Both the Crestliner Retriever 1756 DS 2011 and the Crestliner Retriever Jon 1650 2013 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 Retriever 1756 DS 2011 at 17,0 ft versus Crestliner Retriever Jon 1650 2013 at 16,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Crestliner Retriever 1756 DS 2011 tips the scales at 605 lbs - 145 lbs more than the Crestliner Retriever Jon 1650 2013 at 460 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 - 60 hp for the Crestliner Retriever 1756 DS 2011 and 40 hp for the Crestliner Retriever Jon 1650 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 1756 DS 2011 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Crestliner Retriever Jon 1650 2013 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Crestliner Retriever 1756 DS 2011 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Crestliner Retriever 1756 DS 2011 comes in at 10 lbs per hp versus 12 lbs per hp for the Crestliner Retriever Jon 1650 2013. 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.