When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Crestliner Backwater 1870 Tiller 2010 and the Crestliner Storm 17 2013 are modified vee 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Crestliner Backwater 1870 Tiller 2010 at 18,0 ft versus Crestliner Storm 17 2013 at 17,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Crestliner Backwater 1870 Tiller 2010 tips the scales at 1 115 lbs — 1 049 lbs more than the Crestliner Storm 17 2013 at 66 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 75 hp, the Crestliner Backwater 1870 Tiller 2010 has a 25-hp advantage over the Crestliner Storm 17 2013's 50-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 Crestliner Backwater 1870 Tiller 2010 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Crestliner Storm 17 2013 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Crestliner Backwater 1870 Tiller 2010 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Crestliner Storm 17 2013 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 15 lbs per hp for the Crestliner Backwater 1870 Tiller 2010. 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.