When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Starcraft Marine Elite 246 2007 and the Starcraft Marine Stardeck 216 4 PT 2013 are pontoon designs with aluminum construction — 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Starcraft Marine Elite 246 2007 measures 24,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 3,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Starcraft Marine Stardeck 216 4 PT 2013 at 20,8 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Elite 246 2007 tips the scales at 2 417 lbs — 2 232 lbs more than the Starcraft Marine Stardeck 216 4 PT 2013 at 185 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 150 hp, the Starcraft Marine Elite 246 2007 has a 35-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine Stardeck 216 4 PT 2013's 115-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Starcraft Marine Stardeck 216 4 PT 2013 carries 24 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Starcraft Marine Elite 246 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 246 2007 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Stardeck 216 4 PT 2013 caps at 1. 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.