Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 vs Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 or the Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004?

For trailering, the Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004 has the edge at 185 lbs dry weight versus 285 lbs for the Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004 tops out at 22 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004 is certified for 8. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 measures 98" wide, compared to 96" for the Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 or the Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004?

The Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 has the bigger tank at 55 gallons, versus 52 gallons on the Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 and Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 and the Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004 are built by Starcraft Marine. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 vs Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004

Starcraft Marine

Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007

2007

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Starcraft Marine

Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004

2004

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 vs Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 vs Starcraft Marine Islander 221 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 200 hp, the Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 has a 178-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004's 22-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 55 gal and 52 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004 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 FD 226 Cruise 2007 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeStarcraft Marine

ModelFD 226 Cruise

ModelIslander 221

Model Year2007

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam98 in. (249 cm)

Beam96 in

Beam - Meters2.49

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Inches98

Beam - Inches96

Deadrise13℃

Deadrise18℃

Weight - Detail2,850 lbs. (1,292.8 kg)

Weight - Detail1850 lbs

Weight - kg1292.74

Weight - kg839.15

Weight - lbs.285

Weight - lbs.185

Width [transom] - Detail94 in. (239 cm) Chine Width (at transom): 87 in. (221 cm)

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Height - DetailFence: 27 in. (69 cm)

Height - Detail30 in

Height - Meters0.69

Height - Meters0.76

Height - Inches27

Height - Inches3

Height [transom]20 in. (51 cm)

Height [transom]not available

Length - Meters6.8

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet22

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Inches3

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 3 in. (6.8 m)

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 6 in

Length overall - Meters6.78

Length overall - Meters6.86

Length overall - Inches267

Length overall - Inches27

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail22 in

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.56

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [drive up] inches22

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail34 in

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.86

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches34

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialAluminum

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail55 gal. (208.2 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail52 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters208.2

Fuel tank capacity - Liters196.84

Fuel tank capacity - Gal55

Fuel tank capacity - Gal52

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typenot available

Engine max200 hp (149 kW)

Engine max22

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,350 lbs. (1,066 kg)

Maximum capacity2000 lbs

Maximum people12 or 1,650 lbs. (748.4 kg)

Maximum people8 persons

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over all26 ft. 11 in. (8.2 m)

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - WeightPackage Weight with 200 Merc Verado: 3,975 lbs. (1,803.1 kg)

Trailer - Weightnot available

Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 vs Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 or the Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004?

For trailering, the Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004 has the edge at 185 lbs dry weight versus 285 lbs for the Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004 tops out at 22 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004 is certified for 8. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 measures 98" wide, compared to 96" for the Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 or the Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004?

The Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 has the bigger tank at 55 gallons, versus 52 gallons on the Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 and Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 and the Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004 are built by Starcraft Marine. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Starcraft Marine FD 226 Cruise 2007 full specs ← Starcraft Marine Islander 221 2004 full specs