When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Starcraft Marine 226 4-PT RE CR 2010 and the Starcraft Marine Limited 236 Starport 2012 are pontoon 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 226 4-PT RE CR 2010 at 22,3 ft versus Starcraft Marine Limited 236 Starport 2012 at 24,8 ft. At 195 lbs and 228 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 150 hp, the Starcraft Marine Limited 236 Starport 2012 has a 25-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine 226 4-PT RE CR 2010's 125-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 226 4-PT RE CR 2010 carries 24 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Starcraft Marine Limited 236 Starport 2012. 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 226 4-PT RE CR 2010 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Limited 236 Starport 2012 caps at 13. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine 226 4-PT RE CR 2010 could be the deciding factor.