The Starcraft Marine 170 OB 2008 is a modified-V design and the Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE 2007 is a pontoon design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Starcraft Marine 170 OB 2008 at 17,0 ft versus Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE 2007 at 20,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE 2007 tips the scales at 2 088 lbs - 815 lbs less than the Starcraft Marine 170 OB 2008 at 1 273 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 150 hp, the Starcraft Marine 170 OB 2008 has a 35-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE 2007's 115-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 32 gal and 30 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE 2007 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine 170 OB 2008 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE 2007 could be the deciding factor.