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| Looking at purchasing a New Crestliner 1850 FishHawk with a 150 Mercury Optimax. Would be mostly used for Muskie fishing (three people) on smaller lakes throught out the midwest with a annual trip to Lake of The Woods. If anyone can give me any pro's or con's of the boat it before I spend a small fortune I would thank you. |
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Posts: 32885
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Good rig, it will treat you well. |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Look at the Tuffy, it'll treat you better. |
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Posts: 2024
| Ed,
LOVE OURS!!! We have the '02 1850 "Muskie Edition" with 135 Opti. I will give you my thoughts on the rig.
Pros:
Fishes 3-4 very well. Handles big water with ease. HUGE front deck when you take the butt seat out (even with it in) - I want to say 94-99". Back deck provides an excellent stable platform for casting, and can easily fit a 6 foot guy who gets sleepy  Low enough to the water to flip for bass, high enough to keep 3' waves out of the boat, and low enough to figure 8 without having to bend over or over compensate with extremely long rods (though I love my 8'er, but that's another topic).
Cons:
Butt seat positioning should be forward more (maybe they fixed it on newer 1850 models). Screws holding floor boards can come loose from time to time (I only notice them when we're off the water, so far no major problems with that). Not too much space to put rods down, but I think that's a function of the dual console. Lack of a watertight compartment seal (make sure to put anything you want dry in big plastic bags).
If you've got other questions feel free to post them or PM/email me. |
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Posts: 2112
Location: The Sportsman, home, or out on the water | Also consider a Fisher (I'd rather own a Tuffy, but the fisher better suited our budget). Lori and I love our Hawk 170, and when we bought it, the hull was already a year old (2005, still new, unused) and the motor was a 2006 Merc. We got it for WAY less than what a 2006 hull would have been. No matter what brand you go with, your local dealer has last year's hull that he HAS to move. Get a brand new boat (so what if it is a year old, no one was in it) for less! |
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| Yes I found a brand New 05 Model with an 07 150HP Merc. Out the door (without trolling motor or electronic's) will be under $20,000 |
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Posts: 3240
Location: Racine, Wi | Ed, I think Esox50 hit that right on the head. I love the bigger front deck for having 2 guys up there easily. Not so water tight, handles the rough water well. Great on the budget. I think you found a great deal with that boat, so I would jump on it. You'll be happy with it. (I have a 1750, not the 1850, but pretty much the same thing, but the 1850 is bigger.) |
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Posts: 5874
| I think that will make an excellent rig for you. I fished with GregM and Cady in their 1850 FH's. Boats were big and roomy. It will handle nearly anything LOTW can throw at you, and then some. The boat is pretty fast with the 150 opti, too. You can put flush mount Folbe and Scotty Rod holders into the gunnel caps, too.
Treats, you a Tuffy 1890 fan now? You ain't even been in mine yet! When are you going to come fish Green Bay? |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Hey Shep,
I like the layout of that new 1890, I just don't have a lot of cash right now. I just can't justify going another $10,000 in debt to get a boat with 25 fewer ponies and 2' less in length. Although as I get older that full windshield would sure be nice. I guess I'll just have to drop a couple hundred on a snowmobile helmet until the kids get out of daycare.
I'm also a 1850 hater after fishing in other peoples boats. Unless it's calm out, that thing is a terrible riding boat IMOP. It's a great casting platform, especially for multiple people, but every time we went out in the rough stuff it was way worse then the average tin boat.
I've planning on coming out to DC sometime between the end of July and early August so get ready. I may even have some Mag Treat prototypes to try out on the big bay. |
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| I have an 1850 with 150 and is a very comfortable boat to fish from.. Sometimes it does not handle real rough water too well, but I am sure not too many boats do well in large waves.. My boat will be 3 years old, no problems with it!!! I would definatly buy another!!! |
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Posts: 5874
| Treats,
I'll be ready for you when you come to DC. We'll do a combo outing. Big eye, and bigger ski's!
I just bought a bunch of Stainless fasteners from Grainger. Why didn't I think of you? |
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Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | I fished out of one for a year, the boat was brand new.
It has tons of room we fished 3 guys easily in comfort, also with a 150 the boat moved really well.
I did not like the rod storage
The boat is a bumpy ride, I had a 16 foot lund that gave a smoother ride in the same conditions
I also thought the inside of the boat was just so cheap, I weigh about 240 and It felt like the compartments were going to cave in. I just didn't like the quality. This was a 04" model so maybe they have built them a little better since.
The boat got the job done, but I just think there are some better choices for close to the same price. |
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Posts: 199
| I had a 1850 with a 150 4-stroke Yamaha for 2yrs great boat ! Not the best ride in the world but pretty good it was a quick boat I think I managed around 52 GPS speed. They do have some fit and finish issues screws coming loose and the rod storage does suck but all in all a great boat you can't go wrong! |
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| You seemed to answer the question the best. (Without bias) What other boat would you recommend? I was thinking about the 1850 FishHawk as well. PrinceCraft?? I look forward to your suggestions.
Thanks in advance. |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Just about any boat you buy will do the job. It all comes down to what you like and what things you perfer in or on the boat. All these boat companies today are making good product, if they weren't solid product then they wouldn't be in business. I think the biggest thing that I have noticed is some boats have a better resale value than others and some offer better warranties/options than others. Do your homework and find what you like, not want others told you that they like. Your the one footing the bill, make sure your happy with what you bought. That's my advice to you. |
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| Thanks for all of the responses, Gives me plenty to think about. I am still leaning toward the 1850, for the money I think it's a good value. If I could afford 30 or 40K I would consider a tuffy or a ranger. But I will look around a bit possibly for a used boat before I buy.
Thanks again |
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Posts: 5874
| Best advice I can give is to get out in a bunch of different boats, and see which fits you the best as far as room, ride, and performance. If you are buying used, you have some time between ice out and the musky opener to get in a few boats and try them out. Then you will make an informed purchase. |
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Thinking of buying a 1850 FishHawk