Quality and Durability-Crestliner CX 17

By Capt. Bob Smith

Crestliner introduced their new line of boats to us at Table Rock Lake in Branson, MO and showed me they were serious about making fishing and fun more affordable without giving up performance and functionality. For 2007, Crestliner has some competition for the bass fishing market with the all-new CX 17. This no-nonsense, all-aluminum bass boat with composite transom is ready for action. Crestliner includes the boat, motor, trailer, trolling motor and fish finder as part of this package that gets you going for under $14,000!

At the Bow

Up front, the CX 17 offers you plenty of room for casting with a true bass rig design. For comfort, you can put a casting seat up front in the powder-coated seat base. When you are running from hole to hole, snap your prize winning sticks in the bungee on the port side or lock them up in the port rod locker. A 46 lb thrust Motor Guide trolling motor is mounted on the port bow gunwale and has a tethered foot control. A large storage locker is centered in the aft section of the bow casting deck.

Cockpit Features

Stepping down into the center cockpit is plenty of room to stretch out from launch to recovery. Three-across folding bench seats provide comfort and beneath the hinged bench is shallow storage perfect for your oars and throwable cushion. The raised dash features a low profile sport windshield. The driver can stretch out because the raised dash also gives you great legroom. The rack-and-pinion steering has a three-spoke wheel and to the left of the wheel is a cup holder perfect for holding your morning coffee. The analog gauges are up high so you can easily see the tach and speedometer. Crestliner includes the Lowrance X50DS fish finder/depth finder as part of the total package and mounts it to the right of the wheel so you can keep an eagle eye on it. Lighted rocker control switches are at your finger tips to the right of the wheel along with a 12volt connection to charge up your cell phone, which fits conveniently in a slash pocket just below the switches.

Aft Deck

The aft casting deck provides room for you to fish off of all three sides of the boat whether you fish standing or add the casting chair in the powder-coated base. In the back half of the deck is a large lid for access to the fuel cell, cranking battery, and oil reservoir. This also gives you a clear view of the bilges and pumps. Crestliner designed two dry storage boxes with vertical organizer slots on either side that easily fit Plano style tackle organizers inside. In the center is a divided, aerated livewell to keep your catch fresh or your bait lively.

Specifications

The CX 17 measures 17’1” length overall with a beam width of 87”. She weighs in at 1040 lbs and can carry as many as 4 people or 1050 lbs of people and gear combined. The CX 17’s fuel capacity is 19 gallons. She has an overall depth of 24” and a bottom width of 60”. The aluminum bottom has a gauge of .100 as does its sides and transom.

Performance and Handling

I tested the CX 17 on an inland lake and had plenty of rough water to test her performance. She handled well and delivered a dry ride. In better conditions, I am convinced she has even more to offer. I found this model was on plane in just 3.6 seconds and up to 30 mph in just 12.1 seconds. She is at cruise at 18.9 mph turning 3500 rpm and has a range of 101 miles at this speed. She reached a top speed of 33.7 mph at 5400 rpm.

If you are ready for bass fishing and want to do it on a budget without looking and feeling like you are on a budget, Crestliner has got the deal for you! She has the features, the function, and the performance to deliver.

• Top speed for the Crestliner CX 17 (2007-) is 33.7 mph (54.2 kph), burning 6.6 gallons per hour (gph) or 24.98 liters per hour (lph).


• Best cruise for the Crestliner CX 17 (2007-) is 18.9 mph (30.4 kph), and the boat gets 5.91 miles per gallon (mpg) or 2.51 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 101 miles (162.54 kilometers).


• Tested power is 1 x 50-hp Mercury 2-stroke.