Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 vs Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 or the Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011?

The Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011 is the longer of the two at 23,2 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 comes in at 18,8 feet, making it roughly 4,3 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 SD 237 OB 2011?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011 has the edge at 45 lbs dry weight versus 2 956 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013. 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 SD 237 OB 2011 is rated to a maximum of 300 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 SD 237 OB 2011 is certified for 12. 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 SD 237 OB 2011 measures 102" wide, compared to 91" for the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013. 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 2013 or the Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011?

The Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011 has the bigger tank at 61 gallons, versus 27 gallons on the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013. That 34-gallon difference translates to roughly 102–170 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 and Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 and the Hurricane Boats SD 237 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 2013 vs Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013

2013

View full specs →

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011

2011

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 vs Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011 — 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 SD 237 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?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011 measures 23,2 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 4,3 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 196 OB 2013 tips the scales at 2 956 lbs — 2 911 lbs more than the Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011 at 45 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 300 hp, the Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011 has a 150-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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011 carries 61 gallons versus 27 gallons in the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013. 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 SD 237 OB 2011 is rated for 12 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 SD 237 OB 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 23,2 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

ModelSD 237 OB

Model Year2013

Model Year2011

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam90.5 in. (2.3 m)

Beam102 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.31

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches90.5

Beam - Inches102

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] - Detail14 in. (0.36 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.25

Draft [drive up] meters0.36

Draft [drive up] inches1

Draft [drive up] inches14

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 - Detail4,500 lbs. (2,041 kg) Wet: 3,200 lbs. (1,451 kg)

Weight - kg1340.82

Weight - kg2041.16

Weight - lbs.2956

Weight - lbs.45

Length - Feet18.83

Length - Feet23.17

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

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 2 in. (7.06 m)

Length overall - Meters5.74

Length overall - Meters7.06

Length overall - Inches226

Length overall - Inches278

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeTri-Hull

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail27 gal. (102 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail61 gal. (231 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters102.21

Fuel tank capacity - Liters230.91

Fuel tank capacity - Gal27

Fuel tank capacity - Gal61

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max150 hp (112 kW)

Engine max300 hp (224 kW)

Operational Info

Maximum people9 (7)

Maximum people12

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs. (1,043 kg)

Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 vs Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 or the Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011?

The Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011 is the longer of the two at 23,2 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 comes in at 18,8 feet, making it roughly 4,3 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 SD 237 OB 2011?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011 has the edge at 45 lbs dry weight versus 2 956 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013. 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 SD 237 OB 2011 is rated to a maximum of 300 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 SD 237 OB 2011 is certified for 12. 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 SD 237 OB 2011 measures 102" wide, compared to 91" for the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013. 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 2013 or the Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011?

The Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011 has the bigger tank at 61 gallons, versus 27 gallons on the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013. That 34-gallon difference translates to roughly 102–170 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 and Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 196 OB 2013 and the Hurricane Boats SD 237 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 2013 full specs ← Hurricane Boats SD 237 OB 2011 full specs