Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 vs Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 or the Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013?

The Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 is the longer of the two at 25,0 feet overall. The Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 comes in at 21,5 feet, making it roughly 3,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 or the Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013?

For trailering, the Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 has the edge at 284 lbs dry weight versus 2 855 lbs for the Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008. 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 Coastal 229 OB 2013 is rated to a maximum of 250 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 tops out at 175 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 256 RE CR 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 18 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 is certified for 12. 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 256 RE CR 2008 and Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 share an 102 in. (259 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 256 RE CR 2008 or the Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013?

The Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 has the bigger tank at 75 gallons, versus 3 gallons on the Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008. That 72-gallon difference translates to roughly 216–360 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 and Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 and the Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 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 256 RE CR 2008 vs Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013

Starcraft Marine

Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008

2008

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Starcraft Marine

Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 vs Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a pontoon Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 against a modified vee Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 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 256 RE CR 2008 measures 25,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 3,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 at 21,5 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 tips the scales at 2 855 lbs — 2 571 lbs more than the Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 at 284 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 250 hp, the Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 has a 75-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008's 175-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 Coastal 229 OB 2013 carries 75 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 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 256 RE CR 2008 is rated for 18 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 18 passengers and at 25,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeStarcraft Marine

Model256 RE CR

ModelCoastal 229 OB

Model Year2008

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam102 in. (259 cm)

Beam102 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Weight - DetailBoat Only: 2,855 lbs. (1,295.3 kg)

Weight - Detail2,840 lbs

Weight - kg1295.01

Weight - kg1288.2

Weight - lbs.2855

Weight - lbs.284

Height - DetailFence: 27 in. (69 cm)

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Meters0.69

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Inches27

Height - Inchesnot available

Height [transom]For Engine: 20 in. (51 cm)

Height [transom]25 in

Length - Meters7.8

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet25

Length - Feet21.5

Length - Inches6

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail25 ft. 6 in. (7.8 m)

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 6 in

Length overall - Meters7.77

Length overall - Meters6.55

Length overall - Inches306

Length overall - Inches258

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Detail32 in

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters81.28

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches32

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - Detail94 in

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typePontoon

Hull typeModified Vee

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter25 in. (64 cm)

Tube diameternot available

Tube gaugeAluminum: .08 in. (.203 cm)

Tube gaugenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail30 gal. (113.6 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail75 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters113.56

Fuel tank capacity - Liters283.91

Fuel tank capacity - Gal3

Fuel tank capacity - Gal75

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max175 hp (131 kW)

Engine max250 hp

Engine makenot available

Engine makeYamaha

Engine modelnot available

Engine modelF200XA

Operational Info

Maximum capacity3,240 lbs. (1,469.7 kg)

Maximum capacity2,500 lbs

Maximum people18 or 2,540 lbs. / 14 or 1,152.1 kg

Maximum people12

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over all26 ft. 2 in

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - Weight4,166 lbs

Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 vs Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 or the Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013?

The Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 is the longer of the two at 25,0 feet overall. The Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 comes in at 21,5 feet, making it roughly 3,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 or the Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013?

For trailering, the Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 has the edge at 284 lbs dry weight versus 2 855 lbs for the Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008. 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 Coastal 229 OB 2013 is rated to a maximum of 250 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 tops out at 175 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 256 RE CR 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 18 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 is certified for 12. 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 256 RE CR 2008 and Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 share an 102 in. (259 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 256 RE CR 2008 or the Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013?

The Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 has the bigger tank at 75 gallons, versus 3 gallons on the Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008. That 72-gallon difference translates to roughly 216–360 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 and Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Starcraft Marine 256 RE CR 2008 and the Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 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 256 RE CR 2008 full specs ← Starcraft Marine Coastal 229 OB 2013 full specs