When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Starcraft Marine 180 Freedom TL 2011 and the Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013 are modified vee designs with aluminum 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 180 Freedom TL 2011 at 18,9 ft versus Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013 at 16,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine 180 Freedom TL 2011 tips the scales at 875 lbs — 723 lbs more than the Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013 at 152 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 130 hp, the Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013 has a 40-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine 180 Freedom TL 2011'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 Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine 180 Freedom TL 2011 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 Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013 could be the deciding factor.