When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Starcraft Marine Limited 256 2012 and the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 RE CR 2007 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 256 2012 at 26,8 ft versus Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 RE CR 2007 at 24,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Limited 256 2012 tips the scales at 2 575 lbs — 158 lbs more than the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 RE CR 2007 at 2 417 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 2012 has a 50-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 RE CR 2007'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 Starfish 246 RE CR 2007 carries 23 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.

Both boats are rated for 14 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.