Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 vs Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 or the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011?

The Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 is the longer of the two at 24,3 feet overall. The Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 comes in at 20,0 feet, making it roughly 4,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 is rated to a maximum of 245 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 tops out at 150 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 BOW RIDER 1996 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 is certified for 14. 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: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 and Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 25 gallons and 24 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 and Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 and the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 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 BOW RIDER 1996 vs Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011

Starcraft Marine

Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996

1996

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Starcraft Marine

Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011

2011

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 vs Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 vs Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 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 245 hp, the Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 has a 95-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011's 150-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 25 gal and 24 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 2011 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 24,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

Measurements / Dimensions

Length overall - Detail20.00 ft

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 3 in

Length - Feet20

Length - Feet24.25

Length overall - Meters6.1

Length overall - Meters7.39

Length overall - Inches240

Length overall - Inches291

Beamnot available

Beam102 in

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inchesnot available

Beam - Inches102

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Detail27 in

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters68.58

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches27

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail2,250 lbs

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg1020.58

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.225

Height [transom]not available

Height [transom]20 in

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Gal25

Fuel tank capacity - Gal24

Fuel tank capacity - Liters94.64

Fuel tank capacity - Liters90.85

Engine makeMercury

Engine makenot available

Horsepower245 hp

Horsepowernot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeinboard

Drive typeOutboard

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail24 gal

Engine maxnot available

Engine max150 hp

Operational Info

Boat typePower

Boat typenot available

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity2,400 lbs

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people14

General Boat Info

Makenot available

MakeStarcraft Marine

Modelnot available

ModelStarfish 246

Model Yearnot available

Model Year2011

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typenot available

Hull typePontoon

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube gaugenot available

Tube gauge0.080 in

Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 vs Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 or the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011?

The Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 is the longer of the two at 24,3 feet overall. The Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 comes in at 20,0 feet, making it roughly 4,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 is rated to a maximum of 245 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 tops out at 150 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 BOW RIDER 1996 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 is certified for 14. 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.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 and Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 25 gallons and 24 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 and Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Starcraft Marine BOW RIDER 1996 and the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 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 BOW RIDER 1996 full specs ← Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 full specs