When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Starcraft Marine 1620 Camp Side 2008 and the Starcraft Marine 180 SC 2010 are modified vee designs with aluminum construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Starcraft Marine 1620 Camp Side 2008 at 16,0 ft versus Starcraft Marine 180 SC 2010 at 18,9 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine 180 SC 2010 tips the scales at 875 lbs — 818 lbs less than the Starcraft Marine 1620 Camp Side 2008 at 57 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 Starcraft Marine 180 SC 2010 has a 85-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine 1620 Camp Side 2008's 40-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Starcraft Marine 180 SC 2010 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine 1620 Camp Side 2008 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine 180 SC 2010 could be the deciding factor.