The Starcraft Marine C-Star 170 FS 2004 vs Starcraft Marine Elite 246 RE CR 2005 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 125 hp for the Starcraft Marine C-Star 170 FS 2004 and 135 hp for the Starcraft Marine Elite 246 RE CR 2005. 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 - 32 gal and 30 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Starcraft Marine Elite 246 RE CR 2005 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine C-Star 170 FS 2004 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 Elite 246 RE CR 2005 could be the deciding factor.