Oar Mounts on 16' Jon Boat with Center Console

[TreyTrey]

Hi All, just want to say thanks up front for all of the great information I've gotten from this forum over the past couple years.

My Problem: I have a Lowe 1652 Jon Boat with 50hp Etec jet and a center console which I got new last year. I love my boat, but I realized quickly that the stock oar mounts will not work with my center console as the console gets in the way when I try to row. I was thinking about mounting some oars closer to the bow so I can sit on the bow deck and row, but it seems like it would be awkward & unbalanced trying to row from so far forward. Has anyone else struggled with this problem? If so, what solution did you come up with? Any ideas?

[flatbottom]

i have same boat but a g3 so my setup might be different than yours.. put a set in the back and a set up front. works okay for me, but i dont try to use it as a drift boat.
i drilled thru the top rail and mounted a flat top like one with the tube going below the top. made a tight fit and epoxyied it in solid.
on the back one side all i could use was a small length of tubing because of the plate that protect the wires running forward.

[TreyTrey]

Thanks flatbottom. So where do you find it easier/better to row, from the front position or the back? Do you sit on the bow deck to row from the front? I was hoping to be able to do some "drift boat" type fishing from my jon boat, but maybe I would have been better off with a tiller set-up for that situation.

[flatbottom]

if the water is slow and you dont want to move the boat back and forth too much it is doable. i also use a 55 lb thrust electric to move me around. that works fine once you get the hang of it.

i like rowing from the front with the back end downstream so i can get the motor going and moving away in a few seconds if need be.

if slow water in the back so i can steer with the oars and row, and control the transom mounted electric.