G3 1236 Jon Boats For Sale

The G3 1236 is a compact welded-aluminum jon boat built for small-water fishing, and it suits anglers who fly fish, cast for trout, or run downriggers for kokanee on lakes and creeks. The hull is formed from a single piece of aluminum folded at the bottom and welded at the bow, which gives it a sturdy, sealed nose rather than a riveted seam up front. The bench seats, sidewalls, and keels are riveted into place, so the boat mixes welded and riveted construction depending on the area.

Flotation is built in: foam is packed under every bench seat and under the two compartments at the stern, so the boat will stay afloat and let you reach shore even if it takes on water. A drain plug sits at the transom, which is the most likely source of a leak to watch for. The boat is light enough to flip over and store in a garage over winter, and it sits easily on a small galvanized trailer.

Power on this rig comes from a 6-horsepower outboard that runs quiet, pushing two people along at a modest pace and moving noticeably better with a single angler aboard. The motor weighs 66 pounds, about 30 kilograms, and uses a pull-start mounted on the tiller handle. A balanced grip on the back of the powerhead lets you lift and carry it by hand without it tipping. The fuel setup pairs a portable tank in the stern with a built-in top tank, and a selector switch lets you cut fuel to the engine for travel, draw from the portable tank, or switch over to the top tank to get home if the portable runs dry.

The factory layout is open and bare, which leaves room for the kind of fishing-oriented additions many owners fit. Common upgrades include carpeted plywood floorboards made from 5/8-inch plywood glued and wrapped so no staples sit proud of the surface, creating level, slightly slanted casting platforms at both the bow and a raised section that keeps tackle and seats from sliding around. Scotty mounts work well throughout the boat, including a transom-mounted downrigger setup supported against the thin aluminum, a Scotty anchor mount with a foldable anchor and 70 feet of line, rod holders fore and aft, a clamp-on Gear-Head style mount that adds accessories without drilling, and a padded swivel seat.

For anyone shopping G3 1236 Jon boats for sale, this is a small, durable platform that rewards a careful rigging plan. The single-piece hull and foam-filled benches give it stability and a margin of safety for creeks and lakes, while the light 6-horsepower outboard keeps the whole package easy to launch, trailer, and store. Weigh the open factory deck against the cost of adding flooring, seating, and electronics, since much of what makes this boat fish well is fitted after purchase rather than included from the dealer.