Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 vs Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 or the Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004?

For trailering, the Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 has the edge at 155 lbs dry weight versus 1 135 lbs for the Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 is rated to a maximum of 125 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 tops out at 4 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 1700 Sport IO 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 is certified for 6. 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: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 and Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 share an 90 in. (229 cm) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 or the Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004?

The Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 has the bigger tank at 32 gallons, versus 23 gallons on the Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008. That 9-gallon difference translates to roughly 27–45 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 and Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 and the Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 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 1700 Sport IO 2008 vs Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004

Starcraft Marine

Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008

2008

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Starcraft Marine

Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004

2004

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 vs Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 vs Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 125 hp, the Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 has a 121-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008's 4-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 carries 32 gallons versus 23 gallons in the Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 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 1700 Sport IO 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 16,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeStarcraft Marine

Model1700 Sport IO

ModelC-Star 166 DC

Model Year2008

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam90 in. (229 cm)

Beam90 in

Beam - Meters2.29

Beam - Inches9

Deadrise15℃ (at transom)

Deadrise15°

Depth - Detail33 in. (84 cm)

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters83.82

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches33

Depth - Inchesnot available

Weight - DetailBoat Only: 1,550 lbs. (703.1 kg)

Weight - Detail1135 lbs

Weight - kg703.07

Weight - kg514.83

Weight - lbs.155

Weight - lbs.1135

Width [transom] - Detail76 in. (193 cm) Chine Width (at transom): 76 in. (193 cm)

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Height [transom]N/A

Height [transom]20 in

Length - Meters5.1

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet16

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Inches1

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail16 ft. 10 in. (5.1 m)

Length overall - Detail16 ft. 6 in

Length overall - Meters5.13

Length overall - Meters5.03

Length overall - Inches202

Length overall - Inches198

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail11 in

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.28

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [drive up] inches11

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail22 in

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.56

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches22

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Detail27 in

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters0.69

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches27

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail23 gal. (87 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail32 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters87.06

Fuel tank capacity - Liters121.13

Fuel tank capacity - Gal23

Fuel tank capacity - Gal32

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Drive typenot available

Engine max4.3 MPI 220 hp (164 kW) (4.3 l includes remote oil filter)

Engine max125

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,200 lbs. (544.3 kg)

Maximum capacity1500 lbs

Maximum people8 or 1,100 lbs. / 8 or 499 kg

Maximum people6 persons

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over all20 ft. 3 in. (6.8 m)

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - WeightPackage Weight w/ 4.3 MPI Merc.: 2,765 lbs. (1,254.2 kg)

Trailer - Weightnot available

Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 vs Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 or the Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004?

For trailering, the Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 has the edge at 155 lbs dry weight versus 1 135 lbs for the Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 is rated to a maximum of 125 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 tops out at 4 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 1700 Sport IO 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 is certified for 6. 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.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 and Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 share an 90 in. (229 cm) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 or the Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004?

The Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 has the bigger tank at 32 gallons, versus 23 gallons on the Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008. That 9-gallon difference translates to roughly 27–45 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 and Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Starcraft Marine 1700 Sport IO 2008 and the Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 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 1700 Sport IO 2008 full specs ← Starcraft Marine C-Star 166 DC 2004 full specs