In this short video we talk about rebuilding, modifying, and customizing small fishing boats in order to best suit your fishing needs. In winter and spring 2013, we gutted a 14 foot aluminum jon boat and rebuilt it from within the interior to exterior, and then outfitted it with accessories to maximize its performance. Small add-ons like a bowmount MinnKota Edge trolling motor, Garmin and Lowrance HDS fish locators, front and rear casting decks, storage areas, and more can make  a small, unsophisticated boat perform like a much bigger boat. As a river angler who enjoys float tripping for endless miles, and a small waters fisherman who frequently fishes backwoods lakes with difficult public access, we’ve built a boat that is economical, comfortable, and fun to fish with.

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About the Boat

What we started with was a helpless, run-down 14 foot boat. Over the course of two months, we had successfully restored, refinished, and built another brand new fishing boat along with the aid of some special helpers. Due to our affinity for muskies and river fishing, we named this rig the “Muskie Jumper.” 14 feet of aluminum nestled onto Shoreland’r trailer which was saved from our previous tin boat.

This original boat was purchased for $350 along roadside. Original rotted trailer was then given away. The cost of parts and materials and add-ons was $365 before all sorts of last-minute screws and mounting bolts were needed. What saved lots of money was having majority of the accessories such as the outboard, trailer, electronics and carpeting.

As bad as this boat once looked, it was a surprisingly quick project to complete due to organization, having an idea of what we were doing, and envisioning what we wanted to build. This goes to show that if you can picture it, you will surely be able to build it. What’s been rebuilt is a dream fishing rig for float trips and small waters fishing.