Both the Crestliner Sportfish 1950 SST 2011 and the Crestliner Super Hawk Series 1700 2009 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Crestliner Sportfish 1950 SST 2011 measures 20,6 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 3,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the Crestliner Super Hawk Series 1700 2009 at 17,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Crestliner Sportfish 1950 SST 2011 tips the scales at 1 850 lbs - 550 lbs more than the Crestliner Super Hawk Series 1700 2009 at 1 300 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 200 hp, the Crestliner Sportfish 1950 SST 2011 has a 60-hp advantage over the Crestliner Super Hawk Series 1700 2009's 140-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 Sportfish 1950 SST 2011 carries 40 gallons versus 33 gallons in the Crestliner Super Hawk Series 1700 2009. 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 Sportfish 1950 SST 2011 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Crestliner Super Hawk Series 1700 2009 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Crestliner Sportfish 1950 SST 2011 could be the deciding factor.