Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002 vs Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002 or the Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008?

For trailering, the Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002 has the edge at 137 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 Hawk 170 SC 2002 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 tops out at 75 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 Hawk 170 SC 2002 is Coast Guard rated for 5 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 93" for the Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002. 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 Hawk 170 SC 2002 or the Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008?

The Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 has the bigger tank at 19 gallons, versus 3 gallons on the Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002. That 16-gallon difference translates to roughly 48–80 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002 and Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002 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 Hawk 170 SC 2002 vs Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008

Fisher

Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002

2002

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Fisher

Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008

2008

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002 vs Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002 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 150 hp, the Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002 has a 75-hp advantage over the Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008's 75-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 carries 19 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002. 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 Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002 caps at 5. 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 Hawk 170 SC 2002 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeFisher

ModelHawk 170 SC

ModelLiberty 180 Fish

Model Year2002

Model Year2008

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam93"

Beam97 in

Beam - Meters2.36

Beam - Meters2.46

Beam - Inches93

Beam - Inches97

Weight - Detail1370lbs. approx

Weight - Detail1,507 lbs

Weight - kg621.42

Weight - kg683.56

Weight - lbs.137

Weight - lbs.1507

Length overall - Detail17' 8"

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

Fuel tank capacity - Detail30 gallons

Fuel tank capacity - Detail19 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters113.56

Fuel tank capacity - Liters71.92

Fuel tank capacity - Gal3

Fuel tank capacity - Gal19

Engine max150hp

Engine max75 hp

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Operational Info

Maximum people5 persons

Maximum people7 / 975 lbs

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity1,640 lbs

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typenot available

Hull typePontoon

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 Hawk 170 SC 2002 vs Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002 or the Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008?

For trailering, the Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002 has the edge at 137 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 Hawk 170 SC 2002 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 tops out at 75 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 Hawk 170 SC 2002 is Coast Guard rated for 5 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 93" for the Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002. 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 Hawk 170 SC 2002 or the Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008?

The Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 has the bigger tank at 19 gallons, versus 3 gallons on the Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002. That 16-gallon difference translates to roughly 48–80 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002 and Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Fisher Hawk 170 SC 2002 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 Hawk 170 SC 2002 full specs ← Fisher Liberty 180 Fish 2008 full specs