Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Starcraft Marine 180 Tiller 2008 vs Starcraft Marine Elite 226 Sport Fish RE CR 2007 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a modified vee Starcraft Marine 180 Tiller 2008 against a pontoon Starcraft Marine Elite 226 Sport Fish RE CR 2007 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Starcraft Marine Elite 226 Sport Fish RE CR 2007 measures 22,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 4,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Starcraft Marine 180 Tiller 2008 at 18,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Elite 226 Sport Fish RE CR 2007 tips the scales at 2 315 lbs — 1 440 lbs less than the Starcraft Marine 180 Tiller 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 125 hp, the Starcraft Marine Elite 226 Sport Fish RE CR 2007 has a 50-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine 180 Tiller 2008's 75-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 24 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 226 Sport Fish RE CR 2007 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine 180 Tiller 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 Elite 226 Sport Fish RE CR 2007 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Starcraft Marine Elite 226 Sport Fish RE CR 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Starcraft Marine 180 Tiller 2008 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
MakeStarcraft Marine
Model180 Tiller
ModelElite 226 Sport Fish RE CR
Model Year2008
Model Year2007
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam89 in. (226.1 cm)
Beam102 in. (259 cm)
Beam - Meters2.26
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches89
Beam - Inches102
Deadrise10℃ (at transom)
Deadrisenot available
Depth - Detail22 in. (56 cm)
Depth - Detailnot available
Depth - Centimeters55.88
Depth - Centimetersnot available
Depth - Inches22
Depth - Inchesnot available
Draft [drive up] - Detail12 in. (30.5 cm)
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.3
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches12
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail21 in. (53.3 cm)
Draft [max] - Detailnot available
Draft [max] - Meters0.53
Draft [max] - Metersnot available
Draft [max] - Inches21
Draft [max] - Inchesnot available
Weight - DetailBoat Only: 875 lbs. (396.9 kg)
Weight - Detail2,315 lbs. (1,050.1 kg)
Weight - kg396.89
Weight - kg1050.07
Weight - lbs.875
Weight - lbs.2315
Width [transom] - Detail89 in. (226.1 cm) Chine Width (at transom): 71 in. (180 cm)
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Height [transom]For Engine: 20 in. (51 cm)
Height [transom]20 in. (51 cm)
Length - Meters5.8
Length - Meters6.8
Length - Feet18
Length - Feet22
Length - Inches11
Length - Inches3
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 11 in. (5.8 m)
Length overall - Detail22 ft. 3 in. (6.8 m)
Length overall - Meters5.77
Length overall - Meters6.78
Length overall - Inches227
Length overall - Inches267
Height - Detailnot available
Height - DetailFence: 27 in. (69 cm)
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Meters0.69
Height - Inchesnot available
Height - Inches27
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialAluminum
Hull thickness0.100 in. (0.254 cm)
Hull thicknessnot available
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typePontoon
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail23 gal. (87.1 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail24 gal. (90.8 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters87.06
Fuel tank capacity - Liters90.85
Fuel tank capacity - Gal23
Fuel tank capacity - Gal24
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max75 hp
Engine max125 hp (93 kW)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,450 lbs. (657.7 kg)
Maximum capacity2,405 lbs. (1,090.9 kg)
Maximum people6 or 900 lbs. / 6 or 408.2 kg
Maximum people12 or 1,700 lbs. (771.1 kg)
Trailer Info
Trailer - Length over all21 ft. 11 in
Trailer - Length over allnot available
Trailer - WeightN/A
Trailer - Weightnot available
Pontoon and Inflatable Specific
Tube diameternot available
Tube diameter25 in. (64 cm)
Tube gaugenot available
Tube gauge0.080 in. (0.203 cm)