Crestliner Serves Up a Fisherman’s Delight

Tested by Capt. Bob Smith

Crestliner spoke to many of their customers and to their professional fishing team to make some changes for this year’s version. One of the most notable is the deck on this model, which is now higher and gives you added casting area, and also more room to stuff extra tackle in the boxes up front. The gear boxes along the port side up front now allow you to line up several Plano type boxes, where you can quickly recognize the one you need and not lose precious time digging for lures.

Forward

The peak offers a removable navigation light with a task light built into the back for seeing at night without killing your vision. The trolling motor can be mounted along the port side at the bow with the outlet and main engine trim switch in the break of the peak up front to starboard. More storage boxes are to the starboard side of the forward casting deck. Down the center is a spot for a casting chair between the two smaller boxes and a cavernous center rod locker with a lower battery safe for the trolling motor under it.

Cockpit Features

The cockpit area is kept to the minimum to make sure you have the added space you’ll need on the casting decks. The seating is made up of three seats, with the center back folding down to become a step instead of walking on the cushions. Just behind the center seat in the forward part of the stern casting deck is a 26-gallon aerated livewell. Storage boxes bracket this livewell so you can keep some of the tackle back here while fishing. A long locker allows access to critical components in the stern mechanical well. You can put one of the casting chairs or a butt chair back here when casting as well. The broad Extruded Gunnel System gives you plenty of room to add rod holders, install trolling rigging, or just a good edge for using when boarding from the side.

Specs

Crestliner’s CMV 1850 measures 18’1” overall with a maximum beam width of 95” all the way to the transom. She has a maximum hull depth of 33” with a maximum cockpit depth of 21”. The CMV 1850 weighs in at 1,300 lbs. and carries up to 41 gallons of fuel. She can also handle up to a 150-hp outboard on the transom.

Performance

The CMV 1850 was a smooth driving machine responding well at speed and throughout the test run. On our test we achieved a top speed of 52 mph turning 5400 rpm, which burned about 19.5 gph. At 2500 rpm we found she ran most economically at 20.5 mph, burning 3.6 gph. The 1850 was also quick to get on plane, producing a hole shot of only 2.8 seconds, and was zipping along passing 30 mph in just over six seconds. Sound levels were pretty typical of bass boats starting at 81 dBa at 2500 rpm and topping 93 dBa at top speed.

Crestliner spent a lot of time and research on the needs of their customers to ultimately deliver a solid, responsive, and stable fish fighting rig. This care shows through with the quality and features this boat has to offer, and finally the performance she delivers.

• Top speed for the Crestliner CMV 1850 (Not in Production) is 52.0 mph (83.7 kph), burning 19.5 gallons per hour (gph) or 73.81 liters per hour (lph).


• Best cruise for the Crestliner CMV 1850 (Not in Production) is 20.5 mph (33 kph), and the boat gets 5.62 miles per gallon (mpg) or 2.39 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 207 miles (333.13 kilometers).


• Tested power is 1 x 140-hp Johnson 4-stroke.