The Starcraft Marine Holiday 240 Cruise 2004 vs Starcraft Marine Limited 172 OB Sport 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Starcraft Marine Holiday 240 Cruise 2004 measures 24,0 feet overall (2004), giving it roughly 7,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Starcraft Marine Limited 172 OB Sport 2012 at 16,8 feet (2012). At 205 lbs and 152 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 135 hp for the Starcraft Marine Holiday 240 Cruise 2004 and 130 hp for the Starcraft Marine Limited 172 OB Sport 2012. 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Starcraft Marine Limited 172 OB Sport 2012 carries 23 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Starcraft Marine Holiday 240 Cruise 2004. 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 Holiday 240 Cruise 2004 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Limited 172 OB Sport 2012 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 Holiday 240 Cruise 2004 could be the deciding factor.