Indiana Homemade John Boat

[drxfish]

That came out really nice! Sorry I cannot help on identity.

 

[Steph Boeker]

Here is a couple pics

Very distinctive knee braces, should help to ID it.

They look like an addition to me (after thought) ? I mean, bolts & nuts through the floor ? What manufacture would do that on a riveted boat ? Love the restoration. If only mine turns out 1/2 that nice I'll be very happy !! Enjoy.

 

[Philco57]

They look like an addition to me (after thought) ? I mean, bolts & nuts through the floor ? What manufacture would do that on a riveted boat ? Love the restoration. If only mine turns out 1/2 that nice I'll be very happy !! Enjoy.

I never really considered them to be add ons until you mentioned it…….that is an excellent thought. There have been areas where the rivet was lost and they were replaced with a small nut and bolt with a rubber grommet to seal and protect. I have replaced those bolts with new aluminum rivets.

 

[Axhammer]

The feature you describe as wings on the ends of the transom, seem to be pretty common on 1648’s.

I have a 1992 Smoker Craft 1648 Jon boat that was sold at the Walmart in Savannah GA. It has the same feature. My boat says “Fish Master” on the sides, but the title reads Smoker Craft. I was stationed at Savannah, when they opened that new Walmart in the early nineties, and I remember the Jon boats leaning against the exterior wall as you walked to the entrance of the store. Years later, I was stationed at Savannah again, and I bought a 1648 first thing when I got there in 2005. The guy I bought it from told me he bought it from Walmart.

It still has the price sticker on the hull…lol. The boat cost $1430.

I’ll post some pictures. The side console in my 1648 in the picture is just sitting in place. I just bought that console from CL for the steering wheel & cable. It is not a permanent part of this 1648. It has tiller steering.

I think Jon boats have those wings on the transom to shorten the transom height, so folks can run a 15” SS outboard.

 

[Steph Boeker]

I never really considered them to be add ons until you mentioned it…….that is an excellent thought. There have been areas where the rivet was lost and they were replaced with a small nut and bolt with a rubber grommet to seal and protect. I have replaced those bolts with new aluminum rivets.

Well, there now, you have more confirmation if that's what's geauxing on. I mean, you have a rivet design, it's a great design. A design that's strong, smooth & sleek. A design many companies have adapted. It works well and takes a standard, finite system to employ. It works on all sides (bow, stern, bottom, benches, ribs, ... ) you name it.
Now, for what left wing, god awful reason do you believe it might be necessary to change that for such a crude, cumbersome, calamity prone option as a nut and bolt ??
No sir, i think you're correct. I think it's an addition by a guy w/ common sense and not the where-w/-all to install nice clean rivets at hand.