I have had a gunnel height platform and a raised platform with the lights underneath for night time shooting on a 1640 LOWE jon boat for over 30 years, pushed by a 18 hp Go Devil longtail and everyone who ever shot off the front of my boat prefered the raised platform, hands down. When shooting at night, we found we wanted the lights UNDER our feet/deck and NOT up by our knees because the bugs would drive us crazy being in our faces all night long. I never had a problem with it being tippy. HOWEVER, we only ever took one 55 gallon drum with us at a time because with 3 men, a generator, platform, lights and a barrel full of fish, we were over loaded. The boat was too narrow for carrying that kind of load.
I now have a 1856 Go evil boat with a Mud Buddy HD 4000 and feel much more comfortable hauling extra weight. And the lights are going under the new deck, as soon as hunting season is over and I have time to get it built. Can hardly wait for spring...