Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 vs Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer - the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 or the Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009?

For trailering, the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 has the edge at 670 lbs dry weight versus 1 900 lbs for the Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009 is rated to a maximum of 60 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 tops out at 50 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that - matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009 is certified for 9. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing - on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009 measures 101" wide, compared to 78" for the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states - anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Are the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 and Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 and the Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009 are built by Crestliner. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 vs Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009

Crestliner

Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004

2004

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Crestliner

Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009

2009

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 vs Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009: Same Brand, Different Boat

The Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 vs Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story: intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 50 hp for the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 and 60 hp for the Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009. 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 Sun Cast 2185 2009 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 9 passengers and at 20,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeCrestliner

ModelSportsman 18 SS

ModelSun Cast 2185

Model Year2004

Model Year2009

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam78 in.

Beam101 in. (257 cm)

Beam - Meters1.98

Beam - Meters2.57

Beam - Inches78

Beam - Inches101

Weight - Detail670 lbs.

Weight - Detail1,900 lbs. (861 kg)

Weight - kg303.91

Weight - kg861.82

Weight - lbs.670

Weight - lbs.1900

Height - Detail33.5 in.

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Meters0.86

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Inches33.5

Height - Inchesnot available

Height [transom]20 in.

Height [transom]not available

Length overall - Detail18 ft.

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 2 in. (6.1 m)

Length overall - Meters5.49

Length overall - Meters6.15

Length overall - Inches216

Length overall - Inches242

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters6.1

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet20

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches2

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine max50

Engine max60 hp

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - DetailPortable

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1390 lbs.

Maximum capacity1,869 lbs. (848 kg)

Maximum people7 Persons

Maximum people9

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typenot available

Hull typePontoon

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameternot available

Tube diameter23 in. (58 cm)

Tube gaugenot available

Tube gauge0.080 in.

Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 vs Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009 - Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer - the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 or the Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009?

For trailering, the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 has the edge at 670 lbs dry weight versus 1 900 lbs for the Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009 is rated to a maximum of 60 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 tops out at 50 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that - matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009 is certified for 9. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing - on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009 measures 101" wide, compared to 78" for the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states - anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Are the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 and Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 and the Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009 are built by Crestliner. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Crestliner Sportsman 18 SS 2004 full specs ← Crestliner Sun Cast 2185 2009 full specs