Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 vs Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 or the Fisher 18 Spirit 2009?

For trailering, the Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 has the edge at 105 lbs dry weight versus 1 174 lbs for the Fisher 18 Spirit 2009. 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 Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 is rated to a maximum of 50 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 tops out at 6 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 Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 3 passengers, while the Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 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 Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 measures 96" wide, compared to 45" for the Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004. 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 Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 and Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 and the Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 are built by Fisher. 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

Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 vs Fisher 18 Spirit 2009

Fisher

Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004

2004

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Fisher

Fisher 18 Spirit 2009

2009

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 vs Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 vs Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 50 hp, the Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 has a 44-hp advantage over the Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004's 6-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 19,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 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

MakeFisher

Model1232 Riveted Jon

Model18 Spirit

Model Year2004

Model Year2009

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam45 in. Bottom Width: 32 in

Beam96 in

Beam - Meters1.14

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Inches45

Beam - Inches96

Draft [drive up] - Detailn/a

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Weight - DetailApprox. 105 lbs

Weight - Detail1,174 lbs

Weight - kg47.63

Weight - kg532.52

Weight - lbs.105

Weight - lbs.1174

Height - Detailn/a

Height - Detailnot available

Height [transom]15 in

Height [transom]not available

Length overall - Detail12 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Detail19 ft. 7 in

Length overall - Meters3.66

Length overall - Meters5.97

Length overall - Inches144

Length overall - Inches235

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet19

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches7

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typenot available

Hull typePontoon

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detailn/a

Fuel tank capacity - Detail9 gal

Engine max6 hp

Engine max50 hp

Engine/s standardnot available

Engine/s standard20 ELPT FourStroke EFI

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters34.07

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal9

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Operational Info

Water capacityn/a

Water capacitynot available

Maximum capacity440 lbs

Maximum capacity1,300 lbs

Maximum people3 person

Maximum people5 / 750 lbs

Trailer Info

Trailer - Detailn/a

Trailer - Detailnot available

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameternot available

Tube diameter21 in

Tube gaugenot available

Tube gauge0.08 in

Number of tubesnot available

Number of tubes2

Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 vs Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 or the Fisher 18 Spirit 2009?

For trailering, the Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 has the edge at 105 lbs dry weight versus 1 174 lbs for the Fisher 18 Spirit 2009. 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 Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 is rated to a maximum of 50 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 tops out at 6 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 Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 3 passengers, while the Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 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 Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 measures 96" wide, compared to 45" for the Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004. 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 Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 and Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 and the Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 are built by Fisher. 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.

← Fisher 1232 Riveted Jon 2004 full specs ← Fisher 18 Spirit 2009 full specs