When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Starcraft Marine Limited 256 2012 and the Starcraft Marine Majestic Series 2009 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?

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 200 hp, the Starcraft Marine Limited 256 2012 has a 50-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine Majestic Series 2009's 150-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Starcraft Marine Majestic Series 2009 carries 35 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Starcraft Marine Limited 256 2012. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

The Starcraft Marine Limited 256 2012 is rated for up to 14 people. Passenger data for the Starcraft Marine Majestic Series 2009 wasn't available.