The Starcraft Marine Bay 180 2013 vs Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 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.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2004 measures 24,0 feet overall (2004), giving it roughly 6,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Starcraft Marine Bay 180 2013 at 17,8 feet (2013). At 135 lbs and 205 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 115 hp for the Starcraft Marine Bay 180 2013 and 135 hp for the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2004. 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 24 gal and 23 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2004 is rated for 15 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 Starfish 246 2004 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 24,0 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.