Both the Starcraft Marine Bay 180 2013 and the Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 196 2011 are modified-V designs, the first built in fibreglass and the second in aluminium, so 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 Bay 180 2013 at 17,8 ft versus Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 196 2011 at 19,8 ft. At 1 350 lbs and 1 430 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 200 hp, the Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 196 2011 has a 85-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine Bay 180 2013's 115-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 Fishmaster 196 2011 carries 52 gallons versus 24 gallons in the Starcraft Marine Bay 180 2013. 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 Fishmaster 196 2011 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Bay 180 2013 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 196 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 196 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 9 passengers and at 19,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Starcraft Marine Bay 180 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.