When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Crestliner CR 1648 MTS 2008 and the Crestliner Super Hawk 1700 2011 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 CR 1648 MTS 2008 at 15,0 ft versus Crestliner Super Hawk 1700 2011 at 17,1 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Crestliner CR 1648 MTS 2008 tips the scales at 275 lbs — 262 lbs more than the Crestliner Super Hawk 1700 2011 at 13 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 Crestliner Super Hawk 1700 2011 has a 105-hp advantage over the Crestliner CR 1648 MTS 2008's 35-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 Super Hawk 1700 2011 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Crestliner CR 1648 MTS 2008 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Crestliner Super Hawk 1700 2011 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Crestliner Super Hawk 1700 2011 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 8 lbs per hp for the Crestliner CR 1648 MTS 2008. 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.