Both the Starcraft Marine Crossover 201 SCX OB 2013 and the Starcraft Marine Expedition 186 Sport 2013 are deep-V designs, the first built in fibreglass and the second in aluminium, so the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Starcraft Marine Crossover 201 SCX OB 2013 at 20,3 ft versus Starcraft Marine Expedition 186 Sport 2013 at 18,1 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Crossover 201 SCX OB 2013 tips the scales at 2 715 lbs - 1 315 lbs more than the Starcraft Marine Expedition 186 Sport 2013 at 1 400 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 225 hp, the Starcraft Marine Crossover 201 SCX OB 2013 has a 75-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine Expedition 186 Sport 2013's 150-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 Crossover 201 SCX OB 2013 carries 50 gallons versus 30 gallons in the Starcraft Marine Expedition 186 Sport 2013. 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 Crossover 201 SCX OB 2013 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Expedition 186 Sport 2013 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine Crossover 201 SCX OB 2013 could be the deciding factor.