Both the Crestliner Backwater 1860 Tiller 2011 and the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2008 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 Tiller 2011 at 18,4 ft versus Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2008 at 16,0 ft. At 830 lbs and 880 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class - either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 75 hp for the Crestliner Backwater 1860 Tiller 2011 and 75 hp for the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2008. 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2008 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Crestliner Backwater 1860 Tiller 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 Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 5 passengers and at 16,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Crestliner Backwater 1860 Tiller 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.