10 Best Jon Boats 2024
Last Updated on July 16, 2024 by Boatsetter Team
These top 10 Jon boats have standout features that put them head and shoulders above the fleet.
There are many different kinds of fishing boats out on the water, and one of the very most popular types is the Jon boat. Jon boats are simple, sometimes consisting of little more than a hull, motor, and seats, which means they’re easy to maintain and there’s very little that can go wrong with them. They tend to be quite light so they’re easy to trailer and easy to handle around the dock or at the boat ramp. And they’re among the most affordable boats on the water, whether you’re looking to buy or just rent a boat for the day. But, which are the best Jon boats to choose? There are many that can be a blast to spend time on, but these 10 stand out for one reason or another.
- Crestliner 1860 Retriever RCC
- Excel Catfish Pro
- G3 Gator Tough Tunnel Jons
- Lowe Roughneck 1660 Tiller
- Lund 1440 Mod
- SeaArk 2672 MV
- Shawnee Delux Model A
- Tracker Grizzly 2072 CC Sportsman
- Veer V13
- Xtreme River Skiff 15
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Crestliner1860 Retriever RCC
You can find plenty of 18-foot center console Jon boats, but on 99-percent of them the console is located amidships or slightly aft of amidships. On the Crestliner1860 Retriever RCC, however, the console is located as far aft as possible. This provides a huge cockpit forward of the console itself, the largest single open uninterrupted space available on any Jon boat of this size that has a center console. If you need to haul tons of gear and want to keep it all in one place, this boat will be your pick.
Estimated MSRP: starting at $19,768.
Visit Crestliner to learn more.
Excel Catfish Pro
If you want a monster-sized Jon boat that’s primed for catching monster sized catfish, the Excel Catfish Pro is a winner. Available in 21’ and 24’ models, these boats have a gigantic 66-gallon livewell plus a 16-gallon baitwell, six rodholders, a three-tray tackle station, and a flush-mounting surface for the fishfinder on the center console. There’s a control panel at the front prepped for a bow-mount electric trolling motor, and there are options for additional rodholders or livewells, rod boxes, spud poles, coolers, onboard battery chargers, and more.
Estimated MSRP: $38,000 – $50,000.
Visit Excel Boats to learn more.
G3 Gator Tough Tunnel Jons
Anglers and hunters looking for a boat that can go just about anywhere no matter how shallow, rocky, or stump-filled the water may be will want to check out G3 Gator Tough Tunnel Jons. These come in 17’, 18’, and 20’ models and all have tunnel hulls that can be paired with jet-drive outboards. These are also highly customizable boats, with a slew of fishing and hunting options available.
Estimated MSRP: Starting around $26,000.
Visit G3 Boats to learn more.
Lowe Roughneck 1660 Tiller
Lowe is a huge builder, and as such, they benefit from economy of scale. That means they can deliver a Jon boat for significantly less cost than most of the competition. And in the case of the Roughneck 1660 Tiller, you can get a complete boat-motor-trailer package starting for less than $15,000. Plus, features like a camo paint job, swivel seats, a rod box, and spray-in floor liner are all on the optional features list.
Estimated MSRP: $14,200.
Visit Lowe Boats to learn more.
Lund 1440 Mod
In an age when Jon boats have become bigger, more expensive, and more complex than many once were, it can be tough to find a low cost, no-nonsense Jon with just a hull and bench seating built in. But that’s exactly what the Lund 1440 Mod is. Weighing a mere 205 pounds, the 1440 Mod has a three-person capacity and a max horsepower rating of 20. Added bonus: the center seat has a built-in gravity-fed livewell/stowage compartment.
Approximate MSRP: Starting at $3,000.
Visit Lund Boats to learn more.
SeaArk 2672 MV
You say you want the biggest Jon boat on the water, period? Then take a gander at the SeaArk 2672 MV. This boat is utterly huge for a Jon, with a 26’ LOA, 7’11” beam, a 6’ wide bottom, and a whopping-big 3,500-pound weight capacity. It can also handle gobs of horsepower, with a 250-hp max rating. Not only is it huge, the 2672 MV is also built tougher than the average Jon boat with 0.125” gauge aluminum.
Estimated MSRP: NA.
Visit SeaArk to learn more.
Shawnee Delux Model A
The Shawnee Delux Model A is the only fiberglass Jon boat to make our hit list. This is a long, slender boat (20’6” long but just 4’ wide) which is designed specifically for river fishing. It comes in a fully outfitted package including integrated livewells, rod trays, swivel seats, and a trailer with a spare.
Estimated MSRP: NA.
Visit Shawnee Boats to learn more.
Tracker Grizzly 2072 CC Sportsman
Those who enjoy bow fishing will head directly for the Tracker Grizzly 2072 CC Sportsman. This is the only production Jon boat around which has an elevated foredeck with 100,000 lumens of LED lights built into the perimeter, for lighting up the fish before you pull back your bow. This boat is decked out with niceties so your evening of bow fishing is comfortable, too, like a stereo system, gas shocks on bow stowage compartment hatches, drink holders, multiple pedestal seat bases, a Sure Tread nonskid interior, a three-bank battery charger, and a 1,700 watt onboard inverter. It also comes with a trailer and a 115-hp Mercury FourStroke outboard.
Estimated MSRP: $39,995.
Visit Tracker Boats to learn more.
Veer V13
The Veer V13 is one of the more unusual boats to make this roundup for several reasons, and some may even argue that it isn’t a Jon boat. While it certainly isn’t a conventional Jon in many ways, it does have a Jon boat’s simplicity, affordability, and relatively flat-bottom hull design. However, it’s built of roto-molded polyethylene. It’s also packaged with an optional Mercury Avator electric outboard, which can provide up to six horsepower of emission-free propulsion. At 13’ long and with a capacity of just two people it certainly has limited capabilities, but if you like the idea of an eco-friendly Jon boat that’s virtually indestructible and comes with features like full navigational lighting, MarineMat foam decking, and an elevated forward casting deck, the Veer is a winner. Note: The Veer V13 won the National Marine Manufacturers Association Innovation Award for New Fishing Boats in 2023.
Estimated MSRP: $11,147.
Visit Veer Boats to learn more.
Xtreme River Skiff 15
The Xtreme River Skiff 15 is available in center or side console versions, with or without a tunnel in the hull. That allows for lots of customization, but it goes the extra mile by also offering stick-steer versions. With this setup there’s no steering wheel or console. Instead, a small box affixed to the inwale has a handle (the stick) rising up within reach of the forward seat. To steer the boat rather than turn a wheel you push the stick forward and back. That opens up deck space usually taken by the console. Plus it’s possible to move the stick much faster than you can turn a wheel, so handling is enhanced as well.
Estimated MSRP: $18,000 to $20,000.
Visit Xtreme Boats for more information.
The Jon boat market is vast, and surely there could be others out there that rank as best in your own personal estimation. However you decide to judge those Jons, however, these 10 certainly earn their spot at center stage.
About us
Boatsetter is the leading online marketplace for boat rentals and on-water experiences. Download the Boatsetter app (App Store | Google Play) and follow us on Instagram.
With over three decades of experience in marine journalism, Lenny Rudow has contributed to dozens of boating and fishing publications and websites ranging from BoatU.S. Magazine to BDOutdoors.com. Rudow is currently the Angler in Chief at Rudow’s FishTalk, he is a past president of Boating Writers International (BWI), a graduate of the Westlawn School of Yacht Design, and has won numerous BWI and OWAA writing awards.
