When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Crestliner Retriever 2070 SC 2011 and the Crestliner VT 19 2012 are modified vee designs with aluminum construction — 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Crestliner VT 19 2012 measures 19,0 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 17,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Crestliner Retriever 2070 SC 2011 at 2,0 feet (2011). At 1 125 lbs and 1 085 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 115 hp for the Crestliner Retriever 2070 SC 2011 and 135 hp for the Crestliner VT 19 2012. 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 2070 SC 2011 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Crestliner VT 19 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 Retriever 2070 SC 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Crestliner Retriever 2070 SC 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Crestliner VT 19 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.