The Crestliner Fish Hawk 1700 SC 2008 is a modified-V design and the Crestliner Super Hawk 1800 - Closed 2012 is a deep-V design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Crestliner Fish Hawk 1700 SC 2008 at 17,0 ft versus Crestliner Super Hawk 1800 - Closed 2012 at 18,2 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Crestliner Super Hawk 1800 - Closed 2012 tips the scales at 1 470 lbs - 370 lbs less than the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1700 SC 2008 at 1 100 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 175 hp, the Crestliner Super Hawk 1800 - Closed 2012 has a 60-hp advantage over the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1700 SC 2008's 115-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 30 gal and 33 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Crestliner Super Hawk 1800 - Closed 2012 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1700 SC 2008 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Crestliner Super Hawk 1800 - Closed 2012 could be the deciding factor.