View Full Version : Pelican Intruder 12' Jon Boat
Anyone have any experience with these. I was going to get a canoe. But with the kid I think a Jon Boat would be better.
http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2131684
craigepo
05-26-2011, 21:24
Where are you going to fish? Flat water, a jon boat is pretty handy. You can stick an electric trolling motor and one deep cycle battery in the boat and go fish for an afternoon. But, if you get into anything with current and splash, a canoe w/o keel is the way to go.
I have spent a lot of time in a jon boat, but not one made out of composite. That would be nice regarding weight. Remember, composites break down in sunlight, so you need to have a place to store it out of the sun.
Another thing to consider as well is transportation. If you have a jon boat, with motor, and gear, you are getting close to needing a trailer. Conversely, I have a rack for my pickup bed for my canoes. I can load two boats by myself, and still use the bed for hauling.
I just throw them into the back of my truck, then hook up a trolling motor. Its all pond fishing. What surprised me is the pelican Boats weigh more then the metal ones.
The Pelican is a good choice for what you're doing.
An aluminum boat is less expensive and lighter, but gets "hotter" in direct sun light, also bright glare makes for uncomfortable children and difficult fishing.
Dads/kids/coolers, enough space to be managable, able to keep an eye on things and small kids safe.
The Pelican will fade in time, but will remain durable. Seasonal storage space, keep it covered and dry.
At some point you will want a canoe just for yourself, until then, enjoy.
How old is your youngest? Look for a used one, you might only want one only for a season or two.
Down here on the rock, the Carolina Skiff gets a lot of air time. They are built with 5-6 inches of rigid foam in the bottom, unsinkable. BUT they are flat bottom and in any chop they are wet and will beat your butt.
The J Series..
http://www.carolinaskiff.com/j.html
Had a lot of fun bass fishing out of a Pelican. Quieter than my Lowe's Aluminum.
With a 15 month old. Ill probably get a Pelican. Oh yes, I'm buying a canoe also. Dicks has them for under $300.
alright4u
05-27-2011, 17:11
I know a couple of decent trout streams/rivers where a canoe is a great way to fish for two here in the east like the McKenzie is out west. It sounds like you have it covered.
With a 15 month old. Ill probably get a Pelican. Oh yes, I'm buying a canoe also. Dicks has them for under $300.
Nice, would it be a Pelican also?
Once the little one is in college, check out http://www.wooden-canoes.com/index
Probably not. With the Canoe ill just grab a Colman. I won't be canoing in any white water. Waiting for the Fly Fishing stuff to arrive. Should be here today. Ill post a pic of what I bought.
Nice, would it be a Pelican also?
Once the little one is in college, check out http://www.wooden-canoes.com/index
When I was a kid we had a Wooden ribbed Canoe. Fly Fishing on a lake in one of those in the Summer evening. Priceless.
When I was a kid we had a Wooden ribbed Canoe. Fly Fishing on a lake in one of those in the Summer evening. Priceless.
They are nice. Nothing quite like the sound of water on natural materials.
Seems like it was meant to be that way, you'll enjoy the Pelican line, both boat and canoe.
Now if we can just get the rest of the world to lay down their weapons and take up rabbit and chicken farming.
Now if we can just get the rest of the world to lay down their weapons and take up rabbit and chicken farming.
Off topic but I remember as a kid we raised the BIG white rabbits with the pink/red eyes both for food and to sell to others. We also had chickens, an occasional milk cow or pig, and a few goats at one time. We always had the chickens though.
Off topic but I remember as a kid we raised the BIG white rabbits with the pink/red eyes both for food and to sell to others. We also had chickens, an occasional milk cow or pig, and a few goats at one time. We always had the chickens though.
To bring it back on target: I used to fish Yates' pond in my Pelican. Right down the road from your place. :cool:
Off topic but I remember as a kid we raised the BIG white rabbits with the pink/red eyes both for food and to sell to others. We also had chickens, an occasional milk cow, pig, goats.
Not a bad way to grow up. More kids in the inner cities should be raising rabbits. Good healthy meat, extra money for mom. Better then playing Zombie games.
I had a cousin who lived South Manhatten NY, (17th Ave.), raised rooftop pigeons just to feed his Red-Tailed Hawk, which he flew in Central Park. People would watch a bird take a rabbit in the bushes, say, "How cool was that?". He'd say "Up girl" with a whistle command, and the bird would take flight to his wrist. Then the folks would say, "How could you kill a helpless rabbit?" His reply was always, "I didn't, but she did and we eat together, rabbit and cream of mushroom soup."
alright4u
05-27-2011, 19:19
Nice, would it be a Pelican also?
Once the little one is in college, check out http://www.wooden-canoes.com/index
Wet Dog, those remind me of the canoes and even the row boats we had at my grandfather's camp on Lake Champlain across from Burlington, VT when I was a kid. The wood was really class.
mark46th
05-27-2011, 21:26
Nice looking skiff!!
Buffalobob
05-28-2011, 12:50
Think about a Rube Goldberg sunshade for the boat so the little one can be kept out of the heat and not sunburned.
Snaquebite
05-28-2011, 14:01
Thread got me looking around...Gander mountain has the 12' Pelican for $549.00
Retiredfire
05-28-2011, 19:41
Grew up with a wooden canoe on a lake in Maine. My father now builds wooden boats as a hobby since his retirement. He started with the kit ones and now just buys the plans and does all the woodworking him self.
mojaveman
05-30-2011, 20:43
I always thought it would be cool to build an original birch bark canoe just like the Mohicans did complete with cedar frame and spruce pitch for caulking.
Roguish Lawyer
05-31-2011, 09:49
I'm planning to get a boat too. These are interesting alternatives to what I've been thinking about.
I have both, but use the canoe most of the time - almost always. Jons are loud (if that's a concern). I also take my daughter fishing with me in the canoe frequently - with no problems. I had a large, double-wide jon and loved it but that's a different discussion. I use the canoe in whitewater and also on the coast and swamps. I rigged up an electric motor but I've only used it a couple times, prefer to paddle unless we need access to some place that's many miles away via water, e.g. Devils Swamp off the Roanoke (we used the motor to help get back up river from the creek that goes back into the swamp, 10 - 12 miles against the current). We can cover a lot of ground in the canoe with minimal effort - can't say that about a jon boat without a motor.
I do a lot of camping out of the canoe, there's plenty of room for gear, and it's easy to tote. I have a Mad River with a comfortable back rest and dry storage - love it.
Just my opinion, good luck.
I'm planning to get a boat too. These are interesting alternatives to what I've been thinking about.
Very easy to transport. I fished out of a Jon Boat for years. It was always in the back of my truck.
Very easy to transport. I fished out of a Jon Boat for years. It was always in the back of my truck.
Damn. You musta drove up real close to the lake...
We used to take ours out of the truck and row out a piece...:D
Damn. You musta drove up real close to the lake...
We used to take ours out of the truck and row out a piece...:D
Put my stuff into it. Drag it to the edge of the lake or pond and push off.
1stindoor
05-31-2011, 15:17
My .02 cents. I'd go with the aluminum john boat. Although it can get hotter, it's more durable and you can "customize" it about a bazillion different ways. Sheet metal screw...little bit of locktite or silicon and you're done. Want to make a change...cut the screw out, put in a little JB Weld, sand, spot of paint and you're on your way to configuration number 2, 3, 4, etc.
I fished out of a John boat for years before moving up to my first bass boat. My first john boat was a 12'er; looked like a tiny bass boat with trolling motor mounted to the front and my 5hp outboard on back. Set of wheels mounted on the transom meant I could off load from the bed and push it down to the water with ease. Coleman cooler makes a great live well for bait or fish. I normally carried a fish basket or stringer with me and strung that day's catch behind me.
If you go that route, recommend you cut a couple of pieces of plywood to fit on the floor; glue down some indoor/outdoor carpet and you're on your way. I eventually added a homemade canopy for mine as well. Made it with PVC tubing and a tarp. Nice thing about it was I could take it if I needed it, or leave it in parts in the bed.
My .02 cents. I'd go with the aluminum john boat. Although it can get hotter, it's more durable and you can "customize" it about a bazillion different ways. Sheet metal screw...little bit of locktite or silicon and you're done. Want to make a change...cut the screw out, put in a little JB Weld, sand, spot of paint and you're on your way to configuration number 2, 3, 4, etc.
I fished out of a John boat for years before moving up to my first bass boat. My first john boat was a 12'er; looked like a tiny bass boat with trolling motor mounted to the front and my 5hp outboard on back. Set of wheels mounted on the transom meant I could off load from the bed and push it down to the water with ease. Coleman cooler makes a great live well for bait or fish. I normally carried a fish basket or stringer with me and strung that day's catch behind me.
If you go that route, recommend you cut a couple of pieces of plywood to fit on the floor; glue down some indoor/outdoor carpet and you're on your way. I eventually added a homemade canopy for mine as well. Made it with PVC tubing and a tarp. Nice thing about it was I could take it if I needed it, or leave it in parts in the bed.
excellent ideas. I'd imagine a custom plywood drop in with carpet would be a great platform for the dog to stand on.
1stindoor
06-01-2011, 11:13
excellent ideas. I'd imagine a custom plywood drop in with carpet would be a great platform for the dog to stand on.
I cut mine to fit around the ribs...then center cut it again and rejoined the two pieces with a piano hinge. Made pulling it out for cleaning much easier.