Wondering if anyone can tell me disadvatages and or advantages of a flat bottom vs a v hull for fishing the mississippi river. Mainly panfish and spring walleye fishing. Looking at 16’to 18′ boat.Are the flat bottom boats just as stable? Looking for any opinions pros or cons. I see alot of flat bottom boats on the river.
Flatbottoms are very stable in calm water.
Shallow water= flatbottom with a coast guard bow
Rough water= v-bottom
Not a fan of semi-v’s myself, and dont see a real practical use to choose one over a real V.
You see a lot of guys in flat bottoms because they are cheap and work for river runners. Don’t need a $60,000 boat for the Miss river.
If you are considering a flatbottom, get one with a coast guard bow, all welded, and extra wide if you can. Something like a lowe roughneck. It will handle waves/current much better and will be very stable.
What exactly is a Coast Guard bow?
Depends on where you plan on fishing? I use my flat bottom in the spring on pool 2 and 4 but if that was my home water I would buy a vhull. Mod v or flat bottoms still ride rough regardless. If you want to stay with a Jon sea ark makes a 6° hull and war eagle makes a 8° which would help with the ride.
I run a Lowe Roughneck with a coast guard bow and love it. It’s long and wide. Doesn’t get much better than that. It fishes 3-4 people easily.
Having run a flat-bottomed boat for years, I’d never go back. They are rough riding in any kind of waves.
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I run a Lowe Roughneck with a coast guard bow and love it. It’s long and wide. Doesn’t get much better than that. It fishes 3-4 people easily.
Having run a flat-bottomed boat for years, I’d never go back. They are rough riding in any kind of waves.
Agreed, Flat bottoms will rock your socks off in rough water. Coast guard hulls make it a little better anyways.
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What exactly is a Coast Guard bow?
V point that extends down to the bottom of the boat. If it goes further than the bottom of the boat then it is a semi-v.
This is the “standard” flat bottom bow. Try to avoid getting one of these unless you absolutely have to.
Who made that up? I have never heard of such a thing. Every jon boat manufacturer refers to that as a modified v bow or MVB.
The Coast Guard. 
Ordered my crestliner 1756 jon a week ago and can not wait to get it in the water. Heard alot of good things about jons from frends that have them. Will be putting a jack plate on it as well.
I don’t care what they call them.(but BK is right) I like mine too 
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