2024 Starcraft 16ft Stealth Fishing Boat

For anglers seeking incredible value and functionality.

By: Walt Jennings

For the angler looking to get into a reasonably priced fishing  boat, Starcraft builds a variety of aluminum boats designed with the angler in mind. Their Stealth line of boats from 16-21 ft comes in three varieties: a dual console, a side console, and a tiller model, and we here at Power Boating Canada magazine were impressed with their little 166 tiller model when we took a look at it due to its ease of operation and extremely low purchase price.

The Starcraft Stealth 166 Tiller model comes with two removable passenger seats (a third optional seat is $675) that can be positioned in any of four different mounting positions on the main deck, and one mounting position in the raised bow deck. The decks are covered with a heavy duty vinyl and there is an integrated Gunnel Track System on the gunnels that is a universal track that will hold your rod holders, tool holders, cup holders, or rod trees.

Underneath the center of the raised aft deck adjacent to where the driver sits is the boats under deck and removable 13 gallon fuel tank, and in a separate area under the raised aft deck you will find the boats starting battery  and electrical compartment as well as a fuse block for the boats live well pump. The fuse block also has room to add other accessories that an owner might choose to install such as a trolling motor or fish finder.

Alongside the port and starboard gunnels are long lockable rod storage compartments that will hold rods up to 8 ft long, and the are carpeted inside – a nice touch to prevent your rods and reels from getting all scratched up. The boat also comes with an in floor rod storage compartment that will hold up to six 8 1/2 ft rods.

The raised front deck on the 166 Stealth has one of the five seat mounting brackets so an angler can move his seat post to the bow and fish from there. Another storage compartment under the main deck will hold six rods up to 8 1/2 ft in length. Below the bow deck you will find two storage compartments, the larger one houses the boats 25 gallon live baitwell and the smaller one directly in the bow has a preinstalled battery box tray that will hold your trolling motor battery if you opt to install a trolling motor prior to or after your purchase.

Several useful options on the Starcraft 166 Stealth would include a folding Bimini top, a sonar or GPS fish finder, a bow mounted trolling motor, small stern mounted swim platform (with three step stainless-steel ladder), and of course a trailer. The 166 Stealth comes pre-wired  for a trolling motor as well as a bow mounted trolling motor mounting bracket, and a battery tray in the forward compartment, ready for whenever an owner might want to install a trolling motor.

A variety of outboards are available on the Starcraft 166 including Mercury, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki. We priced the boat in this review with a Yamaha 40 horsepower.

Specifications

LOA: 15 ft 10 in
Beam: 7 in
Weight: 965 lbs
Fuel Capacity: 13 gal
Passanger Capacity: 6
Max HP: 60 hp
MSRP USD: starting at $19,978 CAD

For more information: www.starcraftmarine.com