The Jonboat and its Gear

for Birding from a Boat

Birding by boat
The jonboat for birding
The outboard motor | The electric trolling motor

You really don't know what a river looks like until you see it from a boat.

Along the southern part of Iowa's Skunk River, where Michael and Diane Porter spend every spare moment in summer, the most commonly seen boat is the wide-bodied, flat-bottomed jonboat. (Some people spell it "johnboat.")

A jonboat is more stable in the water than a canoe. You can stand up in it without tipping over. It accommodates an outboard motor for running upstream and an electric trolling motor for guiding the boat downstream and moseying along the edges.

Nearly all the jonboats on the river serve the needs of fishermen. However, the same qualities that make these good fishing boats make the ideal for birding and loafing -- economy, roominess, stability, and versatility.

Michael has spelled out some of the gear and gadgets that are ideal for fixing up a birders' jonboat. Check back here soon as he adds more gear reports.

Birding by boat
The jonboat for birding
The outboard motor | The electric trolling motor