Exploring Jon Boat Motors: A Comprehensive Guide
Looking to put a motor on your aluminum Jon boat?
It’s not easy to decide on the most suitable motor for Jon boat, since this special flat-bottomed boat can go faster with less horsepower, and wrong motor setup will beat you badly in any chop.
So how big of a motor can you put on the boat? What kind of speed can you expect from the Jon boat motor? How much would that cost? How to find cheap Jon boat motors for sale?
Check out this comprehensive Jon boat motor guide to learn from experienced users and experts to make a wise choice (and save money).
Table of contents:
How to Decide Jon Boat Motor Sizes
So here comes the most tricky question on Jon boat motor selection:
“What’s the ideal motor size for my aluminum Jon boat?”
Here are several ways to figure out the HP for your Jon boat motors:
#1. Check Your Capacity Plate
The easiest way to decide the Jon boat motor sizes is to check the capacity plate on the transom and get whatever the max HP rating is.
If the capacity plate says “4 persons or470 lbs, 25 HP motor”, then 25 HP is the biggest you can fit.
It’s always nice to have reserve power. With extra power, you can carry more weight if you want. Nobody will complain about having extra HP even if you aren’t using it.
The idea is you can always slow it down or set a throttle stop to keep you safe, but you can never get a 10 HP to go 60 mph.
This is a good way to determine Jon boat motor sizes if cost is not a factor for you.
Note: There are quite a few lakes with 10 HP limits. In that case, a 9.9 HP Jon boat motor would be your best choice.
#2. Rule of Thumb
If you’re on a budget and don’t need to go very fast, there is no need to go extremes with Jon boat motor sizes.
The thing is using an outboard motor that’s too large for your Jon boat can be dangerous. However, going with a motor that’s too small will make you struggle getting on plane.
Generally speaking, a 6 HP outboard motor would be enough to move a Jon boat under 6,000 lbs at decent speed, and a 9.9 HP outboard is suitable for a Jon boat under 1,2000 lbs.
So a 9.9 HP is a popular choice for Jon boat owners since it can accommodate a majority of Jon boat models (10 ft, 12 ft, 14 ft, and even larger size) as long as the weight is within limit.
Note: The information above is just for your rough reference. The best Jon boat motor sizes will depend more on hull shape, weight placement, propeller, etc.
#3. Check the Performance Data
A more reliable way is to check the test data in the real world. That way, you can have a better idea about whether the Jon boat outboard motor can satisfy your specific needs.
For example, a 9.9 HP ePropulsion Navy 6.0 can easily put you at 15 mph with a single person on a 12 ft aluminumJon boat in calm weather.
Some reputable Jon boat motor manufacturers, including ePropulsion, provide in-depth performance information on various boat-and-engine combinations to help you make an informed choice.
Also, you can find such information on YouTube and forums. Just type your boat model (or size) plus the engine combination, you will see tons of useful results.
Tip: If your Jon boat motor couldn’t reach its top speed as tested, you may change the prop and get the motor a bit lower to see if it works.
Combustion vs Electric vs Trolling Motor for Jon Boat
Basically, there are three outboard motor solutions to outfit your Jon boat:
#1. Gas Motor for Jon Boat
If you want decent speed for hauling more people and your camping or fishing gear, the gas motor is a reliable choice for main propulsion, since it provides a wide range of power options (from 2.5 HP to 300 HP or even higher).
During your selection, note that the 4 stroke Jon boat motor models are usually heavier than the 2 strokes but consume less gas.
Generally speaking, the combustion Jon boat motors are more prone to mechanical issues due to its complex internal components. For example, you may find it hard to fire it up after winter.
#2. Trolling motors for Jon Boat
Trolling motors are also a popular option for Jon boat owners. Some lakes and communities even don’t allow gas powered motors.
That’s because this small electric motor is silent, smooth, and easy to operate, making life so much easier for you.
Also, some of you might consider getting a trolling motor for Jon boat to save money.
It’s true that you don’t need to spend as much. However, as the name implies, you can only troll with the motor, so you are not going to be cruising anywhere fast, especially for larger Jon boats over 12 ft.
Personally, trolling motors are more suitable for small calm lakes or navigating close to shore.
#3. Electric Jon Boat Motor
An electric Jon boat motor can be the best of both worlds.
Compared with trolling motors, it’s much more powerful to combat wind and waves, so you can use it as your primary source of power.
Also, it’s much quieter and less smelly than gas engines. There’s no struggle to start the engine or annoying shaking all the time.
So if you want enough HP to get out of inclement weather and reach the other side of the lake in a reasonable amount of time, you will need an electric Jon boat motor.
Best Jon Boat Motors
If you are in a rush and want a reliable outboard motor for your Jon boat, be sure to check out the following recommendations.
#1. Spirit Series
If you are looking for a small Jon boat motor and don’t need it to be very fast, this 3 HP comparable Spirit 1.0 Evo is tailor-made for you.
| Power (W) | Speed (mph / kph) | Runtime (hh:mm) | Range (mile / km) |
| 35 | 2.2 / 3.5 | 12:25 | 80 / 129 |
| 65 | 2.7 / 4.3 | 19:35 | 53 / 85.3 |
| 125 | 3.5 / 5.6 | 10:00 | 35 / 56 |
| 250 | 4.4 / 7.1 | 5:00 | 22 / 35.5 |
| 500 | 5.3 / 8.5 | 2:30 | 13.3 / 21.3 |
| 750 | 5.7 / 9.2 | 1:40 | 9.5 / 15.3 |
| 1000 | 6.2 / 10 | 1:15 | 7.8 / 12.5 |
So it goes about 6.2 mph max speed on a 12-foot Jon boat with one person and one Spirit battery Plus in calm lake water.
For small Jon boats, weight is the biggest enemy. This Jon boat motor weighs only 19 lbs (8.7 kg). So you will not add too much weight onboard and it’s also easy to lift and carry around. You can also use it as a backup motor.
If you don’t plan on going super fast and just want to fish small calm lakes, the Spirit Jon boat motor is your best choice.
#2. Navy Series
If the Spirit 1.0 Evo is not big enough for you, you may consider upgrading to the 9.9 HP comparable Navy 6.0 Evo.
The Navy Series Jon boat motors are perfect for fishing medium-sized lakes. It’s powerful enough to get around at least two people and your fishing gear, at a decent speed:
| Power (Watt) | Speed (mph / kph) | Running Time (hh:mm) | Range (mile / km) |
| 500 | 4 / 6.5 | 18:00 | 72 / 116 |
| 1000 | 5 / 8 | 9:00 | 45 / 72 |
| 2000 | 6.7 / 10.8 | 4:30 | 30.2 / 48.6 |
| 3000 | 8 / 13 | 3:00 | 24 / 39 |
| 4000 | 11.5 / 18.5 | 2:15 | 25.9 / 41.7 |
| 5000 | 13.5 / 21.8 | 1:50 | 24.7 / 39.8 |
| 6000 | 15 / 24.3 | 1:30 | 22.5 / 36.5 |
*The performance data is based on a 12-foot Jon boat with one person, powered by one Navy 6.0 Evo with one E175 battery, in calm lake water.
The best thing about this Jon boat motor is that it keeps you from getting kicked off at the 10 HP limited lakes.
#3. X Series
If you’re going to move around upwind or against tides all the time and want a more powerful Jon boat motor solution, you can check out the X Series engines.
According to the test, you will probably be able to get up to 36 mph with its largest X40 Jon boat motor (tested on a 20 ft boat with two people onboard).
If you don’t need to cover water quickly, you can always slow it down for more range and runtime.
However, don’t forget to take the weight into consideration. Larger means heavier motors and batteries.
Bonus: All these recommended Jon boat motor models are available worldwide with immediate support. Click to find a dealer near you for more information.
Tips to Find Jon Boat Motors for Cheap
As you may have already noticed, Jon boat motors don’t come cheap. You’ll likely need to spend up to $1,000 on a small Jon boat motor if you want something new and reliable.
However, there are still some ways to help you save money:
Choose a reliable and affordable brand. This allows you to get the best motor you can for the price. Usually you will never go wrong with those inexpensive outboard motor brands with great reviews, such as ePropulsion.
If the used Jon boat motors are fine with you and you’re mechanically inclined, you will have a lot more options.
Just shop around Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, and you will find all kinds of Jon boat motors at good prices.
Also, check out the Jon boat with motor for sale. Generally, you will get a great discount and save big if you purchase the boat and motor package.
For used Jon boat motors, remember that brand is less important than maintenance records in your choice.
Further Reading: How Can I Find a Reliable Outboard for Cheap
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