The Starcraft Marine Elite 226 2004 vs Starcraft Marine Elite 246 2004 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Starcraft Marine Elite 226 2004 at 22,0 ft versus Starcraft Marine Elite 246 2004 at 24,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Elite 226 2004 tips the scales at 1 892 lbs — 1 687 lbs more than the Starcraft Marine Elite 246 2004 at 205 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 — 125 hp for the Starcraft Marine Elite 226 2004 and 135 hp for the Starcraft Marine Elite 246 2004. 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 3 gal and 3 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Starcraft Marine Elite 246 2004 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Elite 226 2004 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine Elite 246 2004 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Starcraft Marine Elite 246 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Starcraft Marine Elite 226 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.