Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 vs Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 or the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004?

For trailering, the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 has the edge at 67 lbs dry weight versus 83 lbs for the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 is rated to a maximum of 60 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 tops out at 5 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 is certified for 7. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 measures 87" wide, compared to 78" for the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Are the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 and Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 and the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 are built by Crestliner. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 vs Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004

Crestliner

Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012

2012

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Crestliner

Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004

2004

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 vs Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 vs Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 60 hp, the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 has a 55-hp advantage over the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004's 5-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 Sportsman 18 SS 2004 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeCrestliner

ModelFish Hawk 1600 SC

ModelSportsman 18 SS

Model Year2012

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam87 in. (221 cm)

Beam78 in

Beam - Meters2.21

Beam - Meters1.98

Beam - Inches87

Beam - Inches78

Deadrise12°

Deadrisenot available

Depth - DetailMaximum: 35 in. (89 cm) Cockpit: 24 in. (61 cm)

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters88.9

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches35

Depth - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail830 lbs. (376 kg)

Weight - Detail670 lbs

Weight - kg376.48

Weight - kg303.91

Weight - lbs.83

Weight - lbs.67

Height [transom]20 in. (51 cm)

Height [transom]20 in

Length - Feet16

Length - Feetnot available

Length overall - Detail16 ft. (4.8 m)

Length overall - Detail18 ft

Length overall - Meters4.88

Length overall - Meters5.49

Length overall - Inches192

Length overall - Inches216

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Detail33.5 in

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters0.86

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches33.5

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull materialnot available

Hull thicknessBottom: 0.09 in. Sides: 0.08 in. Transom: 0.125 in

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail23 gal. (87 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters87.06

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal23

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typenot available

Engine max60 hp

Engine max5

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,200 lbs. (544 kg)

Maximum capacity1390 lbs

Maximum people5

Maximum people7 Persons

Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 vs Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 or the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004?

For trailering, the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 has the edge at 67 lbs dry weight versus 83 lbs for the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 is rated to a maximum of 60 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 tops out at 5 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 is certified for 7. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 measures 87" wide, compared to 78" for the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Are the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 and Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 and the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 are built by Crestliner. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Crestliner Fish Hawk 1600 SC 2012 full specs ← Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 full specs