Operation
Fuel manufacturers create different gasoline blends to deal with a complex series of seasonal, regional, environmental and regulatory problems. The recent introduction of Ethanol blends has caused concern for the boating community for two reasons:
- Ethanol absorbs much more water than most other fuel additives. If enough water gets into a tank containing Ethanol, the fuel will “phase separate,” or form two separate solutions.
- Ethanol is an excellent solvent, and can loosen residue in fuel tanks.
Yamaha outboard motors and the fuel system components used by Jones Brothers boats are designed to use a maximum of 10% Ethanol, or E-10. Customers should check the pump or ask the attendant about ethanol content before adding fuel.
In addition to normal fuel maintenance (i.e. adding fuel additives for winter storage), the customer should also take the following precautions for Ethanol blends:
- Store the boat with a full tank. A tank that is full limits the flow of air into and out of the vent, which reduces the chance of condensation adding water to the fuel.
- Use a 10 micron fuel filter, and follow the manufacturers recommendations about when to change the filter cartridge. If you have an older boat, or suspect the tank may contain sediments, carry an extra filter on-board.
Yes. Especially for boats being stored for extended periods of time, or boats using fuel containing Ethanol. If enough water gets into a tank containing an Ethanol blend, through contamination or condensation, the fuel will “phase separate,” or form two separate solutions. Fuel additives are designed to prevent phase separation, and maintain fuel performance for long periods of time.
Many Jones Brothers customers recommend Star Tron gasoline additive. This product is an enzyme based fuel treatment available from many marine suppliers and automotive stores.
Note: The typical maintenance dose for the Star Tron additive is 1oz. for 16 gallons. The manufacturer recommends doubling the dose for first-time usage or problem situations. For more information, visit the Star Tron website.
The Jones Brothers Cape Fisherman models come standard equipped with Bennett Bolt electric trim tabs. Trim tabs allow you to get the maximum performance from your boat. They also allow the operator to compensate for varying sea conditions to provide the driest, safest ride possible.
Quick Planing – When both tabs are lowered (bow down) a boat can get on plane quickly by adding lift to the stern.
Lateral Trim – The tabs are often used to maintain lateral trim. If your boat heels to one side because the passengers have changed positions, the tabs can be used to compensate by adding lift to one side.
Staying Dry – Trim tabs are also useful in adjusting the attitude of the boat in undesirable sea conditions. For example, you can raise the bow on one side of the boat to give you and your passengers more protection when heading into quartering seas.
Porpoising – Engine trim is often used to optimize the attitude of the boat for fuel efficiency. If sea conditions cause occasional bow oscillation (Porpoising – or an up/down bouncing), both tabs can be slightly lowered to provide a smoother ride.
Our boats were originally built for the unpredictable waters around Cape Lookout, NC. While the Bateaus were primarily designed for the sounds and marshes, they are often seen near-shore on nice days. The Cape Fisherman models have enough beam and freeboard for the rough waters, inlets and shoals found in our region. All the boats are built tough, and perform extremely well in their intended environments when sea conditions deteriorate.
The short answer is hull design, weight and balance. The Cape Fisherman models have enough weight to handle rough seas conditions – they don’t act like corks. The weight, coupled with good hull design, allows the boat to efficiently and smoothly cut through seas.
The primary reason for the dry ride is the design of the hard chines located near the water line. As the water travels away from the vee, the chines deflect it outward and downward away from the boat. This greatly reduces the amount of water that can be picked up by the wind and sprayed on passengers.
The Bateaus have a centerline skeg, or keel, and bottom contour that give the boats great handling characteristics and tight-turning capabilities.
Equipment/Accessories
Your dealer can provide a custom made Sunbrella boat cover. They can also recommend the custom fabricators in your area.
Buyers that keep their boat at a full-service marina may not need a trailer. If you need to transport the boat, Jones Brothers recommends purchasing a trailer through a dealer. They will help you select a well-built trailer that is appropriate for your boat, and setup the trailer for a proper fit. A dealer can also help you decide between a bunk vs. roller trailer. Note: Trailer prices will vary greatly depending on brands and dealer pricing.
For all trailers, Jones Brothers recommends radial tires, quality water resistant and easily maintained hubs, torsion axles, and a submersible LED lighting system. Do not skimp on trailer quality! Many a fishing trip or family vacation has ended in disaster because of a low quality, over-loaded or poorly maintained trailer.
If you wish to purchase a trailer, Jones Brothers recommends Road King for durability and overall quality. Feel free to contact the factory for more information.
Almost all trailers with brakes are now delivered with disc brakes installed, and disc brake systems automatically activate when the trailer goes in reverse. To backup the trailer, the disc brakes must be disabled to allow the trailer to be moved in reverse. There are two ways to disable the brakes for backing up the trailer:
Use a 7 to 5 way adapter plug – Many vehicles come factory equipped with tow packages and most have a 7 connector round plug. After verifying that the center pole in the round plug is the back up light circuit, the easiest solution is to buy a 7 to 5 way adapter plug that will plug into the tow vehicle and mate with the trailer harness. The 7 to 5 way adapters are usually available at stores that carry trailer components (i.e. Walmart).
When you put the tow vehicle in reverse, the power that illuminates the vehicle’s backup lights also applies power to the reversing solenoid valve. The valve will close and block additional fluid pressure in the braking system allowing you to back up.
Use the Locking Pin – The steel locking pin normally used to lock the coupler onto the ball can be moved to manually lock the brake lever mechanism on the coupler.
For more information, open the owner’s manual for your boat and examine the “Disc Brakes and the Reverse Lockout” in the GENERAL BOATING INFORMATION section. If you have any questions, please contact your Jones Brothers Marine dealer.
316 stainless steel fasteners and components are used for all deck hardware installations. The only exceptions are the grab rails, and optional bow and hand rails. Like almost all other marine manufacturers, grab, hand and bow rails all use 304 stainless steel to limit rust lines.
Ordinary automotive-type wire can suffer a loss of conductivity after a few months in the marine environment. Jones Brothers has always used stranded 100% tin-coated copper marine grade wire that is ABYC certified. Beginning in 2007, the factory converted over to a new custom marine grade wiring harness as well.
Jones Brothers has never been satisfied with the retail market switches and fuse blocks. While we often prefer to use retail components so that customers can easily obtain parts, if the components don’t stand up to harsh saltwater environments we find something that does. A custom manufactured commercial grade marine booted switch panel and fuse block are used on our boats, and both are highly reliable. Note: The fuse panel uses blade style, color-coded automotive fuses.
The shape of a livewell is important – generally the rounder the better. A round shape aids in circulation, and helps keep bait healthy. Having no corners keeps the fish from nosing into a corner and getting stuck. Also, round or oval tanks tend to get less wave motion when the boat is underway.
If at all possible, it is preferable to gravity drain livewells and fishboxes via a through-hull fitting. For Jones Brothers, the only exception is the fishbox on the Cape Fisherman 26. A scavenge pump is required to pump the water in the forward fishbox out of the boat.
Instruments/Electronics
Jones Brothers exclusively uses Yamaha engines, instrumentation and accessories when rigging boats, which qualifies our boats for the Yamaha PowerMatched™ System warranty, and provides the buyer with factory installed Yamaha instrumentation.
Many of our customers install aftermarket electronics and accessories. The most common are VHF radios, GPS navigation units and Fishfinders. Often the later two are combo units. There are so many quality electronics options today that it would be difficult to recommend one brand or model over another. Please consult your dealer or qualified marine mechanic.
The new SuperFish console installed on most of the Jones Brothers boats has a panel specially designed for flush-mount electronics. There is also plenty of room on top of the console to bracket mount components as well. Customers that choose not to surface mount electronics often add the optional upper storage box on the Superfish console and mount electronics inside the box out of the weather.
Since dealers install accessories on a regular basis, your local dealer can help you decide whether to use a transom-mount or through-hull transducer, and where to best place one.
Construction
Jones Brothers uses the highest quality gelcoats available on the market today. The products have enough flexibility to resist cracking, have reduced fade and chalking characteristics, and contain advanced UV inhibitors. They are also environmentally friendly.
The factory environment is also important. The gelcoat is stored in a temperature controlled room, and the floor, molds, gelcoat and ambient air temperature are stabilized during the construction process.
While a quality gelcoat and modern factory help, it takes a talented person to properly apply the gelcoat for a consistent thickness and the high quality finish expected in a Jones Brothers boat. When done right, the customer will be able to enjoy a boat that looks great for many years.
Jones Brothers uses a variety of lamination layers to build our boats. All boats start off with a gelcoat and skin coat followed by several layers of knitted and woven fiberglass. All the fiberglass materials are pre-cut and weighed. The number and type of layers vary between boats based on size and the parts being produced. Areas under high stress or load get additional layers and attention from the lamination crew. The resins and gel coats used at Jones Brothers have been chosen for their high quality and lowest emissions possible with current technology.
The majority of the glass materials used during construction are more expensive than the standard woven fabrics, but produce a lighter and stronger laminate with a much better glass to resin ratio and physical properties. In addition, we use resins that block water penetration, resist blistering and have excellent physical properties and bonding characteristics.
All Jones Brothers boats are “hand laid” by professionals. Each layer is applied using a lamination schedule in a temperature controlled environment. The process insures that the layers bond properly with lab-quality physical properties, contain no air pockets, and produce excellent and consistent results.
Absolutely none. The company made a commitment in 2001 to convert to 100% composite construction. The first several years were spent doing numerous and intensive tests on different materials. Our goal was to select materials with the very best strength, performance and long term durability. Over a three-year period, stringer molds were conceived and engineered using computer aided design software. After the plugs and molds were constructed, the new manufacturing processes were tested and refined until the new boats exceeded our own expectations. By mid-2006, all Jones Brothers Boats were 100% composite and finally moving down the assembly line!
There were also several unexpected benefits that became apparent during the first water tests. An all composite boat, built to our standards, is much quieter and feels more “solid” than the same hull using a wood stringer grid. The foam and composite layers create an effective sound barrier, and manufacturing procedures required for an all composite boat also bond the hull, stringer grid and floor into a very solid unit.
If manufactured and installed correctly, a stringer grid made of fiberglass is extremely strong. The stringers made by Jones Brothers use a LOT of glass, and are very strong on their own. When installed, the stringer grid has a great deal of contact surface with the hull – much more than a typical wood stringer grid. Additional glass is added to bond the entire edge of the stringer to the hull. Foam is then injected into all cavities for additional strength and rigidity, as well as flotation. Once the floor is glued on top of the stringer grid, the boat is extremely solid.
Light boats tend to act like corks. A reasonable amount of weight coupled with good hull design allows the boat to efficiently cut through seas, and offers passengers a softer and more stable ride.
The fuel tanks used in Jones Brothers boats are permanently foamed into the stringer grid. However, a floor hatch allows access to the fuel line connections and the fuel level sensor. The stringer grid has also been designed to provide a large conduit for lines so they can be easily replaced.
The foam flotation used in boats does not help a boat “float” during normal operation, but it can prevent a boat that has taken on water from sinking. Without foam or other flotation, a swamped fiberglass boat will sink. Foam has additional benefits. When properly installed, it can also add structural integrity to the stringer grid, and lock the gas tank in place. The foam used in Jones Brothers boats can withstand the combined effects of petroleum products like gasoline, bilge solvents, and fresh and salt water. Note: The flotation foam used by Jones Brothers produces zero harmful emissions.
All Jones Brothers boats are built to exceed all U.S. Coast Guard safety regulations, and are built to standards certified by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC).
Maintenance
Many of the components used on Jones Brothers boats are available in the retail market. Visit the Replacement Parts page to check availability.
Parts can also be purchased through an authorized Jones Brothers dealer. Visit our dealers page for locations and contact information.
Examine Chapter 7 WINTERIZATION AND STORAGE in the Jones Brothers owners manuals for information about preparing your boat for storage.
For regular washing, dish detergent and fresh water can be used for cleaning your boat.
Wash off dust or dirt particles with soap and water, and work stubborn deposits off with fingers before wiping with chamois or clean soft cloth. Do not use household cleaners. Most contain ammonia which can damage the surface. Please read the warning label before applying any product other than soap and water to your windshield.
Regular washing with a mild soap and a little elbow grease, will go a long way towards keeping the non-skid deck looking good. If the surface requires more than mild soap, use household products like Comet or Snobol.
While there are some products which claim to protect a non-skid deck from stains and oxidation, many of them contain chemicals which create their own problems and are nearly impossible to remove if you are not happy with the results.
Important: Unlike most gelcoat surfaces on a boat, it can be dangerous to wax a non-skid surface. Wax surfaces become very slippery when wet.
All boats with stainless steel fittings will eventually develop rust lines, and the hull will develop stains below the water line. Boat owners often use expensive cleaners and a lot of elbow grease to remove these stains. For quick cleaning, Jones Brothers recommends using Star brite Rust Stain Remover to remove rust and discoloration.
Usually, once a year will be sufficient to keep your boat looking good. Also, make sure you wax your boat immediately after using the Snobol treatment described in the previous FAQ.
Boats that are left in the water for extended periods of time should use bottom paint. This will protect the bottom of the hull, and prevent aquatic growth. Your dealer can recommend a paint brand and an application schedule that best fits your area.
Marine polyurethane adhesive/sealant should be applied for any after market installations. Different formulations are available for different applications and cure times. If you have any questions, please consult your dealer or qualified marine mechanic.
Spectrum Gel Coats has the codes for, and can match, most of the gel coats Jones Brothers has used over the years. Follow the link, click the “Boat Search” button, select Jones Brothers as the manufacturer, choose a generic color such as white (our standard color is white), blue, green, etc. The result list will display the available Jones Brothers colors. For example, “blue” will list three available shades of blue. A list of the colors can be found on the Gel Coat and Colors page. Choose the amount you need. These folks will NOT provide Olive Drab as it’s too difficult to match. For Olive Drab or Maple Cream, you will need to email Jones Brothers. Normal availability for delivery to the factory is 2-3 weeks, and you will need to make arrangements to pick up the gel coat at the plant as we do not have a hazardous shipping permit.
Gelcoat is also available through an authorized Jones Brothers dealer. Visit our dealers page for locations and contact information.
The Jones Brothers boats use a custom marine grade wiring harness. Schematics are available on request, and will be added to future releases of the owners guides.
Service and Support
Contact your Jones Brothers Marine dealer or another reputable service center. Do not attempt any repairs or maintenance you do not understand or have proper tools to perform. To locate a Jones Brothers dealer, visit our dealers page for locations and contact information.
We’d be happy to give you a factory tour. Contact Jones Brothers during normal business hours and arrange a convenient time to stop by our manufacturing plant in Morehead City, NC. Click here for contact information and directions. Note: You can also take a “virtual” factory tour by clicking on this link.
Please scan and email a copy of your Bill of Sale along with your name, address, phone number, email address as well as the contact information of the new owner to the attention of Beth Jones at support@jonesbrothersmarine.com, or fax the information to 252-294-1136.
