When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Crest Crest II Fish 230SF 2013 and the Crest II XRS RE 20 2007 are pontoon designs with aluminum construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Crest Crest II Fish 230SF 2013 measures 23,5 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 21,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Crest II XRS RE 20 2007 at 2,0 feet (2007). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Crest Crest II Fish 230SF 2013 tips the scales at 2 455 lbs — 153 lbs more than the Crest II XRS RE 20 2007 at 2 302 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 140 hp, the Crest Crest II Fish 230SF 2013 has a 40-hp advantage over the Crest II XRS RE 20 2007's 100-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 Crest II XRS RE 20 2007 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Crest Crest II Fish 230SF 2013 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Crest II XRS RE 20 2007 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Crest II XRS RE 20 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Crest Crest II Fish 230SF 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.