Starcraft Delta 188 DC Review

Starcraft Marine has been making a lot of noise over the past couple of months about its all-new Delta series of aluminum fishing boats. Designed from scratch from the keel up, the Delta series rides on an a completely new hull design, which Starcraft calls VPS – short for Vertex Performance Strakes. It’s a clean-sheet design that takes full advantage of modern materials and technologies, allowing the engineers to move internal hull components around and open up an amazing amount of interior space in the process, while delivering even better handling and performance. Who wouldn’t like that? Just one test ride in the Starcraft Delta 188 DC is all it takes to understand exactly what all the excitement is about. We’re not talking about incremental upgrades here, but a complete rethink of how fishing boats should be built.

The wide bow of the Delta 188 DC doesn’t just mean more space for anglers – there’s even more room for gear.

Starting up in the bow, you can’t help but notice how much floor space there is. Look carefully and you’ll soon realize that the boat’s full width carries forward well ahead of the windshield, creating enough extra space that two anglers can both fish off the elevated bow casting platform at the same time, and without constantly bumping elbows. Lift the in-deck locker lids and you’ll immediately realize the effect the new hull design has on storage space as well, which is simply enormous. That doesn’t even include the massive centerline rod locker, with space for a dozen rods in individual tubes.

Rod storage in no problem in the Delta 188, thanks to a huge in-deck locker.

Step back through the split windshield and into the main cockpit of the Starcraft Delta 188 DC and the space thing becomes even more obvious. There’s a second rod locker built into the port-side gunnel, providing plenty of space for guests to stow their own equipment. Cavernous under-console storage accommodates oversized tackle boxes, coolers or other bulky gear with room to spare. Neat storage niches in the gunnels provide secure spots to stow things like inline planer boards, keeping them convenient yet out of harm’s way. And best of all, a pair of jump seats neatly integrated into the corners of the aft casting deck make it a cinch to go from fishing time to family time in just the blink of an eye.

The use of space in the Delta 188 is tremendous, with places to put just about anything.

The raised bow and stern casting decks are finished in a hefty marine carpet for both cosmetics and safety, providing a secure grip in even wet weather. The main cockpit floor is a durable marine vinyl – a sensible choice for this high traffic spot. Throughout the cockpit interior you’ll find coffee holders, a locking glove box for valuables, and the live well located between the jump seats in the aft deck. Surrounding the cockpit is Starcraft’s Integrated Gunnel Track System that lets you mount accessories like rod holders anywhere you need them, and without having to drill a single hole.

The helm console was designed with big screens in mind. Also note the cooler storage in the base of the passenger console – very handy.

The helm console of the Starcraft Delta 188 DC also reflects the clean-sheet design, being built right from the start with big screen electronics in mind. Dial multi-gauges handle the essential instrumentation – speedometer, tach, fuel gauge and volt meter – while a neat row of illuminated, weather-sealed rocker switches control electrical accessories like the lights, live well and so on. The fact they’re beefy enough to operate with gloves on is a very nice touch indeed. We were also impressed with the sure-grip black-on-chrome steering wheel that provides a truly comfortable ride. But what really took the cake were the tackle drawers in the base of the console, large enough to accommodate a couple of Plano-style boxes.

Tackle drawers each capable of holding a couple of mid-sized Plano boxes are a thoughtful touch.

Motoring out of the marina and taking a few moments to get the feel of the boat, it quickly becomes apparent that the Starcraft Delta 188 DC is built for drivers. The windshield provides protection from the elements yet without obstructing the view – with so many low profile windshields the top of the frame seems to be right at eye level, but not on the Delta. And in spite of the big Humminbird screen mounted on the dash, it too did not obstruct the view one bit.

Pop-up jump seats in the aft deck let the Delta 188 quickly switch from fishing time to family time.

Hit the gas and the Delta hull’s performance takes over. Acceleration and hole shot are virtually instantaneous, and with none of the excessive bow rise that can plague lightly-loaded aluminum boats. Put the throttle down and the Starcraft Delta 188 DC simply lifts up and goes, and quite smartly at that.

At speed, handling is smooth and sure-footed, thanks in part to the use of specially designed, integrated performance strakes that carve the water surface to feed nothing but clean, undisturbed water to the propeller for maximum bite. The result is a noticeably higher, drier ride – something everyone can appreciate in a good walleye chop.

The VPS hull provides impressive hole shots and a dry stable ride – all while running with smaller, less expensive engines and providing excellent fuel economy.

But the real kicker is that with its greater efficiency, the Starcraft Delta 188 DC’s VPS design lets you enjoy this elevated performance with smaller, lighter, more fuel-efficient engines – reducing the boat’s purchase price, and cutting ongoing operating costs as well. Our 1,603-pound review boat had a Yamaha V-Max 150 on the transom, which pushed the Delta 188 DC to just shy of 50 mph with two people and a half-tank of fuel aboard. Pull the throttle back to a much more leisurely 3,750 rpms or so and you’re still chugging along at just under 30 mph while enjoying fuel economy of about 6.5 mpg. That is truly impressive performance for a boat of this size.

Starcraft has a well-earned reputation for building solid, reliable, and well-designed fishing boats. With its all-new Delta series and impressive VPS hull design, that heritage lives on for a whole new generation.