Jon Boat: A 12 ft Flat-Bottom Plywood Work Boat
A square-ended 12 ft jon boat in exterior plywood, built for three to five adults and a 1 to 6 hp outboard.
A jon boat does not try to be pretty; it tries to be useful, and this one succeeds. It measures 12 ft (3.7 m) with a broad 5 ft (1.5 m) beam, flat bottom and square stem and transom. AC exterior plywood panels are formed over wooden frames, so the build is quick and forgiving. It carries three to five adults and runs on a 1 to 6 hp outboard, making it ideal for fishing, duck blinds and dock chores.
Jon Boat at a glance
| Detail | Jon Boat |
|---|---|
| Type | Jon boat |
| Length | 12 ft (3.66 m) |
| Beam | 5 ft (1.52 m) |
| Capacity | 3–5 adults |
| Construction | AC exterior plywood panels formed over wooden frames; flat bottom, square stem and transom |
| Power | 1–6 hp outboard |
| First published | Boat Builder, p. 48 |
| Craft Print | No. 311 |
| Plan sheets | 5 |
Built for rough work
A square bow and stern give the most usable space for the length, and the 5 ft (1.5 m) beam makes the boat steady enough to stand in while casting or hauling gear. The flat bottom keeps draft shallow for creeks and marshes. AC exterior plywood over wooden frames is cheap, easy to source and simple to repair. A small 1 to 6 hp outboard pushes it well, keeping running costs pleasantly low.
The original plan sheets
These are the 5 original sheets, scanned from the magazine. For building, use the full-size PDF in the download section below.
Before you build
- Stay within the 1 to 6 hp outboard range and limit the load to five adults.
- Coat the flat bottom well and add rub strips, since a jon boat gets dragged over gravel and mud.
- Fit foam flotation under the seats so the boat stays afloat if it fills with water.
Download the plan
All five Jon Boat sheets in one file, ready to print at full size or open on a tablet in the workshop.
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