Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 vs Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 or the Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011?

The Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011 is the longer of the two at 22,2 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 4,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 or the Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 has the edge at 21 lbs dry weight versus 325 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FD 226F 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 FD 226F OB 2011 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 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 RE3 OB 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011 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 RE3 OB 2008 and Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011 share an 90.5 in 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 RE3 OB 2008 and Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 29 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 RE3 OB 2008 and Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 and the Hurricane Boats FD 226F 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 RE3 OB 2008 vs Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008

2008

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Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011

2011

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 vs Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a pontoon Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 against a tri-hull Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011 measures 22,2 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 4,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 at 18,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011 tips the scales at 325 lbs — 304 lbs less than the Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 at 21 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 OB 2011 has a 50-hp advantage over the Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008'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 — 29 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 OB 2011 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 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 OB 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011 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 RE3 OB 2008 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 RE3 OB

ModelFD 226F OB

Model Year2008

Model Year2011

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam90.5 in

Beam90.5 (2.3 m)

Beam - Meters2.31

Beam - Inches90.5

Deadrise10°

Deadrisenot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail10 in

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

Draft [drive up] meters0.25

Draft [drive up] inches1

Draft [max] - Detail27 in

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.69

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches27

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail2,100 lbs

Weight - Detail2,300 lbs. (1,043 kg) Wet: 3,250 lbs. (1,474 kg)

Weight - kg952.54

Weight - kg1474.17

Weight - lbs.21

Weight - lbs.325

Length - Feet18

Length - Feet22.17

Length - Inches1

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 10 in

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

Length overall - Meters5.74

Length overall - Meters6.76

Length overall - Inches226

Length overall - Inches266

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typePontoon

Hull typeTri-Hull

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail29 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail29 gal. (110 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters109.78

Fuel tank capacity - Gal29

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max150 hp

Engine max200 hp (149 kW)

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,870 lbs

Maximum capacity2,415 lbs. (1,095 kg)

Maximum people9

Maximum people13

Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 vs Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 or the Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011?

The Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011 is the longer of the two at 22,2 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 4,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 or the Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 has the edge at 21 lbs dry weight versus 325 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FD 226F 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 FD 226F OB 2011 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 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 RE3 OB 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011 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 RE3 OB 2008 and Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011 share an 90.5 in 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 RE3 OB 2008 and Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 29 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 RE3 OB 2008 and Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 196 RE3 OB 2008 and the Hurricane Boats FD 226F 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 RE3 OB 2008 full specs ← Hurricane Boats FD 226F OB 2011 full specs