Pacemaker Fishing Forum

Why don't we ask Carl about the 1st jon boat he built.......

I really wish you guys the best. In the mid sixties, when dinosaurs ruled the earth, I tried to build a jon boat. With no professional advice I cut, glued and screwed together something that resembled a jon boat. When completed I took it to Weems Creek in Annapolis for the maiden voyage. I remember well untying the ropes and lifting it from the top of my car. When I tried to launch it, the seat pulled free from the bulkhead! This seat was suppose to give structural support to the plywood sides. I stuck the seat back in the boat and lifted the outboard motor up onto the transom. In those days outboard motors were large and heavy. The bow immediately headed skyward so I asked my fishing partner to sit in front to compensate. As I recall, this gave us approximately no freeboard. Port and starboard, we were almost flush with the water. I started the motor and we slowly went out into the creek. Then, like now, my favorite quarry was White Perch.

Well, we began catching fish; but the only cooler was full of beer! Not a problem, because we were taking on water fast enough to create a huge live well in the bottom of the boat! As darkness overtook us we sat in a half sunk boat with beer cans floating and fish swimming all around. One of us must have had a sober moment and decided to start the motor and head for shore. When we beached the vessel, we used our shoe laces as stringers. After removing the motor and gas tank we allowed Weems Creek to claim the SS May Float as fish habitat!

That is funny Carl!  I do not plan on the boat sinking..this is the 6th boat that I have helped to build and the 5 before are still working.  We worked for 5 1/2 hours today with a McDonalds and Home Depot break in between.  We sanded the scarfed pieces of wood, cut the sides out, and but jointed them together.  We then started fitting the frames so that we can glue them on Monday.  Pics will be up soon.

We are at 9 1/2 total hours so far!

Here are the pics.

The two sides.



The but joint drying.



Transporting the frames that we scarf jointed.



Sanding the scarf joints.



The frames that we fitted to be glued and nailed tomorrow.

Bob- There are more sideways shots from his Disney trip! You know...Charlie is a smart guy. He's a very good fisherman, a boat builder, a leader and a good student.

But what gives with these pictures? Can someone help this young lad before us old guys get permanent neck damage?

Pacemaker wrote:

Bob- There are more sideways shots from his Disney trip! You know...Charlie is a smart guy. He's a very good fisherman, a boat builder, a leader and a good student.

But what gives with these pictures? Can someone help this young lad before us old guys get permanent neck damage?

If he can't get them posted upright he should put a warning "best viewed lying down". I was starting to think it was me.

I wonder what my parents will say when I start parking the boat in the garage?

Matt and I did a LOT of work today!  Matt will tell you what we did for 7 hours besides going to home depot 3 times.

Last edited by redskinsfan360 (Apr-13-09 1:39PM)

We also did the side supports....


Here are the pics







Now turn your head...

Haha...he was hammering.  You had to put your whole body into hammering the front while holding it still so the nail would go in.

I think I am going to like his boat more than some of mine when it is done

I see you swinging the hammer....and holding the wood!

Tuesday we worked for about three hours and put the bottom on and Matt showed me all of his ideas for the layout.

Today, wednesday, we put more supports on the inside running from bow to stern.   Worked for two hours.