Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 vs Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 or the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 has the edge at 213 lbs dry weight versus 1 237 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004. 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 196 REF OB 2008 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004 tops out at 135 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 REF OB 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004 is certified for 7. 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 FD 196 REF OB 2008 measures 91" wide, compared to 85" for the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004. 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 REF OB 2008 or the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004?

The Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 has the bigger tank at 29 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 and Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 and the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004 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 REF OB 2008 vs Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008

2008

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Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004

2004

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 vs Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 vs Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 150 hp for the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 and 135 hp for the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 29 gal and 26 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 196 REF OB 2008 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeHurricane Boats

ModelFD 196 REF OB

ModelFunDeck GS 170 Outboard

Model Year2008

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam90.5 in

Beam85 in

Beam - Meters2.31

Beam - Meters2.16

Beam - Inches90.5

Beam - Inches85

Deadrise10°

Deadrisenot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail10 in

Draft [drive up] - Detailn/a

Draft [drive up] meters0.25

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches1

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Detail27 in

Draft [max] - Detail11 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.69

Draft [max] - Meters0.28

Draft [max] - Inches27

Draft [max] - Inches11

Weight - Detail2,130 lbs

Weight - Detail1237 lbs

Weight - kg966.15

Weight - kg561.09

Weight - lbs.213

Weight - lbs.1237

Length - Feet18

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Inches1

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 10 in

Length overall - Detail16 ft. 9 in

Length overall - Meters5.74

Length overall - Meters5.11

Length overall - Inches226

Length overall - Inches201

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Detailn/a

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typePontoon

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail29 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters109.78

Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42

Fuel tank capacity - Gal29

Fuel tank capacity - Gal26

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typenot available

Engine max150 hp

Engine max135 hp

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,870 lbs

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people9

Maximum people7 persons

Water capacitynot available

Water capacityn/a

Trailer Info

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - Detailn/a

Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 vs Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 or the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 has the edge at 213 lbs dry weight versus 1 237 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004. 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 196 REF OB 2008 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004 tops out at 135 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 REF OB 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004 is certified for 7. 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 FD 196 REF OB 2008 measures 91" wide, compared to 85" for the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004. 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 REF OB 2008 or the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004?

The Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 has the bigger tank at 29 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 and Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 and the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004 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 REF OB 2008 full specs ← Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 Outboard 2004 full specs