Crestliner 1700 Vision Review

The Crestliner 1700 Vision is a versatile multi-species fishing boat with impressive capabilities.

It’s always been comparatively easy to design fishing boats that are intended to address one specific scenario, such as tournament bass fishing or trolling offshore for big-water game fish. Building boats that are intended to perform a variety of tasks while fishing for a wide range of different species is another ballgame altogether. Building multi-species fishing boats is difficult, because the qualities that make a boat great at one type of fishing could make it entirely unsuitable for another. Building effective multi-species fishing boats takes ingenuity, and real vision.

It’s somehow appropriate, then, that Crestliner chose ‘Vision’ as the name for its popular 17-foot do-it-all fishing boat. If there are any compromises in its design, the Crestliner 1700 Vision hides them well.

Stretching 17 feet, 6 inches in overall length and riding on a beefy 88-inch beam, the Crestliner 1700 Vision is big enough to handle large lakes and a bit of rough water – thanks in no small part to its 12-degree deadrise hull design and generous 24-inch cockpit depth. Yet with a chine width of 73 inches and a hull weight of just 1,190 pounds, the 1700 vision can float in surprisingly skinny water, making it a good choice for probing shallow bays for bass – especially with its thick .100-gauge bottom plating and .080-gauge sides that can handle bumping into the occasional unseen stump. With seating for six and a surprising amount of room for gear, the 1700 Vision has the bones to really do it all.

The large bow casting deck provides plenty of room for casting while concealing large storage in-floor compartments.

Step aboard and the platform is at once familiar, with its large raised bow and stern casting decks, book-ending a deep primary cockpit. Up front, a gunnel-level deck pad provides the ideal mounting location for a bow-mount electric motor, while the bow deck itself conceals multiple storage compartments for bulky gear. The bow deck is set at a good height, being tall enough to enhance visibility when casting, yet low enough that reaching over the side to land fish doesn’t require a long stretch of the arm.

The standard flooring in the 1700 Vision is a durable 16-ounce marine grade carpet, with a hard-wearing vinyl floor available as an option There are six seat bases scattered throughout the boat, and two seats provided as standard equipment. In-floor storage for the 24-volt battery system is a nice touch, as is the quick access port-side rod rack, which accommodates up to five rods of up to nine feet, six inches in length.

The efficient helm console allows plenty of space for mounting aftermarket electronics.

The helm of the Crestliner 1700 Vision is simple and efficient, with a speedometer, tach, fuel gauge and plenty of room for aftermarket electronics. No-feedback steering and a maser power switch are thoughtful inclusions, along with the backlit toggle switches, 12-volt outlet and integrated cup holder.

The standard SureMount gunnel system allows anglers to mount accessories anywhere, without drilling any holes.

The aft casting deck is smaller than that of the bow, but still large enough to be functional and to house a 13-gallon aerated live well – one which at 32 inches long is capable of holding a feed of fish with ease. A standard stern re-boarding ladder is a welcome standard feature not often seen on aluminum fishing rigs in this size class.

Optional jump seats in the rear casting deck provide additional seating.

The 1700 Vision has a few more tricks up its sleeves, starting with the standard SureMount gunnel system that allows anglers to mount accessories anywhere without drilling any holes in the boat. You can also order the 1700 Vision with optional jump seats in the stern deck for added seating capacity.

A 13-gallon aerated live well in the stern deck accommodates the catch of the day.

Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the Crestliner 1700 Vision is the fact it comes in multiple configurations, allowing buyers to order it as a side console boat, a dual console boat or as a dual console with walk-through windshield. Talk about having your cake and eating it too!