Flat Bottom Jon Boat

A 12 ft flat-bottomed scow for fishing shallow backwaters and weed beds. The article argues that the wide flat bottom gives more usable room than a round or V-bottom boat of the same length, and the whole boat uses cheap lumber yard materials: pine for frames, gunwales, chine logs and seat parts, oak for the runners and chine moldings.

Bottom, sides and foredeck are 3/8 in AB exterior plywood and the transom is two layers of 3/4 in plywood glued together. The bottom is laid out from a full-size half pattern, and oak runners under the bottom and replaceable oak strips along the chines take the wear when the boat is dragged up a rocky beach. Window lifts bolted to bow and transom serve as carrying handles. Rowing is the default, but the transom can be trimmed for an outboard.