When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Crestliner CX Bass Series 17 2009 and the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1750 Tiller 2008 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 CX Bass Series 17 2009 at 17,0 ft versus Crestliner Fish Hawk 1750 Tiller 2008 at 17,0 ft. At 104 lbs and 105 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 — 90 hp for the Crestliner CX Bass Series 17 2009 and 90 hp for the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1750 Tiller 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1750 Tiller 2008 carries 24 gallons versus 19 gallons in the Crestliner CX Bass Series 17 2009. 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 1750 Tiller 2008 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Crestliner CX Bass Series 17 2009 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 1750 Tiller 2008 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Crestliner Fish Hawk 1750 Tiller 2008 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 1 lbs per hp for the Crestliner CX Bass Series 17 2009. 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 1750 Tiller 2008 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 CX Bass Series 17 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.