The Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2013 vs Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 O/B 2005 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2013 at 18,8 ft versus Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 O/B 2005 at 16,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2013 tips the scales at 2 986 lbs — 1 749 lbs more than the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 O/B 2005 at 1 237 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 150 hp for the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2013 and 135 hp for the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 O/B 2005. 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 — 27 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 196F OB 2013 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FunDeck GS 170 O/B 2005 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 196F OB 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Hurricane Boats FD 196F OB 2013 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 FunDeck GS 170 O/B 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.