Crestliner Boats for Sale

Aircraft aluminum after the war

After World War II there was a lot of cheap surplus aluminum. Robert Wold, a veteran who had worked on aluminum aircraft, pitched the idea of aluminum boats to Paul Larson of Larson Boat Works in Little Falls in 1946. They formed Larson Watercraft, Inc. that August. By 1954 and 1955 the boats were sold under the Crestliner name, and in 1957 the company itself became Crestliner, Inc. It built its first fiberglass boat, the Comanche 17, in 1958.

By 1960 Crestliner had plants in Minnesota, Virginia, Arkansas and Ontario and was building around 40 models. Ownership has changed many times since. The most recent move came in 2004, when Brunswick bought Crestliner, Lowe and Lund from Genmar for $191 million. That's why newer Crestliners come with Mercury outboards.

Welded, not riveted

The thing Crestliner talks about most is welding. It built its first all-welded boat in 1964 and introduced its all-welded tongue-and-groove construction in 1985. Most current models are welded hulls. The company also patented a few features you'll see mentioned in older listings: the conversion bow (1986), the conversion stern bench (1987) and the Space Saver Transom, or SST (1989).

Current models

• Kodiak, 16 and 18 feet, including tiller versions. The entry-level utility fishing boat.
• Hawk and Pro Tiller, 16 to 18 feet. Basic fishing boats, with the Pro Tiller aimed at walleye anglers.
• Fish Hawk, 17 to 20 feet. Introduced in 1995 and probably the Crestliner most people know. A family fish-and-cruise boat.
• Super Hawk, 17 to 19 feet, a step up with more power.
• Sportfish, 18 to 22 feet, the flagship big-water fishing line.
• XFC, Storm and Outlook, which cover bass-style, fish-and-ski and simpler runabout layouts.

Crestliner's own price list starts around $21,849 for a Kodiak and about $66,031 for a Sportfish. Used boats from the past 10 years usually land well below those.

What to check

Welds. Look along the keel, chines and transom corners for cracked welds, especially on boats that spent time on rivers or rocky shorelines. A hairline crack with a fresh bead of sealant over it is a repair you want to ask about.

Older riveted hulls. Crestliners from before the welded era may be riveted. Look for leaking rivets and run the bilge pump after the boat sits in the water.

Floors and transom. Many aluminum boats use wood or composite in the floor and transom. Walk the deck for soft spots and check for flex where the outboard mounts.

Engine match. On tiller and smaller models, make sure the engine is within the capacity plate rating. Over-powered boats get rough treatment.

Livewells, seats and canvas. On Fish Hawks and Super Hawks, run the livewells, check seat bases and pedestals for cracks, and look at the snap-on canvas, which is expensive to replace.

Salt. Most Crestliners are freshwater boats, but some end up near the coast. Corrosion on aluminum shows up as white powder and pitting.