As others have mentioned, you have an issue there. Either a spun prop hub or something mechanical in the driveline. Check the prop hub first, otherwise take it back to where you bought it.
BTW, that 115 should be pushing that boat 35+ with a 17-19 pitch prop. I ran an Sportfish 1850 with a Yamaha 115 4 stroke and would push 38 with an 18 pitch SS prop.
I was wondering what your boat is propped with and what kind of top end? I have the same boat.
I currently purchase a 2017 1650 fish hawk, looking to put a kicker on it. I’m not getting good info back. some say the boat is to small to put a kicker on it. other than that I love the boat.
I have a 16 1650, I think there is a sticker on the port side transom the max is 15hp.
The vinyl flooring is nice. Not a game changer. My carpet was shot. No problems and easy to clean. If i get a new boat would get vinyl flooring. Sorry my response is a little slow.
91 Phamtom 196 SST II 150XP 10hp kicker
Long live the Phantoms!!
I hope to not be a VT-18 Crestliner owner much longer. Crestliner may OK if you never have a problem, but after being told by the factory that they owed me a new boat because the brand new boat I purchased leaked from the first day I put it in the water and signing a release that thankfully had a time limit on it, I year later I pickup up my boat because nothing had been done toward replacement. Now I will try to at least get some of my money back by selling this leaking boat. In the mean time I bought a Ranger RT-188 that is easier to trailer because of the guides on the trailer, has a stainless steel prop, and came rigged so I could use a transom saver without modifications to the trailer.
Even Rangers have there problems specifically gel cracking.
I have a 1993 Crestliner Phantom 186 (bought new in 1993). I had a dog Suzuki 85 hp motor and it never worked well for it. I asked a motor rigger about it, and he said the boat was under-powered, and I should choose a motor closest to the max rating the boat was designed for. Total difference of night and day when I put a Suzuki 140 4 stroke on it. Couldn’t be happier. Now the only problem I have with this boat is the availability of rub rail to replace the damaged rub rail. Barbour Plastics was the original maker of this rail, and they no longer provide it. You can’t find it anywhere, or even anything that comes close to it that might work. Crestliner should have designed it with common, serviceable material in case it gets damaged. I guarantee it WILL get damaged. So, I am stuck with having to stretch my imagination to somehow make it look good with SOMETHING. So far, no luck. Anyone having this same issue? What did you do to get it replaced?
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I will never again under any circumstance buy another Crestliner or for that matter any of the many boats made by Brunswick corporation. Any thing touched by a human could have a problem. The measure of a company is that happens when there is a problem. I was told by the factory that they owed me a new boat because the brand VT-18 I purchased leaked from the first day I put it in the water and for months the factory directed unsuccessful efforts to find the leak. I even signing a release that thankfully had a time limit. A year later I pickup up my boat because nothing had been done toward replacement. Now I will try to at least get some of my money back by selling this leaking boat that I never used for fishing. In the mean time I bought a Ranger, that for a couple thousand more has many feature that are well worth the money including a stainless steel prop, a trailer that is equipped to use a transom saver. and a trailer that is much much easier to load the boat from the water.
Good luck with your Ranger as I would never own one with all there problems of hull blister where the bunks sit. I am sure there is more to your story then you are letting on and you just enjoy trolling as you only have 2 pasts.
If I were trolling, there would be more than two posts. I have many other interests besides fishing and posting on the internet. I found this website a few years ago when I was checking on Crestliner boat experiences. A that time I did not find an usual amount of problems.
I can understand why you find my situation had to believe. I never expected this could happen. It probably would have take less than 10 months before the factory said they owed me a new boat, if the my local dealer, LMC in Spring, Texas (without ever operating the boat in a lake) had not said the leaks in me boat were normal. I have a recording of a phone call in which the factory rep told me the dealer asked him to let me know that the leaks in my boat were normal.
So when the factory wanted one more opportunity to find the leak, I took the boat to a dealer about 200 miles away. After they verified that the boat was leaking, the factory for 2 months directed their efforts to locate the source of the leak.
As I said before, any thing touched by humans can have a problem. The measure of a company is what happens where there is a problem.
After a year of no action toward providing the promised replacement, it was time to get my boat out of the weather and at least get some of my money back from the 2016 Crestliner VT-18. Without using the bilge pump it recently took on about 2 quarts of water in 2 hours of running at various speeds on a lake. So for a reduced price, my son is trying to find someone who is satisfied with using the bilge pump when the the boat is in the water.
Not to be a pain but why not take and fill the bottom of the boat with water and find the leak, Then go after your dealer and Crestliner and raise cane. It may be as simple as a fitting in the livewell system leaking which will not show up filling the bottom with water. Your dealer sounds like they kinda suck, as I mentioned above they should of done this already.
Here’s mime, 1973, 17ft double rivet aluminum, 2009 eye 40, 80lb terrova, only one around like still in ten years haven’t seen another, love this boat, will have it til the day I’m to old to fish!
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For some reason the water does not come out when the Boat is filled with water. My original dealer and another dealer the factory recommended filled the boat with water and did numerous other tests. That is why the Crestliner factory said 18 months ago that they owed me a new boat. After two years of “raising cane” with no action, I just want to get at least some of my money out of the boat because it was just setting outside and deteriorating. I have one offer for $10,000 for this boat for which I paid almost $24,000, but am trying to find a buyer who is satisfied with depending on the bilge pump to keep out the water and is will to pay more.
Harold you may find more info and some better replies if you start your own thread and not poo poo on this one.
Picked up a Crestliner 1850 Bass Hawk with a 150 4 stroke Merc. I had a ‘03 Fish Hawk with a 90 4 stroke Yamaha. Loved my old boat. This one is better. I’m a bass guy mainly. Fish crappies and walleyes as well. The casting deck is great as is the storage. I’ve been very happy with the Merc as well. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask. Fished 3 guys out of it last weekend. No problem.
Just ordered 2019 1750 FH WT. Now for the agonizing 4 to 6 week wait….
Ex Crestliner owner here also. I loved my 1750 Tournament Series and the 115 Yamaha on the transom. Only thing I didn’t like, was that no matter what. I could not get that boat to load straight on the trailer. I tried everything that’s ever been suggested several times over. Like previously stated. When it came time to make room for the new Skeeter that occupies its garage stall, it literally sold in minutes to the first person that called. It was 13 years old when I sold it in 2013
I took the transom off me 10 year old scrapliner out to the curb for spring clean up week.
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I took the transom off me 10 year old scrapliner out to the curb for spring clean up week.
lunds owners are going thru the same thing until every manufacturer gets rid of the wood in boats it`s just part of the game.
2003 1850 Crestliner Fish Hawk. Been a great boat. Zero problems.
Dean
same thing for me. 2001 FH single console. gas gauge went once, speedo once and just replaced the original bilge pump last year. it’s been rock solid for me.
Getting the old sportsman ready for its new engine. Fingers crossed the engine and handle don’t get delayed, and I’ll by on the river in a month!
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New transom I see. Hanging another 25 hp on it?
After 20 years of abuse on the river I figured it was probably time. I ordered a new 40 Merc months ago. It’s been a long wait that’s for sure. If anyone is in need of a great short shaft 25 tiller Suzuki I may part with it for the right price.
Ready for the water! With any luck welding shut the 16 unused holes on the transom will have fixed the leak the boat has had since I bought it.
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The last boat I owned was a crestliner. The shed that I started in over the winter collapsed and totaled it. As far as I’m concerned that was the best thing to ever happen to that boat! I called it the wet liner because it rode like crap and if there was anything more than a ripple it came over the bow and got you wet.
I use the insurance money from that boat as a down payment on my pro v and could not be happier!
Did you really need to toss your 2 cents in on the Crestliner forum? Everybody uses a boat differently and whats wet to one person will be acceptable to another.
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