Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006 vs Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006 or the Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004?

For trailering, the Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004 has the edge at 785 lbs dry weight versus 971 lbs for the Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006. 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 Bass 170 2006 is rated to a maximum of 125 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004 tops out at 75 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 Bass 170 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 4 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 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: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004 measures 83" wide, compared to 78" for the Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006 or the Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004?

The Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006 has the bigger tank at 19 gallons, versus 16 gallons on the Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006 and Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006 and the Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 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 Bass 170 2006 vs Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004

Starcraft Marine

Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006

2006

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Starcraft Marine

Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004

2004

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006 vs Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006 vs Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 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 Bass 170 2006 has a 50-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004'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 — 19 gal and 16 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeStarcraft Marine

ModelBass 17

ModelStarfire 160 DC

Model Year2006

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam78 in. (198 cm)

Beam83 in

Beam - Meters1.98

Beam - Meters2.11

Beam - Inches78

Beam - Inches83

Deadrise7℃

Deadrise12℃

Depth - Detail20 in. (51 cm)

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters50.8

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches2

Depth - Inchesnot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail8 in. (20 cm)

Draft [drive up] - Detail12 in

Draft [drive up] meters0.2

Draft [drive up] meters0.3

Draft [drive up] inches8

Draft [drive up] inches12

Draft [max] - Detail20 in. (51 cm)

Draft [max] - Detail21 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.51

Draft [max] - Meters0.53

Draft [max] - Inches2

Draft [max] - Inches21

Weight - Detail971 lbs. (440.5 kg)

Weight - Detail785 lbs

Weight - kg440.44

Weight - kg356.07

Weight - lbs.971

Weight - lbs.785

Width [transom] - Detail78 in. (198 cm) Chine Width (at transom): 60 in. (152 cm)

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Height [transom]20 in. (51 cm)

Height [transom]20 in

Length - Meters5.2

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet17

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Inches1

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 1 in. (5.2 m)

Length overall - Detail16 ft. 1 in

Length overall - Meters5.21

Length overall - Meters4.9

Length overall - Inches205

Length overall - Inches193

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Detail23 in

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters0.58

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches23

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thickness0.100 in. (.254 cm)

Hull thicknessnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail19 gal. (71.9 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail16 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters71.92

Fuel tank capacity - Liters60.57

Fuel tank capacity - Gal19

Fuel tank capacity - Gal16

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typenot available

Engine max125 hp (93 kw)

Engine max75

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,340 lbs. (607.8 kg)

Maximum capacity1350 lbs

Maximum people4

Maximum people6 persons

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over all21 ft. 10 in. (6.5 m)

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - WeightTowing Wt. W/115 4s Merc: 2,492 lbs. (1,130.4 kg)

Trailer - Weightnot available

Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006 vs Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006 or the Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004?

For trailering, the Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004 has the edge at 785 lbs dry weight versus 971 lbs for the Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006. 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 Bass 170 2006 is rated to a maximum of 125 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004 tops out at 75 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 Bass 170 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 4 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 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.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004 measures 83" wide, compared to 78" for the Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006 or the Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004?

The Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006 has the bigger tank at 19 gallons, versus 16 gallons on the Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006 and Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Starcraft Marine Bass 170 2006 and the Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 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 Bass 170 2006 full specs ← Starcraft Marine Starfire 160 DC 2004 full specs