When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 and the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 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 Starfish 246 2011 at 24,3 ft versus Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 CR 2007 at 24,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 CR 2007 tips the scales at 2 417 lbs — 2 192 lbs less than the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 at 225 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 — 150 hp for the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 2011 and 150 hp for the Starcraft Marine Starfish 246 CR 2007. 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 — 24 gal and 23 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

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.