Both the Starcraft Marine Elite 206 2007 and the Starcraft Marine Limited 216 2012 are pontoon designs, both built 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 Elite 206 2007 at 20,0 ft versus Starcraft Marine Limited 216 2012 at 22,8 ft. At 2 088 lbs and 2 100 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class - either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 150 hp, the Starcraft Marine Limited 216 2012 has a 35-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine Elite 206 2007's 115-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 30 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 Limited 216 2012 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Elite 206 2007 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine Limited 216 2012 could be the deciding factor.