Both the Starcraft Marine 1700 SC 2008 and the Starcraft Marine Limited 185 I/O Sport 2012 are modified-V designs, the first built in aluminium and the second in fibreglass, so 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 SC 2008 at 16,0 ft versus Starcraft Marine Limited 185 I/O Sport 2012 at 18,2 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Limited 185 I/O Sport 2012 tips the scales at 1 550 lbs - 675 lbs less than the Starcraft Marine 1700 SC 2008 at 875 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 Limited 185 I/O Sport 2012 has a 130-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine 1700 SC 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 23 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Starcraft Marine Limited 185 I/O Sport 2012 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine 1700 SC 2008 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine Limited 185 I/O Sport 2012 could be the deciding factor.