The Fisher Hawk 170 Sport 2005 vs Fisher Liberty 240 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.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Fisher Liberty 240 2009 measures 25,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 8,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Fisher Hawk 170 Sport 2005 at 17,0 feet (2005). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Fisher Liberty 240 2009 tips the scales at 2 285 lbs — 2 140 lbs less than the Fisher Hawk 170 Sport 2005 at 145 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 125 hp for the Fisher Hawk 170 Sport 2005 and 115 hp for the Fisher Liberty 240 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Fisher Liberty 240 2009 carries 19 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Fisher Hawk 170 Sport 2005. 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 240 2009 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Fisher Hawk 170 Sport 2005 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 240 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Fisher Liberty 240 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 25,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Fisher Hawk 170 Sport 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.