Alumacraft Jon with a tear!

  • stevew
    Burnsville, MN
    Posts: 412
    April 11, 2011 at 8:22 pm #1271730

    So, late last summer I bought an AlumaCraft 1442 NCS Jon from Cabelas. Never even put it in the water last year. I flipped it upside down to store on my trailer. When I flipped it back over, the bracket that holds the front platform in place punched right through the side below the waterline. It’s about a half inch tear! I am shocked – I expected the Jon to be pretty darn durable!!!

    I will probably bring it back to Cabelas to see what they will do about it but I don’t have high hopes. How would you guys repair that – – have it welded? Epoxy?

    Dave Koonce
    Moderator
    Prairie du Chien Wi.
    Posts: 6946
    April 11, 2011 at 8:45 pm #956084

    Find a shop that welds aluminum…

    No doubt !!!

    I hope Cabela’s will work with you…but I’ll bet your right…It really isn’t their obligation.

    Good Luck and sorry about your misfortune

    mikeraiche
    Arkansaw Wi
    Posts: 90
    April 11, 2011 at 9:05 pm #956092

    If cabelas doesnt warranty it, Alumacraft should. They have a great product and should stand behind their work!

    dea
    Hixton, WI
    Posts: 457
    April 11, 2011 at 9:19 pm #956093

    I’ve never seen that type of problem with any Alumacraft jon boat. I sold them for 15 years, plus our business sold them since the 70’s.. Talk to Alumacraft warranty dept. You may have to contact Arkansas as that is where they are made. They stand behind their product.

    dfresh
    Fridley, MN
    Posts: 3053
    April 11, 2011 at 9:55 pm #956102

    I have seen the Tracker Jons they have at Gander, and honestly, they look flimsy as hell, but all the Alumacrafts I have seen looked more sturdily built. Find a good shop that welds Aluminum and they should be able to fix it for you.

    walleye_slayer
    cannon falls, mn
    Posts: 91
    April 11, 2011 at 10:25 pm #956116

    i would suggest a a body shop somebody would probably be able to weld a patch over it. that would suck to have happen though. good luck

    dbright
    Cambridge
    Posts: 1867
    April 12, 2011 at 12:27 am #956156

    SteveW if you decide to have someone weld it i found a guy that did some custom work on my transom that did a really good job and at a very good price for the amount of work he did. He is out of oakdale.

    sandmannd
    Posts: 928
    April 12, 2011 at 12:38 am #956166

    Check with Cabela’s to see what they say. If they won’t help you go to Alumacraft directly. If you are stuck with it, check out Bakken’s Boat Shop. Great work!!

    yetiwalleye
    Posts: 43
    April 12, 2011 at 12:38 am #956167

    Call alumacraft. They will fix it. I had a leaky fuel cell in my dominator. A factory rep came over and towed my boat back to the factory to do the repairs all on their dime. Good company.

    Dave Koonce
    Moderator
    Prairie du Chien Wi.
    Posts: 6946
    April 13, 2011 at 7:51 pm #956867

    Steve,

    Please let us know the outcome of this situation.. I’m curious how it turns out.. I’m hoping for the best for ya !!

    Jeremy
    Richland County, WI
    Posts: 701
    April 13, 2011 at 10:00 pm #956904

    They must have gotten cheap with their boats now. I have a 2000 MV1448 that I have gone through ice with and there is more wear on the bottom of the boat from the trailer bunks than from busting ice

    stevew
    Burnsville, MN
    Posts: 412
    April 18, 2011 at 2:30 pm #958305

    Update: Cabelas contacted AlumaCraft. They suggested I bring the boat in and they would truck it down to Arkansas so they could assess and decide what to do. I decided that rather than go through that and lose the boat for spring fishing, I will just bring it to someone who can weld aluminum. I am glad that Cabelas didn’t give me the stiff-arm but I am not quite so happy with Alumacraft’s solution…

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