When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Alumacraft 1542 2009 and the Alumacraft Riveted Jon 1648 (15 & 20) 2011 are flat designs with aluminum construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Alumacraft 1542 2009 at 15,0 ft versus Alumacraft Riveted Jon 1648 (15 & 20) 2011 at 16,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Alumacraft Riveted Jon 1648 (15 & 20) 2011 tips the scales at 285 lbs — 264 lbs less than the Alumacraft 1542 2009 at 21 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The Alumacraft Riveted Jon 1648 (15 & 20) 2011 tops out at 30 hp. Engine specs for the Alumacraft 1542 2009 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Alumacraft Riveted Jon 1648 (15 & 20) 2011 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Alumacraft 1542 2009 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Alumacraft Riveted Jon 1648 (15 & 20) 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Alumacraft Riveted Jon 1648 (15 & 20) 2011 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 1542 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.