Alumacraft 1232 to 1270

A few months ago I decided i wanted my first ever boat. I honestly wanted kayaks that I could load up with fishing and camping gear and my 130lb mastiff dog but realized that Was unrealistic. So I decided on a super wide 12ft Jon for fishing and camping with the wife and dogs. No one makes a super wide 12 ft Jon boat... so I picked up an old alumacraft 1232 from my boss and proceeded to cut it in half!

As a manufacturing engineer and with 10 years of tig welding experience I wasn’t too concerned. The hardest part of the build was choosing a color to paint it, which the wife ended up picking.

Battery is relocated to the bow, gas tank is centered and room for a second tank for longer trips. It has all aluminum framing for the 7ft by 6.6ft casting deck. Added float pods and enough foam throughout to make it unsinkable. Transom rebuilt as all 1/4in thick aluminum so I never have to worry about the wood rot.

It doesn’t have a single pin hole leak and is incredibly stable to stand on. I still want to add a solar panel to trickle charge the battery on longer trips. Any other mods you think I should do to it? :shock: :?: :?: :shock: :?:

I have a ton more photos, not sure how many to post.

Seriously impressive work! I'm working on a 12' boat myself, and you just took my dreams to the next level! Me, I like to put RGB LEDs everywhere (along inner rim of boat, under seats, etc). besides the coolness factor i love having light when you drop something or are trying to see at night. One of the members here also made a remote controlled spotlight which sits above his deck by like 6 or 7' for the above lighting when needed. Heres some links to another great inspiration in the boat building world. Hope you enjoy!

Here's a rod locker that I think is amazing. Imagine not having to load/unload poles.
https://youtu.be/9zME3HNTon8

Here's a live well. Great for bait and those keepers.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmuH7yUCrueRxjgtnVcgGuUvfziO7SJW9

Hmm I like the spotlight idea.
LEDs everywhere are planned and the wiring circuits are in place, just not top priority currently as the stern light gives plenty of lighting on this small boat.

I didn’t post it but I already have storage for 4 rods. 2 on each side under the decking.

Livewell.. yup that’s gona be a must !

Fish finder And rod holders for trolling are in the works, as is a larger Outboard, currently running a little 6hp.

I like the wider boats myself. The only problem I see with them when they're home grown is the shorter sides. A lot of guys that do bow fishing have modified their boats this way. Structurally you did a good job. You said that your transom is 1/4 plate. If you put a larger motor on it are you going to add a couple knees to stiffen if up? Where are you going to mount your transducer?

eeshaw said:

I like the wider boats myself. The only problem I see with them when they're home grown is the shorter sides. A lot of guys that do bow fishing have modified their boats this way. Structurally you did a good job. You said that your transom is 1/4 plate. If you put a larger motor on it are you going to add a couple knees to stiffen if up? Where are you going to mount your transducer?

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In more detail, the Transom is 1/4 plate capped with a 2in square .135 wall tube across the full beam. Then a second formed 1/4 plate below for the motor to clamp to. The rear seating platforms are tied into the transom and hull supports, acting as knees. Everything is fully welded together and made out of 6061 T6 structural aluminum.

Haven’t decided on the transducer, will the float pods cause issues with it if I mount off the transom? I thought about mounting it to my trolling motor in the front, but then I’d have to always have the motor in the water?

BAD AZZ! That’s what it is!

Well, that should be plenty sturdy for the transom. If you're just using the pods for flotation then I'd mount the transducer to it. If you mount it to the transom it will probably won't work well. When you put the rib extensions in did you weld a sheet to them to act as a floor and further reinforce the bottom?

eeshaw said:

Well, that should be plenty sturdy for the transom. If you're just using the pods for flotation then I'd mount the transducer to it. If you mount it to the transom it will probably won't work well. When you put the rib extensions in did you weld a sheet to them to act as a floor and further reinforce the bottom?

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The Ribs are welded to the hull, and then another sheet of aluminum on top of the ribs riveted down with foam between so I can replace or repair if needed by just drilling out rivets instead of cutting apart welds.