When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Crestliner Sportsman 1450 Tiller 2013 and the Crestliner Storm 17 2013 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?
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 50 hp, the Crestliner Storm 17 2013 has a 25-hp advantage over the Crestliner Sportsman 1450 Tiller 2013's 25-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Crestliner Sportsman 1450 Tiller 2013 is rated for 4 passengers, while the Crestliner Storm 17 2013 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Crestliner Sportsman 1450 Tiller 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Crestliner Sportsman 1450 Tiller 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 4 passengers and at 14,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Crestliner Storm 17 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 3 that costs less to run day-to-day.