Both the Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 196 2012 and the Starcraft Marine Limited 2000 OB Fish 2011 are modified-V designs, the first built in aluminium and the second in fibreglass, so 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 196 2012 at 19,8 ft versus Starcraft Marine Limited 2000 OB Fish 2011 at 20,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Limited 2000 OB Fish 2011 tips the scales at 2 315 lbs - 885 lbs less than the Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 196 2012 at 1 430 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 - 200 hp for the Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 196 2012 and 200 hp for the Starcraft Marine Limited 2000 OB Fish 2011. 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 52 gal and 51 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 2000 OB Fish 2011 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Fishmaster 196 2012 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine Limited 2000 OB Fish 2011 could be the deciding factor.