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Crestliner® Boat Buying Guide

Dec. 15 2020 Buying Guide By White's Marine Center

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For over 70 years, Crestliner® has been a leading name in the world of boating, constructing well-crafted and thoughtfully designed aluminum boats for fishing, watersports and general cruising. That’s why the company has essentially become synonymous with high-quality aluminum boats, which is a legacy they intend to continue.

White's Marine Center in Pittsburg is your Missouri Crestliner boat dealer, located on the shore of Pomme de Terre Lake. Below, you’ll find a helpful aluminum boat buying guide to assist you with making this important decision.

1. Establish a Smart Budget

Before you do anything else, it’s important to sit down with your finances and figure out exactly how much you can afford to spend on your Crestliner® aluminum fishing boat. Don’t forget that you’re not just purchasing the boat itself; you also have to think about storage needs, maintenance costs, upkeep and accessories. If you want to save yourself more money, you can also look into used options.

2. Look Into Financing Options

If you need some help with funding, don’t forget about boat financing options! This can be an excellent way to get the money you need up front at a rate you can afford. It’s always good to put down as much money as you can up front: 10% to 20% is what’s usually required when you purchase a boat. But financing, like the services offered here at White’s Marine Center, can help make your purchase easier.

3. Choose the Right Hull Style

Crestliner aluminum boats are ideal for fishing and other marine activities like watersports, but these boats come in different hull styles to suit different bodies of water and fishing or recreating styles. There are two main types of hulls you’ll want to concern yourself with: deep-V and mod-V hulls. Think about where and how you like to fish and boat so that you can choose the right model.

Deep-V hulls are better for large, deep lakes that require more stability. A deep-V hull makes your ride more comfortable when you’re in rough waters and allows you more seating space and room for more passengers. If you really like to haul in big catches, a deep-V provides better leverage as well.

Mod-V hulls are better when you’re in shallow water and require more speed. A higher deck configuration allows for more casting space, although there is generally only space for two to three passengers at a time. Mod-V hulls can be easier to maneuver through tight spots and will glide easily over small waves.

4. Determine the Best Interior Configuration

The layout of your Crestliner boat matters as much as any extra features you might want. A good layout will be comfortable for all your passengers and have the room that everyone needs to move around, as well as enough storage space for everyone’s gear. With Crestliner boats, your options include dual consoles, side consoles, center consoles, tiller and stick-steer.

  • Dual console boats protect the operator and passengers in poor weather and rough water conditions. These boats tend to have higher horsepower ratings.
  • Side console boats expose your passengers to the elements more, but they also provide a lot more space around the sides of the boat for superior fishing access.
  • Center console boats are perfect for bay and hunting boats since they offer 360° mobility around the console.
  • Tiller boats are open enough to give you the fishability you need for trolling while also offering simpler maintenance.
  • Stick-steer boats offer good visibility and provide great access to livewells and storage.

Ready to take a look at some Crestliner models? Browse our website to take a look at our wide stock of new and used Crestliner aluminum boats for sale at our Pittsburg, MO, location. Talk to our staff about our financing options if you’d like to make use of them. White’s Marine Center proudly serves the greater Kansas City metropolitan area as well as the city of Springfield and all of our Missouri customers.