The Crestliner CXJ 1870 2006 vs Crestliner Retriever Jon 2070 2013 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story: intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Crestliner CXJ 1870 2006 at 18,0 ft versus Crestliner Retriever Jon 2070 2013 at 20,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Crestliner CXJ 1870 2006 tips the scales at 1 175 lbs - 465 lbs more than the Crestliner Retriever Jon 2070 2013 at 710 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 - 90 hp for the Crestliner CXJ 1870 2006 and 75 hp for the Crestliner Retriever Jon 2070 2013. 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 Retriever Jon 2070 2013 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Crestliner CXJ 1870 2006 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Crestliner Retriever Jon 2070 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Crestliner Retriever Jon 2070 2013 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 CXJ 1870 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.