Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 vs Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer - the Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 or the Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005?

For trailering, the Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 has the edge at 1 215 lbs dry weight versus 2 100 lbs for the Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005 tops out at 125 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 C-Star 186 SC 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005 is certified for 12. 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: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005 measures 102" wide, compared to 92" for the Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states - anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank - the Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 or the Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005?

The Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 has the bigger tank at 32 gallons, versus 23 gallons on the Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005. That 9-gallon difference translates to roughly 27–45 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 and Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 and the Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005 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 C-Star 186 SC 2004 vs Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005

Starcraft Marine

Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004

2004

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Starcraft Marine

Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005

2005

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 vs Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005: Same Brand, Different Boat

The Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 vs Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 150 hp, the Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 has a 25-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005's 125-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 C-Star 186 SC 2004 carries 32 gallons versus 23 gallons in the Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005. 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 Starfish 226 CR 2005 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 12 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeStarcraft Marine

ModelC-Star 186 SC

ModelStarfish 226 CR

Model Year2004

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam92 in.

Beam102 in. (259 cm)

Beam - Meters2.34

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches92

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise15℃

Deadrisenot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail13 in.

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.33

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches13

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Detail25 in.

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.64

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches25

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail1215 lbs.

Weight - Detail2,100 lbs. (952.6 kg)

Weight - kg551.11

Weight - kg952.54

Weight - lbs.1215

Weight - lbs.2100

Height - Detail27 in.

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Meters0.69

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Inches27

Height - Inchesnot available

Height [transom]20 in.

Height [transom]not available

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 5 in.

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 3 in. (6.8 m)

Length overall - Meters5.61

Length overall - Meters6.78

Length overall - Inches221

Length overall - Inches267

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters6.8

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet22

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches3

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull materialnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail32 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Detail23 gal. (87.1 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters121.13

Fuel tank capacity - Liters87.06

Fuel tank capacity - Gal32

Fuel tank capacity - Gal23

Engine max150

Engine max125 hp (86 kw)

Drive typenot available

Drive typeOutBoard

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1950 lbs.

Maximum capacity2,405 lbs. (1,090.9 kg)

Maximum people8 persons

Maximum people12

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameternot available

Tube diameter25 in. (64 cm)

Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 vs Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005 - Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer - the Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 or the Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005?

For trailering, the Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 has the edge at 1 215 lbs dry weight versus 2 100 lbs for the Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005 tops out at 125 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 C-Star 186 SC 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005 is certified for 12. 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.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005 measures 102" wide, compared to 92" for the Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states - anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank - the Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 or the Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005?

The Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 has the bigger tank at 32 gallons, versus 23 gallons on the Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005. That 9-gallon difference translates to roughly 27–45 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 and Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Starcraft Marine C-Star 186 SC 2004 and the Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005 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 C-Star 186 SC 2004 full specs ← Starcraft Marine Starfish 226 CR 2005 full specs