Boating & Trailering Guides

Jon Boat Fish Finder Setup: Installation Guide
Jon Boat Fish Finder Setup: Installation Guide
A reliable jon boat fish finder requires the right display, transducer location, power source, and wiring layout. This guide covers permanent and portable installations, aluminum-hull considerations, interference prevention, testing, maintenance,... Read more...
Jon Boat Seats: Bench, Swivel and Pedestal Guide
Jon Boat Seats: Bench, Swivel and Pedestal Guide
The right jon boat seats can improve comfort, visibility, balance, and control without compromising valuable deck space. This guide compares bench, swivel, folding, and pedestal seats while explaining safe placement,... Read more...
Jon Boat Trolling Motor Guide: Thrust, Shaft and Setup
Jon Boat Trolling Motor Guide: Thrust, Shaft and Setup
The right jon boat trolling motor must match the boat’s loaded weight, water conditions, mounting position, shaft length, voltage, and battery system. This guide compares bow and transom mounts while... Read more...
Jon Boat Livewell Guide: Size, Plumbing and Setup
Jon Boat Livewell Guide: Size, Plumbing and Setup
A jon boat livewell must keep fish healthy without overloading the hull or disrupting trim. This guide covers tank size, full-water weight, portable and built-in systems, pumps, aeration, overflow plumbing,... Read more...
Jon Boat Battery Setup: Size, Wiring and Placement
Jon Boat Battery Setup: Size, Wiring and Placement
A dependable jon boat battery system starts with an accurate list of electrical loads. This guide explains starting and deep-cycle batteries, AGM and lithium options, amp-hour capacity, trolling-motor voltage, wiring... Read more...
Jon Boat Anchor Guide: Types, Size and Setup
Jon Boat Anchor Guide: Types, Size and Setup
The best jon boat anchor depends on bottom conditions, current, wind, water depth, and available storage. This guide compares common anchor types and explains anchor rode, attachment points, deployment, retrieval,... Read more...
Aluminum jon boat interior — bilge pump setup guide
Bilge Pump for a Jon Boat: Complete Setup Guide
A bilge pump can remove rain, spray, and minor water accumulation from a jon boat, but only when it is sized, positioned, wired, and maintained correctly. This guide covers pump... Read more...
Aluminum jon boat floor and bench seats — jon boat flooring guide
Jon Boat Flooring Guide: Aluminum, Plywood or Foam?
The right jon boat flooring depends on how the boat is used, stored, and maintained. This guide compares bare aluminum, aluminum panels, marine plywood, composites, rubber, vinyl, carpet, and EVA... Read more...
Aluminum boat reinforced transom and interior — transom height and strength guide
Aluminum Boat Transom Guide: Height, Strength and Fit
The transom carries the outboard and transfers thrust, vibration, and trailering loads into the hull. This guide explains how to evaluate transom height, structural support, motor compatibility, corrosion, mounting details,... Read more...
How Stable Is a Jon Boat? Buyer’s Guide
How Stable Is a Jon Boat? Buyer’s Guide
Jon boat stability depends on more than length. This practical guide explains how bottom width, beam, hull shape, freeboard, passenger movement, outboard weight, and equipment placement affect stability, helping buyers... Read more...
Boat Trailer Guide-Ons: Buying and Setup Guide
Boat Trailer Guide-Ons: Buying and Setup Guide
Boat trailer guide-ons can make backing, loading, and solo retrieval more predictable, especially when the trailer is submerged or the boat is affected by wind and current. PVC posts provide... Read more...
Aluminum boat interior — boat trailer safety chains setup guide
Boat Trailer Safety Chains: Complete Setup Guide
Boat trailer safety chains must be rated for the complete trailer, attached to proper receiver points, crossed beneath the coupler, and adjusted with enough slack for turning without dragging. Hooks,... Read more...
Aluminum work boat interior — aluminum work boats for farms, camps and fleets
Aluminum Work Boats for Farms, Camps, Survey Crews and Fleets
How ranches, camps, survey crews, contractors, agencies and rental fleets use 12–16 ft riveted aluminum hulls, why the construction suits fleet abuse, custom configurations, and how commercial ordering works. Read more...
Aluminum jon boat interior — boats that fit in a truck bed
Boats That Fit in a Truck Bed: Going Trailerless with a 12 ft Aluminum Boat
What actually fits a pickup bed (a 12 ft, 194 lb aluminum hull), how to load it alone, legal overhang, what you give up and what you gain by skipping... Read more...
Aluminum boat interior — accessories every new aluminum boat owner needs
15 Accessories Every New Aluminum Boat Owner Needs (In the Order to Buy Them)
The list we hand new owners: what is required before the first launch, what makes the boat comfortable to fish, what protects it, what to skip at first, and a... Read more...
Aluminum boat interior — Southern California lakes for small aluminum boats
Southern California Lakes for Small Aluminum Boats: Where to Launch a 12–16 ft Jon or Utility Boat
Ten Southern California lakes that suit a 12–16 ft aluminum boat, the mussel-inspection rule you must plan around, protected salt water within reach, and which of our hulls fits which... Read more...
Aluminum jon boat interior with bench seats — jon boat vs utility boat
Jon Boat vs Utility Boat: Which Aluminum Hull Should You Buy?
Same aluminum, different hull. Where a jon boat wins (skinny water, no trailer, duck hunting), where a utility boat wins (people, chop, gear), a side-by-side of all six hulls, and... Read more...
Aluminum boat interior — boat safety equipment checklist for boats under 16 ft
Boat Safety Equipment Checklist for Boats Under 16 ft
What a 12–16 ft aluminum boat must carry to be legal (PFDs, sound signal, extinguisher, lights, distress signals), what many states add, and what experienced owners bring anyway. Read more...
Tandem-axle aluminum boat trailer — towing a boat trailer for the first time
Towing a Boat Trailer for the First Time: Hitching, Driving and the Ramp
The walkthrough we give new owners: hitch check, lights, straps and tongue weight; how to drive and back a light trailer; and a four-step launch that keeps you off the... Read more...
Aluminum jon boat interior — do you need to register a jon boat
Do You Need to Register a Jon Boat? Rules for Small Aluminum Boats and Trailers
Motorized boats are registered in every state; unpowered ones depend on where you live; and the trailer may need its own plate. What to bring, what it costs, and how... Read more...
Aluminum boat interior — what an aluminum boat costs to own
What It Really Costs to Own a 12–16 ft Aluminum Boat
One-time and recurring costs of a small aluminum jon or utility boat, with honest ranges: hull, outboard, trailer, registration, fuel, service, storage, and the five-year picture. Read more...
Aluminum jon boat interior — first boat buyer's guide
First Boat Buyer's Guide: 12 Things to Settle Before You Buy a Jon or Utility Boat
Twelve decisions to make before your first aluminum boat: water, crew, motor, trailer, tow vehicle, hull alloy, capacity plate, budget, registration, storage, warranty, and who to call. Read more...
Aluminum boat interior — winterizing and storing an aluminum boat
How to Winterize and Store an Aluminum Boat
A practical checklist for cleaning, prepping, and storing an aluminum boat and trailer over the off-season — what actually matters and what you can skip. Read more...
LED Boat Trailer Lights and Wiring Guide
LED Boat Trailer Lights and Wiring Guide
Reliable LED boat trailer lights depend on more than sealed lamp housings. The connector must support every required function, including any hydraulic-brake reverse lockout. Wiring should be protected from immersion... Read more...
Aluminum boat interior — boat trailer jack buying guide
Boat Trailer Jack Buying Guide: Capacity and Fit
A boat trailer jack must be selected using actual tongue weight, lift capacity, support capacity, travel, retracted height, mounting dimensions, and ground conditions. Swivel jacks provide useful road clearance, while... Read more...
Boat Trailer Coupler and Hitch Ball Size Guide
Boat Trailer Coupler and Hitch Ball Size Guide
A safe boat trailer coupler must match the hitch ball diameter, trailer GVWR, tongue configuration, mounting method, and braking system. Ball size and capacity are separate. The ball, ball mount,... Read more...
Welded aluminum jon boat interior — riveted vs welded aluminum boats
Riveted vs Welded Aluminum Boats: Buyer Guide
Riveted and welded aluminum boats can both be strong, durable, and watertight when properly designed for their intended use. Riveted construction often supports lighter, more portable boats that perform well... Read more...
Black Series vs Karavan vs Load Rite: Jet Ski Trailer Comparison
Single-place aluminum PWC trailers compared: capacity, axle type, tire size and delivered price for the Black Series, Karavan, and Load Rite single-watercraft trailers. Read more...
Black Series vs Tracker vs Lowe: 12–16 ft Aluminum Boat Comparison
How our 12–16 ft aluminum boats stack up against the Tracker Grizzly and Lowe jon boat lines on price, beam, construction, and what you actually pay delivered. Read more...
Aluminum Boat Prices 2026: What 12–16 ft Jon and Utility Boats Really Cost
Real 2026 prices for 12–16 ft aluminum jon and utility boats — ours, delivered, next to Tracker, Lowe and Lund MSRPs — plus what trailers add and why the delivered price is the only one that matters. Read more...
Boat Trailer Tongue Weight: Complete Setup Guide
Boat Trailer Tongue Weight: Complete Setup Guide
Boat trailer tongue weight is the downward load placed on the hitch by the fully loaded trailer. Correct tongue weight supports stable tracking, predictable braking, and proper tow-vehicle loading. The... Read more...
Aluminum jon boat hull interior — hull thickness buyer's guide
Aluminum Boat Hull Thickness: Buyer's Guide
Aluminum boat hull thickness is useful only when viewed alongside alloy, framing, hull geometry, joints, transom reinforcement, capacity, and intended use. Thicker plate can improve resistance to denting and panel... Read more...
Boat Trailer Winch: Manual vs Electric Guide
The right boat trailer winch must match the boat's loaded weight, ramp angle, hull-support system, and expected pulling distance. Manual winches offer simple, dependable operation, while electric winches reduce effort for heavier boats and frequent use. Bunk trailers generally require more pulling force than well-maintained roller trailers, especially when the boat must travel a long distance out of the water. Capacity, line type, gear ratio, drum layers, mounting strength, and winch-stand alignment must be evaluated together. Read more...
Boat Trailer Tires: Size and Load Range Guide
Boat Trailer Tires: Size and Load Range Guide
Correct boat trailer tires must match the trailer's approved size, axle ratings, wheel specifications, inflation pressure, and operating conditions. ST tires are designed for trailer axles. Radial construction is commonly... Read more...
Aluminum boat interior — boat trailer brakes buyer's guide
Boat Trailer Brakes: Complete Buyer's Guide
Boat trailer brakes must be selected as a complete system. Buyers need to compare disc and drum brakes, surge and electric-over-hydraulic actuation, axle requirements, corrosion resistance, and breakaway operation. Disc... Read more...
Boat Capacity Plate Guide for Aluminum Boat Owners
Boat Capacity Plate Guide for Aluminum Boat Owners
A boat capacity plate provides several separate limits: number of persons, persons weight, total persons-motor-gear weight, and maximum horsepower. Every applicable limit must be followed at the same time. Calculate... Read more...
Aluminum boat interior — aluminum vs galvanized boat trailer guide
Aluminum vs Galvanized Boat Trailer: Buyer's Guide
The aluminum vs galvanized boat trailer decision comes down to operating conditions and total ownership priorities. Aluminum generally offers lower weight, strong corrosion resistance, and practical advantages for frequent towing... Read more...
Custom Aluminum Boat Buying Guide
Custom Aluminum Boat Buying Guide
Buying a custom aluminum boat starts with defining the job. The right design depends on water conditions, load, hull shape, beam, motor choice, storage, trailer fit, and long-term maintenance. A... Read more...
Best Outboard Motor for Aluminum Boats
Best Outboard Motor for Aluminum Boats
Choosing an outboard motor for an aluminum boat starts with the boat’s rated capacity, hull design, transom setup, and real loaded weight. The best motor is not always the largest... Read more...
Torsion Axle Boat Trailer Buying Guide
Torsion Axle Boat Trailer Buying Guide
A torsion axle boat trailer can offer a smoother tow, lower launch height, cleaner suspension design, and fewer exposed wear points than a traditional leaf spring trailer. For buyers who... Read more...
Aluminum boat interior with bench seats — utility boat buying guide
Aluminum Utility Boat Buying Guide
An aluminum utility boat should be chosen for the way it will actually be used. The right boat balances shallow-water access, stability, carrying capacity, durability, towing practicality, and maintenance needs.... Read more...
Boat Trailer Bunks vs Rollers: Buyer Guide
Boat Trailer Bunks vs Rollers: Buyer Guide
The boat trailer bunks vs rollers decision comes down to support, launch conditions, and maintenance. Bunks are simple, stable, and well suited to many aluminum boats because they spread weight... Read more...
Flat-bottom aluminum jon boat interior — flat bottom vs V hull comparison
Flat Bottom vs V Hull Aluminum Boat Guide
The flat bottom vs V hull aluminum boat decision comes down to water conditions and daily use. Choose a flat-bottom aluminum boat if you value shallow draft, stability at rest,... Read more...
Single vs Tandem Axle Boat Trailer Guide
Single vs Tandem Axle Boat Trailer Guide
Choosing between a single axle and tandem axle boat trailer comes down to real loaded weight, towing distance, hull support, storage, ramp conditions, and safety margin. Single axle trailers are... Read more...
Aluminum jon boat interior with bench seats — duck hunting boat buying guide
Aluminum Duck Hunting Boat Buying Guide
Choosing an aluminum duck hunting boat starts with honest use: the water you hunt, the weight you carry, the number of people aboard, and the way you launch and tow.... Read more...
Aluminum Boat Care: Preventing Corrosion in Salt and Fresh Water
Aluminum does not rust, but it does corrode — and the mechanism that eats aluminum hulls is not the one most owners are watching for. Read more...
How to Launch and Retrieve a Boat by Yourself
Solo launching is a sequence, not a skill. Get the order right and it stops being stressful — including the reversing. Read more...
Boat Trailer Maintenance: Bearings, Tires and Lights
Almost every roadside trailer failure comes down to three things. Here is what actually goes wrong, why, and the maintenance that prevents it. Read more...
Aluminum or Fiberglass? An Honest Comparison
We build aluminum boats, so treat what follows accordingly — but fiberglass is the better choice for a meaningful number of buyers, and pretending otherwise wastes everyone's time. Read more...
What Size Boat Trailer Do You Need? GVWR, GAWR and the 85% Rule
Most buyers size a trailer against the boat's dry weight. That number is routinely 30% short of what you actually tow. Here's how to get it right. Read more...