The Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Sport 2013 is a modified-V design and the Starcraft Marine Starliner 256 2011 is a pontoon design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Starcraft Marine Starliner 256 2011 measures 25,3 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 8,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Sport 2013 at 16,8 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Starliner 256 2011 tips the scales at 2 600 lbs - 1 080 lbs less than the Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Sport 2013 at 1 520 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 Starliner 256 2011 has a 70-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Sport 2013's 130-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 Starliner 256 2011 carries 30 gallons versus 23 gallons in the Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Sport 2013. 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 Starliner 256 2011 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Sport Runabout 172 OB Sport 2013 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 Starliner 256 2011 could be the deciding factor.