Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Starcraft Marine 1700 I/O 2010 vs Starcraft Marine 179 PRO V (side console) 2008 — A Close Look at Two Modified Vees
When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Starcraft Marine 1700 I/O 2010 and the Starcraft Marine 179 PRO V (side console) 2008 are modified vee designs with fiberglass 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 1700 I/O 2010 at 16,8 ft versus Starcraft Marine 179 PRO V (side console) 2008 at 18,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine 179 PRO V (side console) 2008 tips the scales at 1 075 lbs — 920 lbs less than the Starcraft Marine 1700 I/O 2010 at 155 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 220 hp, the Starcraft Marine 1700 I/O 2010 has a 130-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine 179 PRO V (side console) 2008's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 23 gal and 21 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Starcraft Marine 1700 I/O 2010 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine 179 PRO V (side console) 2008 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine 1700 I/O 2010 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Starcraft Marine 1700 I/O 2010 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 12 lbs per hp for the Starcraft Marine 179 PRO V (side console) 2008. 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.
Bottom line: Choose the Starcraft Marine 1700 I/O 2010 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 16,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Starcraft Marine 179 PRO V (side console) 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeStarcraft Marine
MakeStarcraft Marine
Model1700 I/O
Model179 PRO V (side console)
Model Year201
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam90 in
Beam85 in. (215.9 cm)
Beam - Meters2.29
Beam - Meters2.16
Beam - Inches9
Beam - Inches85
Deadrise15°
Deadrise10℃ (at transom)
Depth - Detail33 in
Depth - Detail18 in. (45.7 cm)
Depth - Centimeters83.82
Depth - Centimeters45.72
Depth - Inches33
Depth - Inches18
Weight - Detail1,550 lbs
Weight - DetailBoat Only: 1,075 (488 kg)
Weight - kg703.07
Weight - kg487.61
Weight - lbs.155
Weight - lbs.1075
Width [transom] - Detail76 in
Width [transom] - Detail85 in. (215.9 cm) Chine Width (at transom): 54 in. (137.2 cm)
Length - Feet16.83
Length - Feet18
Length overall - Detail16 ft. 10 in
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 0 in. (5.5 m)
Length overall - Meters5.13
Length overall - Meters5.49
Length overall - Inches202
Length overall - Inches216
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] - Detail8 in. (20.3 cm)
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.2
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [drive up] inches8
Draft [max] - Detailnot available
Draft [max] - Detail20 in. (50.8 cm)
Draft [max] - Metersnot available
Draft [max] - Meters0.51
Draft [max] - Inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Inches2
Height [transom]not available
Height [transom]For Engine: 20 in. (51 cm)
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Meters5.5
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialAluminum
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull thicknessnot available
Hull thickness0.100 in. (0.254 cm)
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail23 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Detail21 gal. (79.5 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters87.06
Fuel tank capacity - Liters79.49
Fuel tank capacity - Gal23
Fuel tank capacity - Gal21
Drive typeI/O
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max220 hp
Engine max90 hp (67.1 kW)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,200 lbs
Maximum capacity1,075 lbs. (488 kg)
Maximum people8 or 1,100 lbs
Maximum people4 or 525 lbs. / 4 or 238.1 kg
Trailer Info
Trailer - Length over all20 ft. 3 in
Trailer - Length over all22 ft. 4 in. (6.8 m)
Trailer - WeightTowing Weight: 2,765 lbs
Trailer - WeightTowing Weight w/ 90 Merc. 4s: 2,415 lbs. (1,095 kg)