When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Starcraft Marine Stardeck 216 4 PT 2013 and the Starcraft Marine Stardeck 236 Starlounger 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 Stardeck 216 4 PT 2013 at 20,8 ft versus Starcraft Marine Stardeck 236 Starlounger 2013 at 23,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Stardeck 216 4 PT 2013 tips the scales at 185 lbs — 163 lbs more than the Starcraft Marine Stardeck 236 Starlounger 2013 at 22 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 150 hp, the Starcraft Marine Stardeck 236 Starlounger 2013 has a 35-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine Stardeck 216 4 PT 2013's 115-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 Stardeck 216 4 PT 2013 carries 24 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Starcraft Marine Stardeck 236 Starlounger 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 Stardeck 236 Starlounger 2013 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Stardeck 216 4 PT 2013 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine Stardeck 236 Starlounger 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 Stardeck 236 Starlounger 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 23,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Starcraft Marine Stardeck 216 4 PT 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.