Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 vs Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 or the Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011?

The Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 is the longer of the two at 18,8 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 comes in at 18,8 feet, making it roughly 0,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 or the Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 has the edge at 334 lbs dry weight versus 3 057 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 tops out at 150 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 is certified for 1. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 measures 101" wide, compared to 91" for the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 or the Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011?

The Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 has the bigger tank at 45 gallons, versus 29 gallons on the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011. That 16-gallon difference translates to roughly 48–80 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 and Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 and the Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 are built by Hurricane Boats. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 vs Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011

2011

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Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011

2011

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 vs Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 — A Close Look at Two Tri-Hulls

When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 and the Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 are tri-hull designs with fiberglass 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 — Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 at 18,8 ft versus Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 at 18,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 tips the scales at 3 057 lbs — 2 723 lbs more than the Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 at 334 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 200 hp, the Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 has a 50-hp advantage over the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011's 150-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 carries 45 gallons versus 29 gallons in the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 18,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeHurricane Boats

ModelFD 196 OB

ModelSS 188 OB

Model Year2011

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam90.5 in. (2.3 m)

Beam101 in. (2.57 m)

Beam - Meters2.31

Beam - Meters2.57

Beam - Inches90.5

Beam - Inches101

Draft [drive up] - Detail10 in. (0.25 m)

Draft [drive up] - Detail13 in. (0.33 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.25

Draft [drive up] meters0.33

Draft [drive up] inches1

Draft [drive up] inches13

Weight - Detail2,100 lbs. (953 kg) Wet: 3,057 lbs. (1,387 kg)

Weight - Detail2,310 lbs. (1,048 kg) Wet: 3,340 lbs. (1,470 kg)

Weight - kg1386.63

Weight - kg1515

Weight - lbs.3057

Weight - lbs.334

Length - Feet18.83

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 10 in. (5.7 m)

Length overall - Meters5.74

Length overall - Inches226

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeTri-Hull

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail29 gal. (110 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail45 gal. (170 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters109.78

Fuel tank capacity - Liters170.34

Fuel tank capacity - Gal29

Fuel tank capacity - Gal45

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max150 hp (112 kW)

Engine max200 hp (149 kW)

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,900 lbs. (861 kg)

Maximum capacity2,145 lbs. (973 kg)

Maximum people9

Maximum people1

Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 vs Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 or the Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011?

The Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 is the longer of the two at 18,8 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 comes in at 18,8 feet, making it roughly 0,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 or the Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 has the edge at 334 lbs dry weight versus 3 057 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 tops out at 150 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 is certified for 1. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 measures 101" wide, compared to 91" for the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 or the Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011?

The Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 has the bigger tank at 45 gallons, versus 29 gallons on the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011. That 16-gallon difference translates to roughly 48–80 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 and Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 and the Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 are built by Hurricane Boats. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2011 full specs ← Hurricane Boats SS 188 OB 2011 full specs