The Starcraft Marine Bay 170 2013 vs Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE CR 2006 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.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Starcraft Marine Bay 170 2013 measures 16,5 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 14,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE CR 2006 at 2,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE CR 2006 tips the scales at 2 088 lbs — 1 027 lbs less than the Starcraft Marine Bay 170 2013 at 1 061 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 115 hp for the Starcraft Marine Bay 170 2013 and 100 hp for the Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE CR 2006. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Starcraft Marine Bay 170 2013 carries 19 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE CR 2006. 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 Bay 170 2013 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE CR 2006 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine Bay 170 2013 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Starcraft Marine Bay 170 2013 comes in at 9 lbs per hp versus 21 lbs per hp for the Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE CR 2006. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
The Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE CR 2006 is an inflatable design — lighter, easier to store, and quicker to launch from a beach or dock without a slipway. The Starcraft Marine Bay 170 2013 is a rigid hull, which typically offers a more confident ride in chop and easier maintenance over the long term.
Bottom line: Choose the Starcraft Marine Bay 170 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 16,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE CR 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.