Matching a deep vee Starcraft Marine Explorer 160 DC 2013 against a modified vee Starcraft Marine Limited 1700 OB 2010 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Starcraft Marine Explorer 160 DC 2013 at 16,2 ft versus Starcraft Marine Limited 1700 OB 2010 at 16,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Limited 1700 OB 2010 tips the scales at 152 lbs — 143 lbs less than the Starcraft Marine Explorer 160 DC 2013 at 9 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 130 hp, the Starcraft Marine Limited 1700 OB 2010 has a 55-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine Explorer 160 DC 2013's 75-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 24 gal and 23 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 1700 OB 2010 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Explorer 160 DC 2013 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine Limited 1700 OB 2010 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Starcraft Marine Explorer 160 DC 2013 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 1 lbs per hp for the Starcraft Marine Limited 1700 OB 2010. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.