Both the Crestliner Backwater 1860 SC 2011 and the Crestliner CXJ Series 2070 CC 2009 are modified-V designs, both built in aluminium, so 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Crestliner Backwater 1860 SC 2011 at 18,4 ft versus Crestliner CXJ Series 2070 CC 2009 at 20,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Crestliner CXJ Series 2070 CC 2009 tips the scales at 1 390 lbs - 510 lbs less than the Crestliner Backwater 1860 SC 2011 at 880 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 - 115 hp for the Crestliner Backwater 1860 SC 2011 and 115 hp for the Crestliner CXJ Series 2070 CC 2009. 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 20 gal and 21 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Crestliner CXJ Series 2070 CC 2009 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Crestliner Backwater 1860 SC 2011 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Crestliner CXJ Series 2070 CC 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Crestliner CXJ Series 2070 CC 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 7 passengers and at 20,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Crestliner Backwater 1860 SC 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.