The Starcraft Marine Elite 246 RE 2004 vs Starcraft Marine Limited 236 Starport 2012 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 246 RE 2004 at 24,0 ft versus Starcraft Marine Limited 236 Starport 2012 at 24,8 ft. At 205 lbs and 228 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 135 hp for the Starcraft Marine Elite 246 RE 2004 and 150 hp for the Starcraft Marine Limited 236 Starport 2012. 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 RE 2004 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Limited 236 Starport 2012 caps at 13. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine Elite 246 RE 2004 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Starcraft Marine Elite 246 RE 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 Limited 236 Starport 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 13 that costs less to run day-to-day.