When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Hurricane Boats FD 216 OB 2013 and the Hurricane Boats SD 217 I/O 2013 are tri-hull designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Hurricane Boats FD 216 OB 2013 at 20,3 ft versus Hurricane Boats SD 217 I/O 2013 at 20,8 ft. At 3 998 lbs and 4 063 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the Hurricane Boats SD 217 I/O 2013 has a 100-hp advantage over the Hurricane Boats FD 216 OB 2013's 200-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 FD 216 OB 2013 carries 48 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Hurricane Boats SD 217 I/O 2013. 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 SD 217 I/O 2013 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FD 216 OB 2013 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Hurricane Boats SD 217 I/O 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Hurricane Boats SD 217 I/O 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 20,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Hurricane Boats FD 216 OB 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 10 that costs less to run day-to-day.