Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Princecraft J1243 2004 vs Princecraft PR 1236 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Princecraft J1243 2004 vs Princecraft PR 1236 2012 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 — 5 hp for the Princecraft J1243 2004 and 10 hp for the Princecraft PR 1236 2012. 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 Princecraft PR 1236 2012 is rated for 3 passengers, while the Princecraft J1243 2004 caps at 2. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Princecraft PR 1236 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Princecraft PR 1236 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 3 passengers and at 11,9 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Princecraft J1243 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 2 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakePrincecraft
MakePrincecraft
Model Year2004
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam43 in
Beam56 in. (1.42 m)
Beam - Meters1.09
Beam - Meters1.42
Beam - Inches43
Beam - Inches56
Weight - Detail112 lbs
Weight - Detail140 lbs. (63 kg)
Weight - kg50.8
Weight - kg63.5
Weight - lbs.112
Weight - lbs.14
Height [transom]20 in
Height [transom]15 in. (0.38 m)
Length overall - Detail12 ft
Length overall - Detail11 ft. 11 in. (3.63 m)
Length overall - Meters3.66
Length overall - Meters3.63
Length overall - Inches144
Length overall - Inches143
Depth - Detailnot available
Depth - DetailSide: 17 in. (0.43 m)
Depth - Centimetersnot available
Depth - Centimeters43.18
Depth - Inchesnot available
Depth - Inches17
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - Detail36 in. (0.91 m)
Length - Feetnot available
Length - Feet11.92
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine max5 HP
Engine max10 hp (7.5 kW)
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - DetailPortable
Fuel typenot available
Fuel typeGas
Drive typenot available
Drive typeOutboard
Operational Info
Maximum capacity410 lbs
Maximum capacity527 lbs. (239 kg)
Maximum people2 Persons
Maximum people3 / 325 lbs. (147 kg)
Body / Hull
Hull materialnot available
Hull materialAluminum
Hull thicknessnot available
Hull thickness0.050 in. (1.27 mm)
Hull typenot available
Hull typeFlat