Matching a pontoon Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE CR 2007 against a modified vee Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013 measures 16,8 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 14,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE CR 2007 at 2,0 feet (2007). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE CR 2007 tips the scales at 2 088 lbs — 1 936 lbs more than the Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013 at 152 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 115 hp for the Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE CR 2007 and 130 hp for the Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013. 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013 carries 23 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE CR 2007. 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 Elite 206 RE CR 2007 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Ski Fish 2013 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 Elite 206 RE CR 2007 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 1 lbs per hp versus 18 lbs per hp for the Starcraft Marine Elite 206 RE CR 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.