The Starcraft Marine Elite 246 2007 is a pontoon design and the Starcraft Marine Limited 172 OB Sport 2012 is a modified-V design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably 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 Elite 246 2007 measures 24,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 7,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Starcraft Marine Limited 172 OB Sport 2012 at 16,8 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Elite 246 2007 tips the scales at 2 417 lbs - 897 lbs more than the Starcraft Marine Limited 172 OB Sport 2012 at 1 520 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 - 150 hp for the Starcraft Marine Elite 246 2007 and 130 hp for the Starcraft Marine Limited 172 OB Sport 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Starcraft Marine Elite 246 2007 carries 30 gallons versus 23 gallons in the Starcraft Marine Limited 172 OB Sport 2012. 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 246 2007 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Limited 172 OB Sport 2012 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 246 2007 could be the deciding factor.