Are you in the market for the best Jon boat?
If you are looking for a simple, affordable, easy-to-use boat for fun weekends, a Jon boat is your best choice.
These little boats come with nothing more than one or two seats, a bench and a motor. But their hassle-free simplicity and utility make them attractive to both experienced and new boat owners.
But, not all Jon boats are the same. Some are excellent for prowling a small lake, while others are more capable of larger water bodies.
The best Jon boat will ultimately depend on your boating needs and budget. I wrote this guide to review the top 10 best Jon boats in the market.
As with everything else, each of the boats I recommend here has its pros and cons, so you want to weigh those to find the one that works best for you.
Without further ado, let us look at the ten best Jon boats!
Best Jon Boats
1. Crestliner 1860 Retriever
The Crestliner 1860 Retriever Jon boat is versatile enough for trapping, fishing, hunting, or prowling around the pond on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
The boat is built from rugged aluminum welded together for a lightweight but hardy vessel. It is 18’’ long and 7’1’’ at its widest point, offering you plenty of elbow space and storage on the platform itself.
The Crestliner comes in various colors, including beige and green, and an option of camouflage patterns. It further features a non-slip spray-in liner, making the interior rugged enough to prevent slipping accidents.
It also comes with a center or side console option, which lends itself to customization. There is plenty of room to add other features to the console, such as a fish finder and other electronics you prefer. The seats are foldable, and the bench doubles as storage, adding to this boat’s notable versatility.
2. 2022 Lund 1448
Lund is a leading manufacturer of fishing and utility boats. The company is well-known for its quality and workmanship, and the 2022 Lund 1448 is no exception.
The new Lund 1448 Jon boat features a squared-off bow and a flat bottom, making it the perfect vessel for exploring shallow waters when hunting geese or ducks.
The boat measures 14’’ in length with a beam or width of 70’’. The boat can comfortably accommodate more than 30 anglers on board with its large capacity.
Other extra features on the Lund 1448 Jon boat include two transom handles, formed-in keels and spray rails, oarlocks, and a drain plug to get water out of the boat.
The boat is available in a standard olive green color, perfect for camouflaging the vessel during duck hunting.
3. 2022 SeaArk Mud Runner 180
Do you envision boating expeditions that involve navigating through muddy swamps and bayous? The aptly named SeaArk Mud Runner 180 might be your perfect vessel for the job.
These rugged Jon boats are made using marine-grade aluminum, guaranteeing a long life span and the ability to navigate the murkiest of waters where few boats would dare go.
Hardiness and durability are the hallmarks of this boat, as can be seen by the inclusion of transverse and longitudinal ribs. These ribs give the boat extra strength and balance to navigate muddy waters. The low prowl keel, which is centrally placed, further strengthens the boat without taking away from its performance.
The 2022 SeaArk Mud Runner 180 features a smooth-bottomed hull and a special Extreme Turn Technology to enhance the boat’s performance in stumpy waters.
The boat comes with an added Timber Runner Package that reinforces the bow deck. The kit includes LED lights, and deck grab handles to extend the bow deck, giving the boat extra strength.
Another notable feature is the transom bracket on the boat’s stern. The extension can support a zero-draft motor to help you navigate tough, wet terrain.
4. 2022 Alumacraft 1032 Jon Tiller
The 1032 Jon Tiller by Alumacraft espouses all the best qualities of a Jon boat—affordability, simplicity, and user-friendliness.
This boat measures just 10 feet in length and 3.6 feet wide, but its solid build makes it a perfect companion for serious fishing or leisure sailing in shallow waters.
The 1032 Jon Tiller has no wooden parts and is built from an all-welded construction, including the transom. It is super-tough and built for the rough bayous and swamps of the out-country. Yet, the boat is still super light, allowing you to easily get it in and out of the water.
Another outstanding feature is the diamond-plated platform installed on the boat’s bow. This works as a perching spot for your furry friend, for casting out a line, and for extra traction when getting on the boat.
The 2022 Alumacraft 1032 is specially designed with large grab handles, which come in handy for docking the boat or holding on tight in rough waters. The rubber guard rub railing protects your boat when docking and launching.
5. Grizzly 2072 CC Sportsman
The Grizzly Tracker 2072 CC Sportsman is the ideal boat for bow fishing. It is built with a raised deck from where you can accurately and easily target your hunt.
The boat is made of all-aluminum construction, giving it the durability and ruggedness it needs to withstand long-term use.
Located in the bow is a15-gallon aerated live well with a bait bucket holder. Additional features include a non-skid interior, drink holders, tool holders, a utility tray, and storage compartments to store your valuables when you are out in the water.
A particularly unique feature is the revamped LED lighting that will give your boat adequate illumination when the sun goes down or when exploring dark coves. There are ten extra bright LED bulbs on the boat, giving out 10,000 lumens.
The Grizzly 2072 CC Sportsman is on the higher side of the price spectrum. But, with all the added features on this boat, it is well worth it.
6. American 12 by Sun Dolphin
The American 12, manufactured by boat-building experts, Sun Dolphin is the ideal boat for a solo trip or a two-person adventure out in the shallow waters.
At just 12 feet long and 52 inches wide, this little lightweight boat is easy to handle in and out of the water. Note that it weighs a mere 110 lbs!
It is designed with a flat bottom, giving it the traction to access inland waterways and shallow swamps. The deliberate flat construction also adds to the boat’s stability.
While most others are built from aluminum, the American 12 by Sun Dolphin is constructed from UV-stabilized high-density polyethylene. It comes with spacious bench-style seating with room in the bow and stern to store gear and a cooler box to keep your catch for the day. This roomy boat can store up to 532lb worth of gear on board.
There are ready-made mounts that make it easy to mount your preferred outboard motor. Other features that appeal to the angler include 4-rod holder positions, oarlock sockets, and storage trays.
If you are looking for a high-quality boat with added features, the American 12 by Sun Dolphin is an excellent choice.
7. 2022 G3 16 DK
The G3 16 DK is one of the best Jon boats for the avid duck hunter. At 16 feet long and coming in at 525 pounds heavy, this boat is built to withstand the rough and tough of dark coves, muddy swamps, and unchartered bayous.
This boat is all-welded with tough aluminum and features a Dyna-Grip platform resistant to slips when the boat is wet. A 100-inch thick aluminum is welded on the boat’s hull for extra reinforcement, stability, and longevity.
The G3 16 DK is available in fantastic camouflage colors, including shadow grass, mossy oak, break-up camo, and desert brown. The unique choice of colors makes this the perfect boat for prowling shallow waters and camouflaging when duck hunting.
The boat also comes with lockable storage compartments to safely store your hunting firearms. The lockbox can serve as a hunter’s bench, providing extra seating space on the boat to carry up to three hunters.
Two high-intensity LED headlights are installed under the bow extension to provide adequate lighting when the sun goes down. Other outstanding features include a 12-volt switch panel, 13-inch radial tires, and a galvanized steel trailer.
8. Excel Boats F4 Pro Hull 1754
The F4 Pro Hull 1754 by Excel Boats is every duck hunter’s dream. It is light, easy to handle, fast, and built to last a lifetime.
The Excel Boat company pioneered the raised deck, and the Pro Hull is a masterpiece of the company’s initial vision. It comes with an open hull design, helping the boat run shallower and move faster even in swampy terrain. The reinforced floor is specially built to navigate murky waters for successful duck hunting sessions.
This high-speed boat is loaded with a tripe tape chine, step deck, bilge, stand-up bar, front grab rail, a welded-in full floor, and running lights.
The welded-in full floor has five longitudinal ribs that run and extrude to the boat’s bow. Two 2” braces run across the floor, offering further reinforcement, making the Pro Hull an incredibly tough vessel for prowling shallow waters.
The stand-up bar accommodates three height adjustments and can be folded into the boat when necessary. When mounted on the gunwale accessory rail, the stand-up bar can further be adjusted forward or backward as needed.
There’s an optional LED headlight illuminating 5800 lumens, and it can be adjusted up, down, and around as needed when navigating dark marshes.
Another cool feature in the boat is an optional 11-gallon fuel tank you can use at your convenience. The tank is EPA compliant and comes with two storage pockets and a mesh cover.
9. Lowe L1852MT Aura Boat
For many generations, Classic Riveted Jon boats have been a popular choice among hunters and anglers. The MT L1852 Aura is spacious, tough, and quick, all the qualities you need in a Jon boat.
Measuring 17’9” long and 6’3” in width, the boat can accommodate up to three hunters and luggage and still navigate shallow waters with utmost stability.
This riveted boat comes with a roomy raised front deck with built-in storage. The level cockpit floor and a Mod-V bow work perfectly to improve mobility, versatility, and general ease of use. There is an option for tiller versions and side consoles, depending on your preferred style.
Like most Lowe Jon boats, this one is built from aluminum alloy, painted over with long-lasting olive acrylic paint. Extruded longitudinal aluminum ribs, spray rails formed in keels, and corner caps on the transform give this boat the ruggedness it needs to sustain long-term use in the roughest shallow water terrains.
10. War Eagle 2170 Black Hawk
The aptly named Black Hawk War Eagle 2170 is the quintessential fishing and hunting Jon boat. At 21 feet long and 8 feet wide, the Black Hawk is a large vessel that will accommodate a party of three for a weekend of shallow water fishing and hunting.
This boat is specially designed with a V-shaped hull instead of the usual flat-bottom hull. Although this might seem like a disadvantage, the V-shape helps the boat cut through slightly deep, murky waters, allowing you to go to the best hunting spots.
Its hull gauge is thicker than what is found on a regular Jon boat, making this one a sturdy vessel. If you are looking for a large yet easy-to-handle boat with all the features needed to withstand long-term use, the War Eagle 2170 Black Hawk is excellent.
Summary: 10 Best Jon Boats
A Jon boat might not have the fanciest features and may not make waves. But, if you are looking for an affordable, hassle-free way to enjoy your weekends out in the inland waters, a Jon boat is an easy choice.
Whether you want one for hunting, catfishing, fishing, or prowling the shallow water, there’s a boat to suit your needs.
Our list of the ten best Jon boats should be a handy guide to selecting one that aligns with your lifestyle, budget, and boating needs.
Great article