Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 vs Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 or the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012?

The Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012 is the longer of the two at 23,2 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 5,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 or the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 has the edge at 213 lbs dry weight versus 4 265 lbs for the Hurricane Boats SS 231 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 SS 231 OB 2012 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF 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 REF OB 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012 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 SS 231 OB 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 91" for the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008. 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 SS 231 OB 2012?

The Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012 has the bigger tank at 61 gallons, versus 29 gallons on the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008. That 32-gallon difference translates to roughly 96–160 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 SS 231 OB 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 and the Hurricane Boats SS 231 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 REF OB 2008 vs Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008

2008

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Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012

2012

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 vs Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a pontoon Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 against a tri-hull Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012 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 SS 231 OB 2012 measures 23,2 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 5,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 at 18,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012 tips the scales at 4 265 lbs — 4 052 lbs less than the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 at 213 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 SS 231 OB 2012 has a 150-hp advantage over the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008'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 231 OB 2012 carries 61 gallons versus 29 gallons in the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008. 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 SS 231 OB 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF 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 SS 231 OB 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012 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 REF 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 REF OB

ModelSS 231 OB

Model Year2008

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam90.5 in

Beam102 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.31

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches90.5

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise10°

Deadrisenot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail10 in

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

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.69

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches27

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail2,130 lbs

Weight - Detail3,200 lbs. (1,453 kg) dry 4,265 lbs. (1,936 kg) wet

Weight - kg966.15

Weight - kg1934.57

Weight - lbs.213

Weight - lbs.4265

Length - Feet18

Length - Feet23.17

Length - Inches1

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 10 in

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 typePontoon

Hull typeTri-Hull

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail29 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail61 gal. (231 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters109.78

Fuel tank capacity - Liters230.91

Fuel tank capacity - Gal29

Fuel tank capacity - Gal61

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max150 hp

Engine max300 hp (224 kW)

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,870 lbs

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people9

Maximum people12

Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 vs Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 or the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012?

The Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012 is the longer of the two at 23,2 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 5,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 or the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 has the edge at 213 lbs dry weight versus 4 265 lbs for the Hurricane Boats SS 231 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 SS 231 OB 2012 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF 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 REF OB 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012 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 SS 231 OB 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 91" for the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008. 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 SS 231 OB 2012?

The Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012 has the bigger tank at 61 gallons, versus 29 gallons on the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008. That 32-gallon difference translates to roughly 96–160 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 SS 231 OB 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 196 REF OB 2008 and the Hurricane Boats SS 231 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 REF OB 2008 full specs ← Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2012 full specs