Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 vs Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 or the Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013?

The Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 is the longer of the two at 26,8 feet overall. The Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 comes in at 16,0 feet, making it roughly 10,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 tops out at 60 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 is certified for 16. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 measures 102" wide, compared to 81" for the Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Are the Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 and Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 and the Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 are built by Starcraft Marine. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 vs Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013

Starcraft Marine

Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012

2012

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Starcraft Marine

Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 vs Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 against a pontoon Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 200 hp, the Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 has a 140-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012's 60-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 Starfish 256 2013 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 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 Starfish 256 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 16 passengers and at 26,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeStarcraft Marine

Model168 Pro Troller

ModelStarfish 256

Model Year2012

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam81 in

Beam102 in

Beam - Meters2.06

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches81

Beam - Inches102

Depth - Detail25 in

Depth - Detail27 in

Depth - Centimeters63.5

Depth - Centimeters68.58

Depth - Inches25

Depth - Inches27

Width [transom] - Detail74 in

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Height [transom]LS bracket height

Height [transom]20 in

Length - Feet16

Length - Feet26.83

Length overall - Detail16 ft

Length overall - Detail26 ft. 10 in

Length overall - Meters4.88

Length overall - Meters8.18

Length overall - Inches192

Length overall - Inches322

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail2,575 lbs

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg1168

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.2575

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thickness0.080 in. bottom gauge 0.064 in. side gauge 0.080 rib gauge

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typePontoon

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max60 hp

Engine max200 hp

Engine makenot available

Engine makeMercury

Engine modelnot available

Engine model115 ELPT

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail30 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters113.56

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal3

Operational Info

Maximum capacity700 lbs

Maximum capacity2,650 lbs

Maximum people5

Maximum people16

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameternot available

Tube diameter25 in

Tube gaugenot available

Tube gauge0.080 ga

Number of tubesnot available

Number of tubes2

Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 vs Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 or the Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013?

The Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 is the longer of the two at 26,8 feet overall. The Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 comes in at 16,0 feet, making it roughly 10,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 tops out at 60 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 is certified for 16. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 measures 102" wide, compared to 81" for the Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Are the Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 and Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 and the Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 are built by Starcraft Marine. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Starcraft Marine 168 Pro Troller 2012 full specs ← Starcraft Marine Starfish 256 2013 full specs