When I first started taking my jon boat out, I had a bad habit of just tossing gear wherever it fit. A cooler here, a tackle box there, maybe a spare anchor rolling around in the corner. It didn’t take long before I realized that was a recipe for accidents.
One day while running across a choppy lake, a tackle box slid across the floor and nearly tripped me as I reached for the tiller. That was enough of a wake-up call.
Now, I keep things organized and secured. My cooler and battery are strapped down with ratchet straps. Tackle boxes go into a storage crate that’s bungeed to the seat. Even my paddle has a clip mount along the side so it doesn’t rattle around.
It makes a world of difference. Not only is the boat safer, but it’s also way less stressful knowing nothing’s going to slide or tip over when I hit a wave. A few bungees and straps cost next to nothing, but they keep my boat safer and my trips smoother.