Both the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1850 DC 2011 and the Crestliner VT 17 2012 are modified-V designs, both built in aluminium, so 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 Fish Hawk 1850 DC 2011 at 18,5 ft versus Crestliner VT 17 2012 at 17,5 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1850 DC 2011 tips the scales at 1 250 lbs - 206 lbs more than the Crestliner VT 17 2012 at 1 044 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 150 hp, the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1850 DC 2011 has a 75-hp advantage over the Crestliner VT 17 2012's 75-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1850 DC 2011 carries 31 gallons versus 22 gallons in the Crestliner VT 17 2012. 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 1850 DC 2011 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Crestliner VT 17 2012 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 1850 DC 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Crestliner Fish Hawk 1850 DC 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 6 passengers and at 18,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Crestliner VT 17 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.