Starcraft STX 2050 Review

With its battleship-like build and thoughtful amenities, the Starcraft STX 2050 shows why it’s among the best all-around fishing boats on the water today.

Starcraft Marine began manufacturing aluminum fishing boats 115 years ago, and today the company is still owned and operated by the same family that started it all back in 1903. For five generations Starcraft has thrived on the strength of constant innovation, and the first-hand experience that only comes from being run by actual boaters rather than corporate lawyers and accountants. That’s abundantly evident as soon as you step aboard the company’s top fishing boat, the Starcraft STX 2050. We rated this boat among the Top 10 Aluminum Boats for 2016, and last year we called it one of the Top 10 Fishing Boats At Any Price. Freshly updated for 2018, it’s high time we took an even closer look at Starcraft’s flagship.

Step aboard and right away, it’s hard to believe the STX is only 20 feet long. The elevated bow deck is simply huge, with plenty of room for a couple of anglers to cast in comfort without constantly knocking elbows or stepping on each other’s toes. The bow deck is also situated at just the right height, being tall enough for easy pitching or sight fishing, yet still low enough you can reach over the side to lip a bass without wishing you had a much longer arm. But the proof of this boat’s pedigree lies in the details, such as the portside bow panel with its full set of controls including an electric motor plug, a volt gauge, courtesy light, 12-volt outlet and backlit, waterproof toggle switches to check the level of three separate batteries, plus run the courtesy lights, the live well, the bait well and adjust the main engine trim. That didn’t come from any boardroom, only serious anglers could design a boat like this.

The attention to detail in Starcraft’s STX 2050 is evident with just a glance at the fully rigged bow panel with its volt meter, engine tilt switch, multiple battery check switches and controls for the live well and bait well. There’s even a courtesy light for night fishing.

Just as impressive is the deep main cockpit, which offers tons of space and plenty of freeboard for those days when the offshore winds grow nasty. It’s not every day you find a boat that gives you a big front casting deck without sacrificing cockpit space, or vice-versa. Yet even with its patio-sized front deck, the Starcraft STX 2050 still provides plenty of room for four anglers to troll, even when running downriggers, planer boards and multiple rods.

The enormous front deck provides plenty of room for multiple anglers to fish without knocking elbows.

Of course throughout the Starcraft STX 2050 you’ll find an amazing number of secure storage lockers for tackle, rain suits, tool kits, PFDs and all the other stuff that winds up aboard a serious fishing boat. A massive in-floor rod locker between the twin consoles hides rods to eight feet in length. The huge 36-gallon live well is lighted and aerated, with recirculation and a timer, as well as an integrated oxygenator. The three-bank battery charger is standard equipment, of course. And its massive 52-gallon fuel tank delivers enough range to fish the most distant spots on tournament day without having to lug a Jerry can.

Even with its huge bow casting deck, the STX 2050 still provides a massive main cockpit.

Driving the Starcraft STX 2050 is a lot like driving a high-end SUV. You can’t help but sense the battleship-like mass of this boat, from its heavy, 0.125-inch one-piece bottom plate right up through the 0.080-inch side plates, which are as thick as many other boats hulls are at the keel. The STX 2050 is built on Starcraft’s performance-enhancing Power-Trac hull design, complete with its internal torsion beam construction. Being built like a tank means this boat can not only handle rough water when the need arises, but it’s also less prone to being blown around in the wind, so you don’t have to spend as much time on the electric motor, making course corrections while you fish.

The low profile helm still offers plenty of space to accommodate large, flush-mount displays, a full set of standard controls, an Infinity stereo, a couple of cup holders, and a comfortable sport steering wheel.

The philosophy of being built like a tank extends down to the tiniest details, from the heavy-duty hinges and latches used throughout, to the simple fact things like cleats are through-bolted, rather than just screwed on. And with the ability to handle outboards of up to 250 horsepower, it has the muscle to get where it’s going fast.

In-deck storage secures rods to eight feet in length. Twin gas rams – not just one – support the lid while open, allowing anglers to use both hands when stowing or retrieving rods.

That was apparent on our review boat, which was rigged with an Evinrude E-TEC G2 250. Time-to-plane was virtually instantaneous, while pinning the throttle had us climbing past 30 mph in five seconds and soon after achieving a top-end speed of near 60 mph. Handling at both low and high speeds was outstanding, with the Power-Trac hull digging in on the turns without giving up speed or ventilating the prop.

The Starcraft STX 2050 makes the most of its abundant storage space, with dedicated spots throughout for a full tournament load of gear.

It used to be that anglers were forced to choose between a big water boat, or something with a shallow draft capable of quietly exploring the shallows. Yet the Starcraft STX 2050 neatly manages both roles, and without any apparent compromise.

For anglers who thrive on variety and who enjoy the challenge of pursuing many different species, it just doesn’t get any better than this.