Jones Brothers Boats ???

[Deep C]

Am indirectly involved with a new boat dealership opening in Maryland. First line of boats they will be carrying is Jones Brothers. The powers that be at the dealership have asked me to get what input I can from potential consumers or owners about their thoughts on the product. Good , bad, or most importantly what you would like to see in the dealer to make your boat buying experience the best it can be.
Doesn't even have to be about Jones Bros if you have comments on what you would want to see in a dealer.

[Foul Hook'd]

Their flat bottom boats are very popular here in NC, tons of them running the MHC area. I looked at their 26 ft. ride and found it to be mmmm..... "plain". One I looked at didn't have a fish box or live well. I guess you bolt in a coffin box or carry a fish bag and rig you own live well. Rather pricey for what you get in my opinion.

Several owners of the 26 have given mixed opinions on the ride, one said it rode better than his old 27 Cape Horn the other said it rode like a flat bottom boat in chop, so thats all I know about their ride.

I think JPR on here runs one and may chime in.

Foul Hook'd

[Ace1st]

I like the JONES BROTHERS Skiffs. They are plain, but for me thats some of the beauty in them. Very functional, easy to clean. Got a little more Bow on her than I like, the wind seems to get in her and push her around in a blow.

If youre considering a Nice Rig, consider HANCOCK SKIFFS. They are built to Atlantic just up the road from Harkers Island. Woody Hancock builds them himself by hand. They are nice custom skiffs!!

[Deep C]

The deal is already cut to carry the line so they will be in play. Appreciate the comments so far. Again if you have comments about what you want from dealers themselves bring it on. Management of this team wants to keep customers wishes first...

[WildTurkey]

I own a Jones 20 ft Cape Fishermen. Alot of room for a 20 ft boat. One helluva boat.I was even more impressed when I went to the plant on a Saturday morning and owner Donnie Jones took over an hour of his time to walk me through the total build process. I was very impressed with how they started and what they have become as a boat builder especially during a time when other companies have shut the doors.

[Deep C]

We have an 18 in our fleet... Kind of the "forgotten" one with the Contenders and the Viking getting most of our attention. Still I have had that one out a few times. 115 fourstoke power she's quick and economical and as mentioned above I love simplicity. I have not had the opportunity to take her out into the rough and put her through her paces. She does remind me of my old aquasport how she rides without much roll when wakes go by and I'm drifting for flounder.

[slickcalm]

I have a 26 with twin 150 Yamahas.

Have run it hard for 3 years now, from king fishing in the inlet to blue water offshore, in every kind of weather.

It's bulletproof.
No creaks, groans, squeaks anywhere.
Very stable on the drift and at anchor.
Not quite as soft as some of the extremely deep V hulls, but very acceptable trade offs.

Very nice live well system - as with any brand - some features are optional.

VERY economical to run

[JRJBfishing]

Slickcalm pretty much hit the nail on the head.. SOLID BOATS!

I might be slightly biased because I have known Donnie Jones for quite some time and fished many of the Jones Brothers boats. With that being said, however, I have experience fishing many other boat brands, and am not afraid to give an honest assessment.

As some mentioned, most don't come with all the whistles and bells that you see on some boats these days. This is not to say it can't be added according to what the specific customer needs/wants. IMHO there are few boat/motor combinations more dependable than the Yamaha/Jones Brothers. Spray it off when you get back to the dock, do the regular maintenance on the engines, and it will last forever. They also seem to retain a very respectable resale value.

I have fished several different models including the 19' bateau, and the 20' and 26' Cape Fishermen.

The bateau is great for running the shallow inside waters. I fish/hunt the 19' and it is solid as a rock. In five years of extremely hard use, I have had one motor issue which yamaha handled under warranty. It has a slightly different hull design which permits it to make the sharp turns in creeks and such without sliding as much as some other flat bottomed boats. I don't really have any complaints about this boat. Just strait up solid. Also use it to take the kids out to sandbars/ski etc during the summer. Mine is powered with a 90hp and will run right around 40 topped out. It is priced slightly more than most flat bottom boats, but will hold up in the long run.

The 20' Cape is in my opinion one of the best in its class. Good all around boat with lots of room. It does good in chop and is quite seaworthy for a boat of that size. Donnie has customized many of this particular model for light tackle fly fishing. It is one of the favorites of the albacore/bonita gang.

The 26' Cape is the newest edition to the Jones Brothers lineup. It was designed by some of the top designers in the industry including Donnie. The one I fish was one of the first produced, and has performed outstanding so far.
Pros: Tough as nails, very stable on the troll and when anchored, very economical to run (Big Rock trip out of MHC all day trolling burns around 60-65 gallons), low maintenance.
Cons: Not as much seating as some in that size range (we use bean bags), doesn't have all the tricked out amenities(less things to break!), and the ride, although not bad by a long shot, isn't as good as some of the true deep V boats.

It is powered with twin 150 yamaha's, tops out at 50 mph, and cruises around 32.

Jones Brothers uses the best available materials in the build process and really stands behind their boats. If you are ever interested in one of these boats, get up with your dealer and ask about a plant tour; it is a really cool experience.

[Bare Bottom]

The great posts above certainly tell the story of a Jones Brothers boat. I've owned 2 and they have been some of the finest skiffs made - hands down.
The real story is the man behind the boat - Donnie Jones. We had a small issue with our 20 Bateau that we had just sold, and Donnie could have turned his head and walked away. Instead, he said wait a minute - let's get to the bottom of this situation. He asked if it would be convenient for the new owner to be without the boat for about 10 days. Donnie and his staff figured out what was going on - fixed the issue - and put it all back together again at no charge to the owner.
In today's crazy world of boat companies cutting quality and staff to try to save a few dollars, it is refreshing to see a man and a boat line committed to their principles. Jones Brothers is solid and I will always be a fan. You won't be disappointed!
:
rolleyes:

[Nauti Natured]

I know Donnie as well ... Great guy ... great boats. They have an excellent reputation down here and I am sure that will carry to wherever they are distributed as long as the southern hospitality service goes along with the sale.