Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 vs Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 or the Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012?

The Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 is the longer of the two at 22,2 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 comes in at 18,8 feet, making it roughly 3,3 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 2013 or the Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 has the edge at 2 956 lbs dry weight versus 3 168 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012. 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 FD 226F 4 OB 2012 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 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 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 is certified for 13. 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: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 and Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 share an 90.5 in. (2.3 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 and Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 27 gallons and 29 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 and Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 and the Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 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 2013 vs Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013

2013

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Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 vs Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 — Which Tri-Hull Fits Your Needs?

When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 and the Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 measures 22,2 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 3,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 at 18,8 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 tips the scales at 3 168 lbs — 212 lbs less than the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 at 2 956 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 FD 226F 4 OB 2012 has a 50-hp advantage over the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013's 150-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 27 gal and 29 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 22,2 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeHurricane Boats

ModelFD 196 OB

ModelFD 226F 4 OB

Model Year2013

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam90.5 in. (2.3 m)

Beam - Meters2.31

Beam - Inches90.5

Bridge clearance - Detail88 in. (2.2 m) canopy up 60 in. (1.5 m) canopy down

Bridge clearance - Detailnot available

Bridge clearance - Meters2.24

Bridge clearance - Metersnot available

Bridge clearance - Inches88

Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available

Deadrise10°

Deadrisenot available

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

Draft [drive up] meters0.25

Draft [drive up] inches1

Draft [max] - Detail27 in. (0.69 m)

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.69

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches27

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail2,100 lbs. (953 kg) dry 2,956 lbs. (1,342 kg) wet

Weight - Detail2,300 lbs. (1,044 kg) dry 3,168 lbs. (1,438 kg) wet

Weight - kg1340.82

Weight - kg1436.98

Weight - lbs.2956

Weight - lbs.3168

Length - Feet18.83

Length - Feet22.17

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 10 in. (5.74 m)

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 2 in. (6.75 m)

Length overall - Meters5.74

Length overall - Meters6.76

Length overall - Inches226

Length overall - Inches266

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeTri-Hull

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail27 gal. (102 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail29 gal. (110 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters102.21

Fuel tank capacity - Liters109.78

Fuel tank capacity - Gal27

Fuel tank capacity - Gal29

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max150 hp (112 kW)

Engine max200 hp (149 kW)

Operational Info

Maximum people9 (7)

Maximum people13

Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 vs Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 or the Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012?

The Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 is the longer of the two at 22,2 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 comes in at 18,8 feet, making it roughly 3,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 or the Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 has the edge at 2 956 lbs dry weight versus 3 168 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012. 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 FD 226F 4 OB 2012 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 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 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 is certified for 13. 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.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 and Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 share an 90.5 in. (2.3 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 and Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 27 gallons and 29 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 and Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 and the Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 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 2013 full specs ← Hurricane Boats FD 226F 4 OB 2012 full specs