Both the Starcraft Marine STX 2050 2011 and the Starcraft Marine STX 206 Viper 2012 are modified-V designs, both built in aluminium, so 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 STX 2050 2011 at 20,2 ft versus Starcraft Marine STX 206 Viper 2012 at 20,5 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Starcraft Marine STX 206 Viper 2012 tips the scales at 2 400 lbs - 865 lbs less than the Starcraft Marine STX 2050 2011 at 1 535 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 300 hp, the Starcraft Marine STX 206 Viper 2012 has a 50-hp advantage over the Starcraft Marine STX 2050 2011's 250-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 52 gal and 50 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Starcraft Marine STX 2050 2011 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Starcraft Marine STX 206 Viper 2012 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Starcraft Marine STX 2050 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Starcraft Marine STX 2050 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 10 passengers and at 20,2 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Starcraft Marine STX 206 Viper 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.