Crestliner 1850 Commander

American aluminium boats -- tinnies as we call them -- are certainly a little different from ours. Oh, they fish up there. However, large tracts of the country are given over to freshwater lakes and waterways, with climates up into Canada and Alaska that are so frightfully cold they make Tassie look like the tropics.

In America, Crestliners are popular freshwater fishing boats on these at-times ‘extreme’ waterways. When not targeting large and small bass in more temperate latitudes, the boats find favour with those trolling for salmon, trout and steelhead on the Great Lakes and beyond.

Crestliner is serious about its fishing, with tournament teams and pro anglers sharing their tips and tricks. Given our uptake of so many Yankee fishing techniques, this background augurs well for Crestliner’s application in Australia.

The 1850 Commander says fishing, hunting, adventure and, it should be said, you can see the key design traits that include open-water boating on the agenda. Then when you explore the options list, you might find a boat that can be optioned up for our new ways of fishing.

The current clearance sale at Avante had one of these 2012-model rigs listed for $52,968 including bimini, Lowrance GPS/fish finder, and full safety gear. The usual price with that kit is $57,859. So it’s keen buying and you get a lot of integrated design and inbuilt amenities at factory level in these boats.

For practical purposes, there’s an anchor storage shelf with grommet in the small deck so you can feed your warp or rope through. But it’s not an anchor locker per se. The specs list an optional bow roller system with locker that might answer that shortfall.

The recessed foredeck contains an inbuilt storage locker and a underfloor rotomoulded lined icebox/aerated live well. As it’s all flat deck with the lids closed, you could pitch lures from the bow or sit a couple of kids on cushions. Optional stainless steel side rails add to the security and there are stainless cleats and chrome door latches instead of plastic models.

The optional Bow Fishing Package introduces a bow-mount for an electric motor, pedestal seat base and a butt-style casting seat to this foredeck area should you want to create a more hardcore fishing Commander.

You step down to the cockpit via the centre-opening windscreen, which is especially high aspect. It’s propped up on stainless-steel struts, but there’s no integrated grab rail. With a bimini and side clears fitted, you will certainly derive a high degree of weather protection at the helm seats.

The twin swivelling bucket seats add to the comfort behind the screen -- you can even get reclining upgraded models -- and there are side storage lockers for your kit. There is open storage under port and starboard consoles, but it’s perhaps best utilised as foot space.

The co-pilot/first mate also scores a glovebox with piano hinged lid and cool retro alloy look. A plastic grab handle and flip-down drink holder add to the amenity.

Looking somewhat bare on our test boat, the large square panel dash will swallow plenty of electronics, either flush-mounted or on bases. The wheel was a tilt number, the seat on slides, and there was a Jensen radio, plus 12V plug. Faria multifunction engine gauges including speedo, fuel and trim complemented the switch panel operating the live well, nav lights and more.

Optional port and starboard side benches with sub-squab storage turn the Commander into something of a commuter. But in fishing mode, these side seats aren’t such a silly thing. They don’t take up much room in what is a sizeable cockpit measuring up to 3.38m long, 1.80m wide and 0.76m deep. To sate Australian tastes, a rear lounge is an option, we’re told.

Sub-floor was a large lift-out fish bin that can swallow a few bags of ice and/or considerable refreshments, as well as an in-floor rod locker with five tubes for sticks to 7ft. The hull sides included additional rod storage for eight more outfits to 9ft 6in in length. So you can pack plenty of fish gear for most occasions. And with the aerated live well in the bow your options are covered.

Side toekicks, smooth or rounded coamings in the cockpit, and vinyl floor and wall lining add to the fishability, while a deep engine well with 25in transom will keep your Commander and its crew dry. There’s in-transom storage under a cutting-board lid in the starboard corner and options for a factory fitted auxiliary if you so desire.

For local Crestliner buyers, the backing of Brunswick Marine and importers Avante Marine is reassuring. As are the warranties on this big range of boats: lifetime limited for the hull, 10 years on the interior frame construction, and three years on virtually everything else. Certainly the interlocking tongue-and-groove system introduced in 1985, and the continuous weld construction used since 1964, have stood the test of time.

The 710kg dry hull is fashioned from 3.17mm bottom and transom with 2.28mm sides. Deadrise is a moderate 17 degrees, while underfloor fuel capacity of 120 litres will more than see any day’s fishing or cruising with a four-stroke engine like our 115hp Mercury. Options and ratings range to 150hp. The hull has inbuilt buoyancy for level flotation.

The boat comes with standard non-feedback steering, hydraulic is an upgrade, but we felt that was just fine, without ever needing to wrestle the wheel in tight turns with our 115hp Merc’. 

The battery and its main switch are easily accessed through a transom hatch, where we noted a tray for a second battery should you want to power an electric motor and downriggers. Access to the bilge through an inspection hatch was a big trickier but we could get our hand in there all the same.

A final word about the finish and paintjob. While black hulls show the scratches, the baked Armor-Guard painted finish is a real highlight and it adds considerably to the showroom appeal of the Crestliners.

The speedy hole shot, efficient cruising, lack of thumping and general predictable handling point to a boat that we believe will remain comfortable offshore, in open waters, on bumpy bays, and beyond. I think you can count on that adverse Northern Hemisphere weather to shape something that’s safe. The pronounced chines also kept spray at bay.

Cruise of 4000rpm returned a comfortable 21.5 knots with a little vibration and hum. The boat levels out and seems smoother at 4500rpm and 25 knots. Fast cruise of 28.3 knots was clocked at 5000rpm, with 5400rpm WOT giving 33.1 knots top speed on the day. Plane could be maintained with some negative trim down to 3200rpm and 14.5 knots should the weather turn turtle and you need to plod home.

On our waters, the 1850 Commander could be bound for the bluewater, offshore grounds and perhaps the vast bays in the top end. But it would be just as at home on a big freshwater lake with four anglers, some downriggers and a bunch of Tassie Devil lures. Alternatively, use those downriggers for towing squid and catching kings in our temperate estuaries.

Downrigger bases and bow casting seats are factory options, as are MotorGuide and Minn Kota trolling motors, Lowrance and Humminbird sounders, a bow fishing package with butt seat, “Madfish” graphics and more. With a little imagination you could easily create a dedicated fishing boat for practicing those American techniques we love so much Down Under these days. Bear hats extra.

Overall Length: 5.70m
Overall beam: 2.39m
Total boat weight without engine: 710kg
Shaft length: 25in
Deadrise: 17 degrees
Maximum power: 150hp
Engine on test: Mercury 150hp four stroke
Fuel tank maximum capacity: 125-litre integrated tank
Maximum number of people: Six