Crestliner 2150 Sportfish SST Review

The Crestliner 2150 Sportfish SST is designed for serious fishing, but built for family fun. This versatile boat checks all the right boxes.

If there is one clear trend in boats today it is the increasing “family-ization” of what have traditionally been hardcore fishing boats. The trend was first noticed in salt water, where the venerable center console began sprouting family friendly design cues like padded seats on the front casting deck, head compartments carved into the consoles and the addition of ski tow pylons or even – yes – wakeboard racks.

Just as surely, freshwater fishing boats have also been growing ever more attractive to families who need their craft to perform a wide range of duties. While the concept of taking the kids for picnics and the grandparents for twilight cruises might seem at odds with the design demands of a serious freshwater fishing boat, in fact they’re not that far off. The engineers at Crestliner have made it their goal to prove it, as evidenced by their versatile and capable Crestliner 2150 Sportfish SST.

The bow in Crestliner’s 2150 Sportfish SST is huge, concealing two large storage lockers and a 14-gallon live well.

We expect a boat named “sportfish” to be able to handle the demands of serious anglers who often pursue a variety of different species using a number of different techniques. And, the big 2150 does just that. It’s versatile floor plan, with a massive raised casting deck in the bow, open cockpit and a second raised casting deck in the stern gives the big Crestliner legitimate multi-species credentials. Let’s start with a closer look at that big carpeted front deck, which is simply enormous – there’s plenty of elbow room here for a couple of anglers to fish quite comfortably.

Two huge storage lockers in the deck floor provide convenient stowage of even large, bulky items, while a massive 14-gallon aerated live well that’s a full 34 inches long and 14 inches wide handles either bait of half of a tournament crew’s catch. A recessed aluminum base in the bow deck accommodates either a full-sized pedestal mount Pro Seat or Crestliner’s more compact Butt Seat leaning post. Up front, there’s a raised bow panel with space to accommodate an electric motor, plus storage beneath it. And all around, the stainless steel cleats are of a fold-flat design, so they can be stowed flush when not needed and reduce the chances of them accidentally snagging fishing lines.

In-floor rod storage keeps expensive tackle safe from harm and away from prying eyes.

The main cockpit of the Crestliner 2150 Sportfish SST uses a durable vinyl floor with an available snap-in carpet, providing the comfort of a soft floor with the ability to easily remove it for a thorough cleaning. There’s a large rod storage locker in the cockpit floor, and additional rod storage in the port-side gunnel. Surrounding the entire boat, Crestliner’s SureMount Gunnel Accessory system allows anglers to easily mount a wide range of accessories wherever they’re needed, and without drilling a single hole anywhere. Of course, the helm provides a ton of extra space for adding aftermarket electronics.

The fresh helm design provides abundant space for aftermarket electronics.

Back in the stern, that second raised casting deck conceals more storage and a huge 19-gallon recirculating live well that’s a hair under 40 inches long, more than spacious enough to accommodate large walleye, pike, catfish or trout. A timer feature allows anglers to set it and forget it.

The massive 19 gallon stern live well is aerated and connected to a recirculating timer.

But while it’s fishing features are all top-shelf, what really sets the Crestliner 2150 Sportfish SST apart is what happens when it’s time for the boat to put in some family time.

Up in the bow, flipping the center section forward and back down on itself reveals a rear-facing upholstered seat. Add a pair of seat cushions to the deck sides and you suddenly have a comfortable and inviting seating area that accommodates three full-sized adults with plenty of room to spare. There’s yet another aluminum pedestal base in the floor – not for another seat, but an optional fiberglass table, complete with integrated beverage holders. Talk about a comfy lunch spot!

What happened to the bow? Flip a deck panel and add two cushions to quickly transform this space from casting deck to chill zone.

The table also fits in a matching receptacle in the main cockpit floor, allowing four people to sit and eat comfortably. Removable seat cushions change the rear casting deck to a full-width stern bench seat, while a removable ski pylon and the SST swim platform add yet another layer of capability to this remarkable boat. And don’t worry about having to leave anyone behind on the dock – the Crestliner 2150 Sportfish SST seats 11 people in all.

Feeling sleepy after a long day on the lake? Grab a power nap on the big Crestliner’s available hammock, shown here on a smaller Sportfish model.

That gunnel accessory system isn’t just for fishing accessories, by the way. Crestliner even offers a hammock that mounts across the boat, creating an incredibly comfortable spot for an afternoon nap. An available sun top provides protection from sunburn, while an available full canvas enclosure works with the boat’s large walk-through windshield for incredible weather protection – a nice plus for boaters who like to get out there early in the season, and stay out late into the fall.

A serious fishing rig that’s also built for family fun? Crestliner’s 2150 Sportfish SST is built to please.

But what about performance? Rated to handle outboards of up to 350 horsepower, the Crestliner 2150 Sportfish SST rides on Crestliner’s proven welded hull design, built for an optimal balance of stability and exhilaration. With a Mercury Verado 300 on the transom and a full tank of fuel, the big boat hits a top speed of over 55 mph, and logs a zero-to-20 mph hole shot of just 5.4 seconds. That’s seriously impressive – as is its average fuel economy of 3.3 mpg when you throttle it back to around 3,500 rpms and around 30 mph.

Looking for a serious freshwater fishing boat that’s also sure to please the family? the Crestliner 2150 Sportfish SST has a lot to offer.