When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Starcraft Marine Limited 236 Starlounger Starport 2013 and the Starcraft Marine Limited 256 Starlounger Starport 2013 are pontoon designs with aluminum construction — 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 Limited 236 Starlounger Starport 2013 at 24,8 ft versus Starcraft Marine Limited 256 Starlounger Starport 2013 at 26,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Limited 256 Starlounger Starport 2013 tips the scales at 2 575 lbs — 2 347 lbs less than the Starcraft Marine Limited 236 Starlounger Starport 2013 at 228 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 Limited 256 Starlounger Starport 2013 has a 50-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine Limited 236 Starlounger Starport 2013'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 — 3 gal and 3 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 256 Starlounger Starport 2013 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Limited 236 Starlounger Starport 2013 caps at 13. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine Limited 256 Starlounger Starport 2013 could be the deciding factor.
One place where both boats are genuinely identical is tube construction: both run 2 aluminum tubes at 25" diameter. That shared spec means stability and buoyancy characteristics are closely matched — the ride difference you'll feel between them comes primarily from deck length, weight distribution, and motor choice.
Bottom line: Choose the Starcraft Marine Limited 256 Starlounger Starport 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 26,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Starcraft Marine Limited 236 Starlounger Starport 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 13 that costs less to run day-to-day.