Alumacraft 1236 2003 vs Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Alumacraft 1236 2003 or the Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007?

For trailering, the Alumacraft 1236 2003 has the edge at 13 lbs dry weight versus 26 lbs for the Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007 is rated to a maximum of 35 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Alumacraft 1236 2003 tops out at 15 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Alumacraft 1236 2003 is Coast Guard rated for 3 passengers, while the Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007 is certified for 5. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Alumacraft 1236 2003 measures 55" wide, compared to 7" for the Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Are the Alumacraft 1236 2003 and Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Alumacraft 1236 2003 and the Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007 are built by Alumacraft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Alumacraft 1236 2003 vs Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007

Alumacraft

Alumacraft 1236 2003

2003

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Alumacraft

Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007

2007

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Alumacraft 1236 2003 vs Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Alumacraft 1236 2003 vs Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 15 hp for the Alumacraft 1236 2003 and 35 hp for the Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Alumacraft 1236 2003 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 16,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Alumacraft 1236 2003 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 3 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeAlumacraft

Model1236

Model1648 NCS

Model Year2003

Model Year2007

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam55 in

Beam70 in

Beam - Meters1.4

Beam - Meters1.78

Beam - Inches55

Beam - Inches7

Draft [drive up] - DetailN/A

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail130 lbs

Weight - Detail260 lbs

Weight - kg58.97

Weight - kg117.93

Weight - lbs.13

Weight - lbs.26

Height - Detail19 in

Height - Detail21 in

Height - Meters0.48

Height - Meters0.53

Height - Inches19

Height - Inches21

Height [transom]15 in

Height [transom]15 or 20 in

Length overall - Detail12 ft

Length overall - Detail16 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Meters3.66

Length overall - Meters4.88

Length overall - Inches144

Length overall - Inches192

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - Detail48 in

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet16

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull thickness0.070 in

Hull typenot available

Hull typeFlat

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standard15 hp

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - DetailN/A

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Engine max15 hp TillerMaximum outboard power w/Tiller Steering

Engine max35 hp

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Operational Info

Water capacityN/A

Water capacitynot available

Maximum people3 persons

Maximum people5

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity1,010 lbs

Trailer Info

Trailer - DetailN/A

Trailer - Detailnot available

Alumacraft 1236 2003 vs Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Alumacraft 1236 2003 or the Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007?

For trailering, the Alumacraft 1236 2003 has the edge at 13 lbs dry weight versus 26 lbs for the Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007 is rated to a maximum of 35 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Alumacraft 1236 2003 tops out at 15 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Alumacraft 1236 2003 is Coast Guard rated for 3 passengers, while the Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007 is certified for 5. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Alumacraft 1236 2003 measures 55" wide, compared to 7" for the Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Are the Alumacraft 1236 2003 and Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Alumacraft 1236 2003 and the Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007 are built by Alumacraft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Alumacraft 1236 2003 full specs ← Alumacraft 1648 NCS 2007 full specs