Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 vs Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 or the Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008?

For trailering, the Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 has the edge at 21 lbs dry weight versus 1 507 lbs for the Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008. 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 Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 is rated to a maximum of 75 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 tops out at 15 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 Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 is Coast Guard rated for 3 passengers, while the Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 is certified for 7. 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 Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 measures 97" wide, compared to 66" for the Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003. 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 Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 and Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 and the Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 are built by Fisher. 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

Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 vs Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008

Fisher

Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003

2003

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Fisher

Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008

2008

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 vs Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 vs Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 75 hp, the Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 has a 60-hp advantage over the Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003's 15-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 Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 3 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeFisher

Model1266 Riveted Deep V

ModelLiberty 180 Fish

Model Year2003

Model Year2008

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam66 in. Bottom Width: 48 in

Beam97 in

Beam - Meters1.68

Beam - Meters2.46

Beam - Inches66

Beam - Inches97

Draft [drive up] - Detailn/a

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Weight - DetailApprox. 210 lbs

Weight - Detail1,507 lbs

Weight - kg95.25

Weight - kg683.56

Weight - lbs.21

Weight - lbs.1507

Height - Detailn/a

Height - Detailnot available

Height [transom]16 in

Height [transom]not available

Length overall - Detail12 ft. 2 in

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 6 in

Length overall - Meters3.71

Length overall - Meters5.64

Length overall - Inches146

Length overall - Inches222

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet18

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches6

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typenot available

Hull typePontoon

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detailn/a

Fuel tank capacity - Detail19 gal

Engine max15 hp

Engine max75 hp

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters71.92

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal19

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Operational Info

Water capacityn/a

Water capacitynot available

Maximum capacity610 lbs

Maximum capacity1,640 lbs

Maximum people3 Person

Maximum people7 / 975 lbs

Trailer Info

Trailer - Detailn/a

Trailer - Detailnot available

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameternot available

Tube diameter24 in

Tube gaugenot available

Tube gauge0.080 in

Number of tubesnot available

Number of tubes2

Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 vs Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 or the Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008?

For trailering, the Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 has the edge at 21 lbs dry weight versus 1 507 lbs for the Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008. 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 Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 is rated to a maximum of 75 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 tops out at 15 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 Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 is Coast Guard rated for 3 passengers, while the Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 is certified for 7. 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 Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 measures 97" wide, compared to 66" for the Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003. 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 Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 and Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 and the Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 are built by Fisher. 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.

← Fisher 1266 Riveted Deep V 2003 full specs ← Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 full specs