Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 vs Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 or the Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009?

The Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 is the longer of the two at 18,8 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 16,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 or the Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 has the edge at 349 lbs dry weight versus 2 998 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FD 196F 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 FDGS 202 OB 2009 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 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 196F OB 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 is certified for 1. 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 FDGS 202 OB 2009 measures 102" wide, compared to 91" for the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012. 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 196F OB 2012 or the Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009?

The Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 has the bigger tank at 52 gallons, versus 29 gallons on the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012. That 23-gallon difference translates to roughly 69–115 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 and Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 and the Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 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 196F OB 2012 vs Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012

2012

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Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009

2009

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 vs Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a tri-hull Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 against a modified vee Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 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 196F OB 2012 measures 18,8 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 16,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 at 2,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 tips the scales at 2 998 lbs — 2 649 lbs more than the Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 at 349 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 FDGS 202 OB 2009 has a 50-hp advantage over the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012'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 FDGS 202 OB 2009 carries 52 gallons versus 29 gallons in the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012. 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 FD 196F OB 2012 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 18,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeHurricane Boats

ModelFD 196F OB

ModelFDGS 202 OB

Model Year2012

Model Year2009

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam90.5 in. (2.3 m)

Beam102 in

Beam - Meters2.31

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches90.5

Beam - Inches102

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail13 in

Draft [drive up] meters0.25

Draft [drive up] meters0.33

Draft [drive up] inches1

Draft [drive up] inches13

Weight - Detail2,130 lbs. (967 kg) dry 2,998 lbs. (1,361 kg) wet

Weight - Detail2,425 lbs. Wet: 3,490 lbs

Weight - kg1359.87

Weight - kg1583.04

Weight - lbs.2998

Weight - lbs.349

Length - Feet18.83

Length - Feet2

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 10 in. (5.7 m)

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 1 in

Length overall - Meters5.74

Length overall - Meters6.12

Length overall - Inches226

Length overall - Inches241

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches1

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeTri-Hull

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail29 gal. (110 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail52 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters109.78

Fuel tank capacity - Liters196.84

Fuel tank capacity - Gal29

Fuel tank capacity - Gal52

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max150 hp (112 kW)

Engine max200 hp

Operational Info

Maximum people9

Maximum people1

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity2,500 lbs

Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 vs Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 or the Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009?

The Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 is the longer of the two at 18,8 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 16,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 or the Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 has the edge at 349 lbs dry weight versus 2 998 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FD 196F 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 FDGS 202 OB 2009 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 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 196F OB 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 is certified for 1. 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 FDGS 202 OB 2009 measures 102" wide, compared to 91" for the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012. 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 196F OB 2012 or the Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009?

The Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 has the bigger tank at 52 gallons, versus 29 gallons on the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012. That 23-gallon difference translates to roughly 69–115 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 and Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2012 and the Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 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 196F OB 2012 full specs ← Hurricane Boats FDGS 202 OB 2009 full specs