The Starcraft Marine Classic 140 Cruise 2007 is a pontoon design and the Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013 is a modified-V design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Starcraft Marine Classic 140 Cruise 2007 at 14,0 ft versus Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013 at 16,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013 tips the scales at 1 520 lbs - 645 lbs less than the Starcraft Marine Classic 140 Cruise 2007 at 875 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 130 hp, the Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013 has a 105-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine Classic 140 Cruise 2007's 25-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Classic 140 Cruise 2007 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 Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013 comes in at 12 lbs per hp versus 35 lbs per hp for the Starcraft Marine Classic 140 Cruise 2007. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration - meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.