The Crestliner Ambush 16 2013 vs Crestliner Fish Hawk 1700 Tiller 2007 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Crestliner Ambush 16 2013 at 16,0 ft versus Crestliner Fish Hawk 1700 Tiller 2007 at 17,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1700 Tiller 2007 tips the scales at 1 050 lbs - 150 lbs less than the Crestliner Ambush 16 2013 at 900 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 60 hp for the Crestliner Ambush 16 2013 and 75 hp for the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1700 Tiller 2007. 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1700 Tiller 2007 carries 30 gallons versus 15 gallons in the Crestliner Ambush 16 2013. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Crestliner Fish Hawk 1700 Tiller 2007 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Crestliner Ambush 16 2013 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1700 Tiller 2007 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Crestliner Fish Hawk 1700 Tiller 2007 comes in at 14 lbs per hp versus 15 lbs per hp for the Crestliner Ambush 16 2013. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration - meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
Bottom line: Choose the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1700 Tiller 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 6 passengers and at 17,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Crestliner Ambush 16 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.