When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Alumacraft 1648 2008 and the Alumacraft Riveted Jon 1436 2012 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 1648 2008 at 16,0 ft versus Alumacraft Riveted Jon 1436 2012 at 14,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Alumacraft 1648 2008 tips the scales at 285 lbs — 267 lbs more than the Alumacraft Riveted Jon 1436 2012 at 18 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 1436 2012 tops out at 15 hp. Engine specs for the Alumacraft 1648 2008 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 1648 2008 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Alumacraft Riveted Jon 1436 2012 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 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Alumacraft 1648 2008 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 Riveted Jon 1436 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 3 that costs less to run day-to-day.