Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 176 2006 boat specs
Starcraft Marine
Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 176 2006
2006
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VS
Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012 boat specs
Starcraft Marine
Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012
2012
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Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 176 2006 vs Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 176 2006 vs Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 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 Fishmaster 176 2006 at 17,0 ft versus Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012 at 18,6 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012 tips the scales at 1 333 lbs — 138 lbs less than the Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 176 2006 at 1 195 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 200 hp, the Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012 has a 50-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 176 2006's 150-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 32 gal and 32 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 176 2006 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 18,6 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 176 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeStarcraft Marine
MakeStarcraft Marine
ModelFishmaster 176
ModelSuperfisherman 186
Model Year2006
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam93 in. (236 cm)
Beam100 in
Beam - Meters2.36
Beam - Meters2.54
Beam - Inches93
Beam - Inches1
Deadrise17℃
Deadrisenot available
Depth - Detail27 in. (69 cm)
Depth - Detail29 in
Depth - Centimeters68.58
Depth - Centimeters73.66
Depth - Inches27
Depth - Inches29
Draft [drive up] - Detail16 in. (41 cm)
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.41
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches16
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail28 in. (71 cm)
Draft [max] - Detailnot available
Draft [max] - Meters0.71
Draft [max] - Metersnot available
Draft [max] - Inches28
Draft [max] - Inchesnot available
Weight - Detail1,195 lbs. (542.1 kg)
Weight - Detail1,333 lbs
Weight - kg542.04
Weight - kg604.64
Weight - lbs.1195
Weight - lbs.1333
Width [transom] - Detail86 in. (218 cm) Chine Width (at transom): 73 in. (185 cm)
Width [transom] - Detail99 in
Height [transom]20 in. (51 cm)
Height [transom]25 in
Length - Meters5.4
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet17
Length - Feet18.58
Length - Inches8
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail17 ft. 8 in. (5.4 m)
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 7 in
Length overall - Meters5.38
Length overall - Meters5.66
Length overall - Inches212
Length overall - Inches223
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialAluminum
Hull thickness0.100 in. (.254 cm)
Hull thickness0.100 in
Hull typenot available
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail32 gal. (121.1 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail32 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Liters121.13
Fuel tank capacity - Liters121.13
Fuel tank capacity - Gal32
Fuel tank capacity - Gal32
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max150 hp (112 kw)
Engine max200 hp
Engine makenot available
Engine makeMercury
Engine modelnot available
Engine model115 XL Optimax
Fuel typenot available
Fuel typeGas
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,700 lbs. (771.1 kg)
Maximum capacity1,985 lbs
Maximum people7
Maximum people9
Trailer Info
Trailer - Length over all21 ft. 6 in. (6.6 m)
Trailer - Length over all23 ft
Trailer - WeightTowing Wt. W/150 Merc Opt: 2,535 lbs. (1,149.9 kg)
Trailer - WeightTowing Weight: 3,195 lbs

Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 176 2006 vs Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 176 2006 or the Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012?
The Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012 is the longer of the two at 18,6 feet overall. The Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 176 2006 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 1,6 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 176 2006 or the Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012?
For trailering, the Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 176 2006 has the edge at 1 195 lbs dry weight versus 1 333 lbs for the Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012. 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 Superfisherman 186 2012 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 176 2006 tops out at 150 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 Fishmaster 176 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012 is certified for 9. 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 Fishmaster 176 2006 measures 93" wide, compared to 1" for the Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012. 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.
How do the fuel tanks compare on the Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 176 2006 and Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012?
Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 32 gallons and 32 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.
Are the Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 176 2006 and Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 176 2006 and the Starcraft Marine Superfisherman 186 2012 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.