If you’re outfitting a small jon boat for serious fishing, a reliable livewell system is essential to keep bait and catch lively. This guide highlights five standout options across complete livewell kits, durable tanks, and practical components designed to fit compact boats. Each product emphasizes durability, ease of installation, and effective water and air circulation to extend the life of bait and fish alike.
| Product | Brand | Type | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moeller Marine Livewell | Moeller | Livewell Tank | Seamless, rotomolded polyethylene with deck-fastener compatibility |
| T-H Marine Livewell Kit | T-H Marine Store | Livewell Rigging Kit | Complete aeration, flow control, and overflow components |
| Ultimate Livewell Kit | GOFR Store | Portable Livewell System | Circulates air and water to keep bait alive |
| Pelican Intruder 12 Jon Boat | Pelican Store | Jon Boat with Built-in Space | Durable RAM-X hull with high cargo capacity |
| Attwood Snap-Handle Drain Plug | Attwood Store | Drain Plug | Easy, secure drain with snap-down handle |
Moeller Marine Livewell
Moeller live wells are a seamless one-piece, rotationally molded polyethylene tank designed for durability on compact boats. The tank features molded-in deck fasteners for straightforward deck mounting, and includes a drain plug for quick draining and easy cleaning. This combination helps maintain water quality and reduces maintenance time, making it a practical choice for anglers who rely on a reliable livewell during long trips on small jon boats.
T-H Marine Complete Livewell Bait Tank Rigging Kit
Thoroughly engineered for baitwell setups, this complete rigging kit includes a drain tube, thru-hull, aerator spray and flow heads, plus a T connector. It delivers pro-grade aeration and directional water flow to help bring fresh water into the tank and establish a gentle current, which can improve livewell performance. The package also includes an overflow drain system with a 90-degree drain tube, helping manage water levels and prevent overfilling in choppy conditions.
Ultimate Livewell Kit
This portable livewell system is designed to circulate both air and water to keep bait alive in varied conditions. It includes a water pump with a floating buoy and 16 feet of tubing to circulate fresh water, along with an air pump to push fresh air into coolers or buckets. The combination supports flexible setups on smaller boats, enabling quick deployment and straightforward maintenance for anglers who move between locations.
Pelican Intruder 12 Jon Fishing Boat
This 12-foot jon boat from Pelican uses RAM-X material for improved impact resistance, providing a durable platform for fishing and hunting. It offers a high payload capacity up to 420 lb, ensuring room for gear and passengers. The interior is designed to maximize stability and balance during casting and reeling, and the hull construction includes extra flotation to meet or exceed ABYC standards, making it a reliable base for adding livewell equipment on a small boat.
Attwood Snap-Handle Drain Plug
Attwood’s Snap-Handle Drain Plug offers a simple, secure drain solution with an inside-diameter fitting of 1 inch. The drain plug is easy to install: insert into the drain opening and turn the handle clockwise to tighten. The handle snaps down to lock the plug in place, reducing the risk of leaks and ensuring quick drainage during livewell maintenance or routine cleaning on a jon boat setup.
Buying Guide: Key Purchase Considerations
When selecting a livewell system for a jon boat, consider capacity, installation ease, and maintainability. A rotomolded polyethylene tank, like the Moeller option, provides durability and corrosion resistance, while complete kits from T-H Marine offer integrated flow control for better water exchange. Portable solutions such as the Ultimate Livewell Kit can be advantageous for boats without permanent mounts, but may require more setup time. For boaters prioritizing stability and payload, the Pelican Intruder 12 Jon Boat serves as a solid platform with room for additional livewell hardware.
Water circulation is critical. Aeration and stream flow components, such as those in the T-H Marine kit, help maintain oxygen levels and water quality, especially in warmer conditions. An overflow drain system helps prevent overfilling when waves push water into the livewell. Drain plugs should be reliable and easy to operate, as with the Attwood Snap-Handle Drain Plug, to simplify routine draining and cleaning after trips. Consider compatibility with your boat’s deck layout, mounting options, and how easy it is to service components in the field.
Maintenance and durability are also important. Tanks made from durable plastics resist cracking and UV exposure, while fittings and hoses should withstand routine submersion and exposure to salt or freshwater. For budget-conscious buyers, kit combinations from T-H Marine or GOFR Store offer value by bundling essential components, but ensure the parts fit your specific boat dimensions and livewell size. Finally, verify that the product supports your intended use—bait storage, live bait, or live catch—and that installation won’t require structural changes to your jon boat.