Canoe vs Jon-Boat? Which one would be better for all around use? I would need it for hunting fishing and camping and usually go

[driggs5454]

Canoe vs Jon-Boat? Which one would be better for all around use? I would need it for hunting fishing and camping and usually go out on everything from small ponds and rivers to lakes.

[Charley]

Canoes are far more versatile and portable than jon boats (I like both of them, so I'm not biased).
Canoes have been used for thousands of years for all types of purposes. They are easy to transport, store and take care of. Their only drawback is stability, but that can be easily solved with a small pair of outriggers.

[Alex Pernice the fly rod winner]

I'd say if you want speed and hauling capacity, go with a john boat. If you want stealth, ease of transportation, and all around versatility, go with a canoe. only problem would be stability, and as said above, its easily solved with a pair of outriggers.

[jerry k]

forget both go with a pirogue

[silsbyj]

Jon boat hands down. Not that a canoe doesnt have its advantages, but a jon boat allows you to mount a small motor if you need to travel across a large amount of water. Based on the question...your going to need a motor.

[JB]

I maybe a bit biased, as I use a canoe on a regular basis. there models out there with squared off tails that allow you to mount a trolling motor or even a small gasoline engine but there are still easy to portage with. I have a Radisson squareback or cartopper, and have had it for 9yrs and it'sstood up well. It's been portaged a mile into pond for some fishing used it to paddle into camping sites and gets into spots I haven't seen another boat go.

[prairieghost]

i'd have to say a canoe, especially a square stern. some of those will accommodate up to a 5 hp motor. i had a coleman scanoe for twenty years that had a 40" beam. i installed a seat in the middle and oar locks for aluminum paddles and it handled everything from lakes to class III whitewater equally well. hauled wife and kids on outings, decoys and dog for hunting and up to two other adults for fishing. could drag that thing over extremely rough terrain and still load in the pickup by myself.

[TheEasternShoreHunter]

depending on the price range i would go with the Jon boat much more stable for hunting or fishing and if you get a small model can be car topped.

[Bruce E. Matthews]

Canoe's more versatile in every area except the size of the power plant, the load capacity and platform stability. Make a list of your needs in these areas; if you're not needing/planning for an outboard except occasionally, if you mostly haul a couple hundred pounds or less, and if you don't usually need to stand up to cast a fly then a canoe might be the ticket. If you're planning to portage, poke around in narrow, shallow water or doing moving water regularly, a canoe's pretty much it for you.

[j-johnson17]

I think it totally depends on the riders... If you are taking kids, I would go with the Jon. It is more stable in the water and you also have the versatility of adding either an electric or gas motor if needed. When you are hunting, the gas motor is almost a necessity in my opinion. On the other hand, a canoe will allow you to carry-in almost anywhere you want to go, again depending on you passengers...

[Wags]

Canoe, but go with a square stern for the trolling motor or small gas.

[prairieghost]

i've been in a portaboat, or foldaboat or whatever you want to call them and i'll take a square stern canoe ANY time.

[Sportsman Matt]

I would have to say that the jon boat is more stable, but the canoe is more versatile as far as rivers and stumps go. Both have their merits and downfalls, to choose one, I would have to go with a 15' canoe with a 40" beam, and if available, a square stern.

[kvlazer22]

I like both however, if you do a lot of fishing by yourself nothing is easier in terms of carrying, maneuvering, storing, loading on a vehicle, etc.

[Kosofish]

My voet is a jon boat, but not any jon boat. a wood jonboat.
I grew up on the rivers of the Ozarks with a canoe, loved'm. They got me to all the fishing spots held what gear i thought i needed and easily trasportable. Then...I made a wooden 20ft jonboat. I'll never go back. Now canoes have their place but if you plan to hunt, fish, camp, sightsee, photography, take kids out, or just let you wife sunbathe in the front while you fish then my longboat takes the cake.

Check it out at www.longboatoutfitters.com

Now it does need a trailer but this boat draws less water that a kayak and holds over 1000lbs of gear while it can still be steared by one paddle in the stearn. It is super stable and I can stand on the gunnel loaded with gear and it only leans a bit. Mount a troller to it for limblines or just float with the current. Now this is strictly a designed as a river boat, maybe a small pond or lake boat. The sides are only 12inches high. This makes it also much better in the wind than a canoe. Total weight about 180lbs so two men can carry it.

Come take a ride in it and if you want one I'll build one to your specifications.

Have a good one.

Kyle Kosovich