mar-22
How it looked when we were ready to start shooting from it.
From: huntinelk
03-Mar-22
Flopper stopper....
From: huntinelk
03-Mar-22
The boat worked pretty well and we had some good success last summer
From: huntinelk
03-Mar-22
From: huntinelk
03-Mar-22
From: huntinelk
03-Mar-22
From: huntinelk
03-Mar-22
On to winter time, with a little free time to make some changes to the boat getting ready for the spring.
From: huntinelk
03-Mar-22
The transom board was pretty soft and needed to be changed, added a couple extra strengthening pieces.
From: huntinelk
03-Mar-22
Added some float pods
From: huntinelk
03-Mar-22
From: huntinelk
03-Mar-22
Added some bracing for the pods
From: huntinelk
03-Mar-22
Gas tank holder
From: huntinelk
03-Mar-22
From: huntinelk
03-Mar-22
Framing up some side benches and converting rear bench into small shooting platform.
From: huntinelk
03-Mar-22
Current condition, more pieces ordered to finish up these projects and be ready for the ice to melt.
From: t-roy
03-Mar-22
Looks great, Gene! Any plans on putting any type of railing around the platform?
Also, thanks for the heads up about the pt lumber and aluminum. I was unaware of that potential issue.
From: Hancock West
03-Mar-22
Sweet rig!
From: huntinelk
04-Mar-22
Yes, a rail and some shooting lights are in the plans. I have a small light bar and a couple "driving" lights ready to go on the front now.
From: Casekiska
04-Mar-22
What a set-up!!! Great job. Hope ya'all have a ball. Mostly, be safe.
From: Shug
04-Mar-22
Very cool
From: huntinelk
05-Apr-22
After a little break for hunting, got back to finishing up the list of stuff on the boat. A little clean up left and will be ready start the season.
Figured if 1 bildge pump was good, 2 would be better.
From: huntinelk
05-Apr-22
Finished up the benches,added a little storage and did an aerosol make over on the inside. The benches are covered with rattle can bed liner for now. Planning on covering them and the deck with Hydro Turf when time allows.
From: huntinelk
05-Apr-22
Relocated the flopper stopper and push pole to new locations under the benches.
From: huntinelk
05-Apr-22
From: huntinelk
05-Apr-22
Condition of the old transom board that was replaced.
From: huntinelk
05-Apr-22
Couple pictures of the mud motor and mount.
From: huntinelk
05-Apr-22
From: huntinelk
05-Apr-22
From: huntinelk
05-Apr-22
Hopefully the weather cooperates and soon there will be fish pictures added.
From: JohnMC
05-Apr-22
How fast will that motor push that boat?
From: huntinelk
05-Apr-22
Depending on the load, can get mid to upper 20's with it. Still experimenting to find the best prop size. The motor is still stock, there are some aftermarket hop up parts available for them.
From: Matt
05-Apr-22
Looking good, go slay them.
From: hdaman
05-Apr-22
Cool project! You've done a very nice job with it. Good luck!
From: Beendare
05-Apr-22
Looks good but be careful loading it up.
I’ve setup a couple different bowfishing boats and The one common factor is these small boats are extremely sensitive to weight
From: Pat Lefemine
05-Apr-22
Looks like a nice rig. No lights? It's not complete until you have it rigged up for night bowfishing!! Then your kills will be 10x what your day kills are.
Good job fabricating!
From: huntinelk
05-Apr-22
Lights and a front rail are definitely in the plans. Going to build a mount over top of the bildge pumps to mount a small "suitcase" generator.
From: BULELK1
06-Apr-22
What a kool project
Looks great,
Robb
From: KHNC
07-Apr-22
Nice! Spent a LOT of years sticking fish in NC , SC , GA, FL, TN, IL, OH, KY. Its addictive! If you ever hit the ohio river for bigheads and silvers, you will be ruined. LOL. I havent bowfished since i killed my gator at Seminole in 2015. But im probably going to draw a gator tag this summer again finally. Ill be getting my gear rigged out again. sold my bowfishing boat last year and bought a tractor. So ill have to hire a guide this time for gators. I had a Lowe 1862 Tunnel Jet with pods. LED lights and light bars. Worked great. went thru 3 different boats in the process. lol
From: Shug
07-Apr-22
I like the double pump set up… I think I’ll do the same. Mine has a tunnel hull and I never thought of it till just now…
From: huntinelk
07-Apr-22
I upgraded the piece of nylon rope tied around the rib for hanging the motor when not in motion. Thinking this has the possibility to work as a low speed cruise control too.
From: huntinelk
07-Apr-22
New body containment system.
From: huntinelk
09-Apr-22
From: huntinelk
01-May-22
We were able to get out for a quick scouting trip between the rain showers today.
From: t-roy
01-May-22
A polar bear hunt probably pales in comparison to foul weather free range carp hunting. Is that new body containment system box, a visual reminder for guys to wipe their feet before getting onboard?? Your rig turned out great, Gene!
From: Rut Nut
01-May-22
You did a great job customizing that Jonboat, Gene! Nice job!
From: huntinelk
02-May-22
Troy...the adventure level is pretty high in the wilds of Northern PA, notice we were almost attacked by a rouge free range chicken lurking under the trailer. Free range carp in a man made lake,not sure if they will be eligible for "book" entry?? Yep, don't be mucking up the custom Krylon over dirty aluminum interior....
From: speedgoat
02-May-22
Made that old boat look pretty sharp!
From: huntinelk
30-May-22
Took one of my sons friends out today, it was his first time bowfishing, pretty sure he is hooked now.
From: huntinelk
25-Jun-22
Good haul on a hot summer day.
From: Rut Nut
26-Jun-22
Looks like you had a good day Gene!
From: RT
26-Jun-22
Looks like fun
From: Shug
26-Jun-22
Looks good… Bowfishing is great fun…
From: huntinelk
14-Aug-22
I cashed in a stack of saved up gift cards and bought a new foot steer trolling motor. Much nicer for shooting while being captain.
From: huntinelk
14-Aug-22
Custom mount for the trolling motor.
From: huntinelk
14-Aug-22
Found the perfect size cooler for space available.
From: huntinelk
14-Aug-22
Mount for cooler
From: huntinelk
14-Aug-22
After a month break we were able to get back out for a morning trip yesterday. Water is very low and clear from the lack of rain this summer in PA. Some of the carp are getting a bright yellow color to them now.
From: huntinelk
14-Aug-22
From: huntinelk
24-Sep-22
Finally got a light setup on the boat and got out try them out.
From: huntinelk
24-Sep-22
From: huntinelk
24-Sep-22
First fish under the lights.
From: huntinelk
24-Sep-22
Day after trophy pic of the nights haul
From: t-roy
24-Sep-22
Good stuff, Gene!
From: bowhunter24
25-Sep-22
Making memories...nice rig as well!
From: huntinelk
25-Sep-22
Finished the weekend strong with another night under the lights. A 30 pounder and another full bucket
From: huntinelk
31-Dec-22
My son and a friend are on a road trip with the boat this week.
From: huntinelk
31-Dec-22
Set up base at a state park with these rental tents set up on a platform.
From: huntinelk
31-Dec-22
From: huntinelk
31-Dec-22
Getting some gar
From: huntinelk
31-Dec-22
A few talipia
From: huntinelk
31-Dec-22
From: huntinelk
31-Dec-22
Some armored catfish
From: huntinelk
31-Dec-22
Clown knife fish
From: huntinelk
31-Dec-22
From: huntinelk
31-Dec-22
From: huntinelk
31-Dec-22
From: huntinelk
31-Dec-22
From: huntinelk
31-Dec-22
Adding a few iguanas with pellet gun and blow gun
From: huntinelk
31-Dec-22
From: huntinelk
31-Dec-22
Iguanas seem to be pretty bright colors this time of year.
From: huntinelk
31-Dec-22
Lots of fun and experience for a couple 18 year old boys with a little cheap boat project.
I'm going down to spend the last day with them and help with the drive home.
From: t-roy
31-Dec-22
Hopefully, they remembered to wipe their feet. I’d hate to see either one of them get thrown in the “body containment hole”! Looks like a fun trip! I’ve never heard of a clown knifefish. Did you guys save any iguana legs to try?
From: huntinelk
31-Dec-22
Sock feet only on the Krylon interior...
There are iguana legs on ice.
The clowns are only supposed to be in 2 lakes, but they got into a bunch of them last night 50 miles away.
From: huntinelk
01-Jan-23
I managed to get there in time for a combo trip last evening.
From: huntinelk
01-Jan-23
From: midwest
01-Jan-23
Dog fish!
From: Teeton
01-Jan-23
Nice thread, i was thinking of doing a boat for bowfishing . I have a 14 v boat. But think i need a flat john to do it right. I got a reservoir by my house that a few years back I saw a bunch carp in it why kayaking it. I never onces saw anyone bowfishing it. A buddy lives right by a reservoir thats knowen for having a lot and big carp.. Again nice thread.
From: BULELK1
02-Jan-23
What no snow, wind, ice nor warm clothes?
Is this for real? haha
Happy for y'all, fun trip.
Travel safe,
Robb
From: huntinelk
16-Mar-23
More off season boat enhancing. After the Florida trip we had a better idea of what we wanted for lighting. Ordered up another stack of 100w led lights from Mr Le in China.
From: huntinelk
16-Mar-23
Then started building a railing out of the latest space age polymer materials available.
From: huntinelk
16-Mar-23
From: huntinelk
16-Mar-23
The mounting brackets that come with the lights are pretty flimsy and need some extra stabilizing.
From: huntinelk
16-Mar-23
For $20 the lights are actually pretty bright.
From: iceman
16-Mar-23
Good stuff, Gene!
From: huntinelk
16-Mar-23
Low tech, but effective. Left , right and front groups of lights are on separate switches in case all sides shouldn't be lit up, because of houses or whatever wouldn't be impressed with led lighting in the middle of the night.
From: huntinelk
16-Mar-23
Switched back to tiller steer trolling motor to get all the clutter off the deck.
Wanting for the open air rattle can paint booth to warm up to color match the railing to the deck now.
From: Shug
16-Mar-23
Looks great … I’ve been using HPS for too long. I’ve toyed with the idea of switching to led’s also. Did you research light color and how well it cuts water? (Your findings) Also could ya share a link to where ya bought the fixtures… thanks
From: t-roy
16-Mar-23
You order those latest space age polymer fittings from NASA, or Home Depot??
Looking better each go-round, Gene! BTW….Treeman has been forewarned about wiping his feet.
From: Joey Ward
16-Mar-23
Excellent work! I like your attention to detail.
I like your batting cage too.
Any plans to install an LED light bar under the top bar of the ROPS on your tractor?
From: huntinelk
16-Mar-23
Actually Lowes aerospace section which happens to be in the same isle as the poop transportation section.
Treeman should be fine, he will most likely walk on top of the water to get in the boat with clean sandals on.
Tractor is going to be limited to daylight activities.
Shug, light info on the way.
From: huntinelk
16-Mar-23
Here is a link to the lights. Like everything they have went up, $30 now.
I knew I didn't want to screw with hps lights and didn't want to pay over $100 per light just because it has a picture of a carp on it. Took a chance on the first pair of these to try and they worked fine. Using auto window tint could be an option if you wanted a more yellowish tint instead of bright white.
From: huntinelk
16-Mar-23
Can't get the link to post, but you can look them up on Amazon
From: huntinelk
16-Mar-23
From: huntinelk
16-Mar-23
From: Shug
16-Mar-23
Ty… much appreciated…
From: Shug
16-Mar-23
Ty… much appreciated…
From: WV Mountaineer
16-Mar-23
Roughly how much weight have you added to the boat?
From: Stoneman
17-Mar-23
huntinelk - Great project, great results, and what a great example to those young men! Well done!
Bow fishing is the most fun you can have with your pants on.
From: BULELK1
17-Mar-23
WoW!!
I had to put my sunglasses on just to look at the pix!!
Well done,
Robb
From: midwest
17-Mar-23
badass
From: Paul@thefort
17-Mar-23
My very first bow kill in 1954 was a carp while wading in Lake Erie marshes. What you got there is way over the top. Nicely done. Paul
From: huntinelk
18-Mar-23
Thanks for the comments.
I'm not sure how much all the additions weigh, but has definitely made a 4 person boat into a 2-3 person boat
From: BrentC
19-Mar-23
Very nice. Are you able to run all the lights off battery or are you using a generator?
From: huntinelk
19-Mar-23
Using a 2200 generator
From: huntinelk
09-Apr-23
Finally got most of the winter list completed on the boat just in time for nice early spring weather.
I added some interior lighting.
From: huntinelk
09-Apr-23
Cleaned up the cord routing from the generator to the deck.
From: huntinelk
09-Apr-23
From: huntinelk
09-Apr-23
Got the generator pointing the right direction and custom exhaust reroute.
From: huntinelk
09-Apr-23
Added a couple lights on the transom, mostly for launch lights at unlit boat docks.
From: JTreeman
09-Apr-23
I wanna be like Gene. I bought my own project boat a couple weeks ago. Lots of things to get done, but first is gonna be trolling motor on the front.
I’m accepting all sponsorships, I’ll even put your sticker on the side just like NASCAR…
—Jim
From: huntinelk
09-Apr-23
The open air paint booth opened up for custom color matching with the warm weather.
From: huntinelk
09-Apr-23
It's not nearly as easy as it looks in the movies, being like the cool kids...
From: huntinelk
09-Apr-23
With the nice weather we were able to make a family Easter trip to the lake today. Even got "mom" to join us.
From: huntinelk
09-Apr-23
Most of the fish are still pretty deep, we did manage to get 3 in the boat.
From: Stoneman
09-Apr-23
“It's not nearly as easy as it looks in the movies, being like the cool kids”
Looks pretty Cool to me!
Going to be a fun spring / summer for you.
From: huntinelk
08-May-23
Still don't have really good pics of the lights in action, but can get the idea. This was after they left the Sr prom Sat night....
From: huntinelk
08-May-23
From: huntinelk
15-May-23
From: huntinelk
15-May-23
From: huntinelk
15-May-23
From: Smtn10PT
15-May-23
nice work!
From: Rut Nut
15-May-23
Lookin’ good Gene! Great after-prom activity! ;-)
From: huntinelk
18-May-23
huntinelk's Link
This is kinda topic related. Cody made a video on a bunch of carp after they left the water. Pretty interesting.
From: huntinelk
22-May-23
huntinelk's Link
Here is a video that Cody just did , can see the lights in action.....don't mind the bleeps, Uncle Stan is low on impulse control.
From: BoggsBowhunts
22-May-23
How “tippy” is it up on the rack on that narrow of a frame? I’ve been wanting to build out a Jon boat, I’ve just heard the narrower ones got real tippy real fast?
From: huntinelk
23-May-23
No real issues with being tippy with w guys up there as long as both guys stay on their half. It's 40" across bottom and around 58" at widest on the top rail
From: Treeline
23-May-23
That is one great setup! Great work all the way around and set up for a lot of years of fun with the boys!
From: wifishkiller
26-May-23
I miss bow fishing, love the boat build
From: huntinelk
05-Jun-23
Some catfish for the cooler over the weekend
From: Paul@thefort
05-Jun-23
Fun project for sure. Nicely done by all. my best, Paul
From: huntinelk
21-Jun-23
huntinelk's Link
Here is a video staring the above catfish and the boat. They are goofing it up a bit for the camera with the flat brimmer dude stuff, but are having a good time with it and the boat is getting alot of use.
From: huntinelk
10-May-24
Starting another year with the boat. We added a bigger boat to the arsenal last year, but this one still gets plenty of use and is a fun, ever evolving project.
This was the first shake down run of the year checking everything out a couple weeks ago. Did manage to find one lonely carp in the cold muddy water.
A few changes since last year, added a couple clean up lights towards the back of the boat, again from Mr. Le in China. We also swapped the trailer out to a much sturdier, better towing trailer.
From: huntinelk
10-May-24
Added a couple 12v lights up front for navigating in the dark without needing to run the generator
From: Shug
10-May-24
Looks great… I’m gonna switch from HPS to those LED Which ones did ya get ( color size) are ya happy with them?
From: huntinelk
10-May-24
These are the lights we are using on this boat and they work really well, they are just plain white, but seem to cut dirty water fine. The other boat has real bowfishing lights that probably cost 3x as much and there really isn't much difference
From: huntinelk
10-May-24
We were running all the electrical needs from one dual purpose deep cycle battery , over the winter it was upgraded to 2 lithium batteries that together weight less than the old lead battery. Went with a 100AH for the trolling motor, interior lights, navigation lights and the rear launch lights. Went with a starting battery that is sized for a Harley for engine starting and driving "headlights"
From: huntinelk
10-May-24
Upgraded to a Noco "smart" charger for the trolling motor. The Briggs motor has a pretty strong charging system in it and keeps the starting battery charged.
From: huntinelk
10-May-24
The last cheap Chinese generator had a fairly short life span. I suspect excessive heat was part of the problem, so we got another cheap Chinese generator, same thing just different color and made some changes. I raised it up a couple inches in the boat to get more air circulation. Since the case was the same I cut a hole in the old side cover and added the USB fan to help push more cooling air through it.
From: huntinelk
10-May-24
I cut the louvers out of the back cover to allow the hot air to be pushed out over the transom instead of the downward angle recirculating it back into the generator. With it sitting higher I was able to run the exhaust much straighter ans should flow cooler. The silicone hose exhaust pipe is rated for 350 degrees and has survived 6 hours of running so far.
From: huntinelk
10-May-24
The last off season upgrade was adding this 12v fuel pump. It has the same disconnect as the gas tank and a small shut off on the other end. Now instead of carrying a small gas can or going back to the truck to refuel the generator, can unhook the engine gas line and connect the pump line to fill the generator...in flight fueling.
From: huntinelk
10-May-24
Cody and a friend took it out for a night time test a couple nights ago and all went well. Should be ready for another season of fish hunting.
If the weather cooperates they are planning a trip to Maryland to try for snakeheads and catfish next week.
From: huntinelk
10-May-24
From: huntinelk
10-May-24
From: Shug
11-May-24
Ty Got 8
From: midwest
11-May-24
Heck of a project! Looks great, Gene!
From: CaptMike
11-May-24
Do the float pods add stability? Do they help balance the boat better when you have people on the shooting deck? Nice job and thanks in advance!
From: CaptMike
11-May-24
Do the float pods add stability? Do they help balance the boat better when you have people on the shooting deck? Nice job and thanks in advance!
From: huntinelk
12-May-24
The pods may ad a bit of stability because of more surface area in the water. The main purpose is increased load carrying resulting in the boat sitting higher in the water, letting it get in shallower spots. These pods are actually oversized for this boat, they work fine with the long tail motor, but there isn't enough space between for a standard outboard to fully turn.
From: huntinelk
13-May-24
Just got this pic. Boys have the first snakehead in the boat.
From: t-roy
14-May-24
Good stuff, Gene! Are snakeheads the same as a bowfin, or totally different species? They sure look very similar, if not.
From: huntinelk
14-May-24
Snakeheads are invasive from Asia. They are a very viscous predator fish. I believe they are limited to the east coast so far. These ones are northern snakeheads.
From: huntinelk
14-May-24
From: huntinelk
15-Jun-24
huntinelk's Link
Here is a video from the first night trip of the year on the boat. Also showing Cody's evolving video and editing skills. Hard to believe this is the 4th summer since this boat project started.
From: Pyrannah
16-Jun-24
man i wanna catch a snakehead... where are they in md? they are slowly making their way here up to pa...
thanks
From: huntinelk
17-Jun-24
The snakeheads are pretty much in every tributary of the Chesapeake bay, they were probably around 20 miles south of PA border when they got these ones. They have made it past the Conowingo dam and are in the lower Susquehanna in PA now. PA has added them to the bowfishing species list.
From: CaptMike
17-Jun-24
That is a really nice picture!
From: Pyrannah
17-Jun-24
thanks huntinelk!
appreciate the pm, i will be doing some research and headed down....
i have heard they are actually pretty good table fare
thanks again!
From: huntinelk
23-Jun-24
River sucker, quill back sucker, camo sucker
River sucker, quill back sucker, camo sucker
Bull head, flathead catfish, channel catfish
Bull head, flathead catfish, channel catfish
They did a full overnight trip last night. Lots of action, a boat record 36 pound carp, the first flathead catfish from our area, and a variety of suckers.
From: huntinelk
23-Jun-24
Catfish variety pack on ice
From: Beav
23-Jun-24
Nice!!
From: Rut-Nut
23-Jun-24
FROM: huntinelk 23-Jun-24
Catfish variety pack on ice
LOL! Very nice Gene!
From: t-roy
23-Jun-24
The costs on those catfish variety packs are probably comparable to Canadian walleye filets…for Dad, anyways :-)
Looks like your son and his buddies are getting lots of use out this project.
From: huntinelk
07-Jul-24
huntinelk's Link
Video from the Maryland snakehead trip.
From: Mad Trapper
09-Jul-24
Gene when are you going to add the 50 cal deck gun?
From: huntinelk
09-Jul-24
Thinking a .223 may be more appropriate for the size of the boat...
From: huntinelk
21-Jul-24
huntinelk's Link
Video of the boat being loaded heavy and doing what it was built to do...
From: huntinelk
31-Jul-24
This is a southern sting ray
This is a southern sting ray
This is a very small cow nose ray
This is a very small cow nose ray
The project van for traveling and doing cool stuff before life gets in the way
The project van for traveling and doing cool stuff before life gets in the way
Cody and his buddy Nathaniel headed south with the boat hooked to Cody's new to him Astro camper van project to big water, big game bowfishing. They got there late last night and were able to get out for a few hours before heavy rain shut them down, they are back at it today, putting some new species in the boat.
From: huntinelk
31-Jul-24
A nice cownose just got in the boat.
From: huntinelk
01-Aug-24
Pictures from the overnight trip.
From: No Mercy
01-Aug-24
Amazing-I love this thread!
From: huntinelk
05-Aug-24
Few more pics from the stingray trip. The biggest one from the trip and gutless processing.
From: huntinelk
05-Aug-24
Filets from one of the daytime rays
Filets from one of the daytime rays
From: Beav
07-Aug-24
Those southern rays are damn good! Cownose to me weren't nearly as good to eat.
From: huntinelk
15-Sep-24
huntinelk's Link
Another traveling adventure with the boat project
From: huntinelk
29-Sep-24
huntinelk's Link
Big fish in a small boat - video from the stingray trip
