Fisher 1700 2001 vs Fisher Liberty 180 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Fisher 1700 2001 or the Fisher Liberty 180 2005?

For trailering, the Fisher Liberty 180 2005 has the edge at 166 lbs dry weight versus 884 lbs for the Fisher 1700 2001. 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: How many people can each boat hold?

The Fisher 1700 2001 is Coast Guard rated for 4 passengers, while the Fisher Liberty 180 2005 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 2005 measures 97" wide, compared to 78" for the Fisher 1700 2001. 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: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Fisher 1700 2001 or the Fisher Liberty 180 2005?

The Fisher Liberty 180 2005 has the bigger tank at 21 gallons, versus 18 gallons on the Fisher 1700 2001. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Fisher 1700 2001 and Fisher Liberty 180 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fisher 1700 2001 and the Fisher Liberty 180 2005 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 1700 2001 vs Fisher Liberty 180 2005

Fisher

Fisher 1700 2001

2001

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Fisher

Fisher Liberty 180 2005

2005

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Fisher 1700 2001 vs Fisher Liberty 180 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Fisher 1700 2001 vs Fisher Liberty 180 2005 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Fisher Liberty 180 2005 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Fisher 1700 2001 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Fisher Liberty 180 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Fisher Liberty 180 2005 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 1700 2001 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeFisher

Model17

ModelLiberty 18

Model Year2001

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam78"

Beam97 in

Beam - Meters1.98

Beam - Meters2.46

Beam - Inches78

Beam - Inches97

Weight - Detail884 lbs

Weight - Detail1660 lbs

Weight - kg400.98

Weight - kg752.96

Weight - lbs.884

Weight - lbs.166

Length overall - Detail17' 4"

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 6 in

Length overall - Meters5.18

Length overall - Meters5.64

Length overall - Inches204

Length overall - Inches222

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet18

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches6

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standard75 Max

Engine/s standard75 hp

Fuel tank capacity - Detail18 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail21 gallons

Fuel tank capacity - Liters68.14

Fuel tank capacity - Liters79.49

Fuel tank capacity - Gal18

Fuel tank capacity - Gal21

Drive typenot available

Drive typeOutBoard

Operational Info

Maximum people4 person

Maximum people7 person

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity970 lbs

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameternot available

Tube diameter24 in

Fisher 1700 2001 vs Fisher Liberty 180 2005 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Fisher 1700 2001 or the Fisher Liberty 180 2005?

For trailering, the Fisher Liberty 180 2005 has the edge at 166 lbs dry weight versus 884 lbs for the Fisher 1700 2001. 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.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Fisher 1700 2001 is Coast Guard rated for 4 passengers, while the Fisher Liberty 180 2005 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 2005 measures 97" wide, compared to 78" for the Fisher 1700 2001. 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Fisher 1700 2001 or the Fisher Liberty 180 2005?

The Fisher Liberty 180 2005 has the bigger tank at 21 gallons, versus 18 gallons on the Fisher 1700 2001. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Fisher 1700 2001 and Fisher Liberty 180 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fisher 1700 2001 and the Fisher Liberty 180 2005 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 1700 2001 full specs ← Fisher Liberty 180 2005 full specs