The Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2004 vs Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 CR 2005 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2004 at 24,0 ft versus Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 CR 2005 at 24,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 CR 2005 tips the scales at 2 417 lbs — 2 212 lbs less than the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2004 at 205 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 135 hp for the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2004 and 135 hp for the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 CR 2005. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 23 gal and 23 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2004 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 CR 2005 caps at 14. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2004 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 CR 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 14 that costs less to run day-to-day.