The Princecraft Sport 172 SC 2013 vs Princecraft Starfish 16 L WT 2025 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Princecraft Sport 172 SC 2013 at 17,4 ft versus Princecraft Starfish 16 L WT 2025 at 16,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princecraft Sport 172 SC 2013 tips the scales at 1 174 lbs — 815 lbs more than the Princecraft Starfish 16 L WT 2025 at 359 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 125 hp, the Princecraft Sport 172 SC 2013 has a 85-hp advantage over the Princecraft Starfish 16 L WT 2025's 40-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Princecraft Sport 172 SC 2013 carries 26 gallons versus 6 gallons in the Princecraft Starfish 16 L WT 2025. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Princecraft Sport 172 SC 2013 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Princecraft Starfish 16 L WT 2025 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Princecraft Sport 172 SC 2013 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Princecraft Starfish 16 L WT 2025 comes in at 9 lbs per hp versus 9 lbs per hp for the Princecraft Sport 172 SC 2013. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
The Princecraft Starfish 16 L WT 2025 is trailerable — a genuine lifestyle advantage at this size. The Princecraft Sport 172 SC 2013 isn't listed as trailerable, which may mean a permanent berth or mooring is required.
Bottom line: Choose the Princecraft Sport 172 SC 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 17,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Princecraft Starfish 16 L WT 2025 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.