Does anyone hunt out of a ten foot Jon boat?

I don't but some do.

It can be done, but it is far from optimal. 10 foot Jon boats are not the most stable.

If 10 ft john is all that is needed, it's the perfect boat. A bigger boat is only better if a bigger boat is needed.

I fish out of a twelve footer. Not very good to stand up in. Epsecially is your equalibrium is compromised

If you can't afford anything else then go for it, but I promise you it is not a pleasant experience.

The goal was to make 7ft by 8in pvc pipe fulll of foam and rivit them to the side to make the boat stable and cut out the middle seat put in a 1/4 in ply wood floor for to put in a regular layout blind the brush. It up sounds like a good plan to me

Or you could just get a layout boat and it would be much better.

That's about 5 to 6 hundred over budget worst case scenario we use it to haul our gear so we don't have to wear dozens of decoy around our neck

If you are thinking of crossing big water with it I'd reconsider. If you don't have big water to cross it sounds like a heck of a project.

Now my comment is not that Berra like, lol. Many think bigger is better, I think smaller is better. Homey said I would sell my Momarsh once I got my gator trax, but if my Momarsh is all that is needed, I would much rather hunt out of it, easier to hide, don't have to worry about getting stuck, etc...

For duck hunting alone, minimal gear, don't have to paddle far or troll far, and only on flat water it could work for you. I used a 14 ft Jon boat with 5hp for alligator hunting running bayous and marsh for several years. And for fishing and running limb lines on rivers for many years before that. It was the perfect boat for my purpose.

But a 10ft jon boat for two or more people on any large Texas lake where you have to cross open water with prevailing winds crossing enough to create swells and whitecaps, it is a disaster waiting to happen. Looking at Academy's boat. Weight capacity is 365lbs. Subtract your weight and a guesstimated weight of all gear and dog if you have one. And then there is the weight of motor especially if you do like most and go oversize for the boat's rating. Your hunting buddies better not weigh much. The boat's low freeboard with little to no sheer, combined with any kind of load will allow any wave or straight on swell to go in the boat.

IMHO, you can do better for whatever your cost is for a 10ft jon boat.

At Academy $500
Product Weight (lb.):95
Maximum Motor Power (hp):3
Product Length:10 ft.
Passenger Capacity:2
Weight Capacity (lb.):365
Product Height (in.):17
Product Width:2 ft. 8 in.

I had a ten foot aluminum jon boat a few years back. They're great for small water and 1 person (hunting, 2 fishing), but I wouldn't recommend taking one that size on anything much bigger than your backyard swimming pool. Keep an eye out, I've seen used 14 footers being sold in your price range.

Also keep in mind that the bench seats on jon boats are full of foam, which helps them float and stay higher in the water. If you cut the middle seat out you will lose weight capacity.

Correct me if im wrong but I believe the foam in either a bench seat or under the decks of the boats only help if you are taking on water. If you throw big foam blocks in the boat it will not make it float higher. If anything lower cause more weight.

foam that isn't touching water wont do anything for flotation

That's a good point. I guess it won't make it float any better since buoyancy really has to do with water displacement.

Not crossing big water but if we are hunting open water we planned on using it of retrieving ducks for if they're out deeper than our waters. But mail using in marshes cattails and flooded corn

I wouldn't mess with trying to make a layout boat out of it, unless you just really want to for fun. Just use it to haul your gear, throw something over it to hide it, and get yourself a marsh set and sit in cover, sounds like you got plenty of cover around. I hunt out of lay bind as a last resort, I hate it. Hard to drink my coffee laying down. Plus I like to be able to stand up if need to make shots, shooting out of a layout blind, limits your swing range. $5.99 academy dove stool works good for me for a marsh seat, cut the pouch off, drill holes in the bottom wrongs. I keep several of these on hand, stock up during dove season..

My buddy still has his we used to hunt out of. He built a blind on it and it worked. I was always more comfortable standing on the end it the water hunkered down though.