Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 vs Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 or the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013?

The Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 is the longer of the two at 21,0 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 comes in at 20,8 feet, making it roughly 0,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 or the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 has the edge at 3 591 lbs dry weight versus 3 995 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008. 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 218 RE3 I/O 2008 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 tops out at 200 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 218 RE3 I/O 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 1 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 is certified for 10. 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: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 and Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 share an 102 in beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 or the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013?

The Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 has the bigger tank at 52 gallons, versus 49 gallons on the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013. 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 218 RE3 I/O 2008 and Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 and the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 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 218 RE3 I/O 2008 vs Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008

2008

View full specs →

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013

2013

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 vs Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a pontoon Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 against a tri-hull Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 at 21,0 ft versus Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 at 20,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 tips the scales at 3 995 lbs — 404 lbs more than the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 at 3 591 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 FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 has a 100-hp advantage over the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013's 200-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 52 gal and 49 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 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 SS 203 OB 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 10 passengers and at 20,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 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 218 RE3 I/O

ModelSS 203 OB

Model Year2008

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam102 in

Beam102 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise12℃

Deadrisenot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail17 in

Draft [drive up] - Detail12 in. (0.30 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.43

Draft [drive up] meters0.3

Draft [drive up] inches17

Draft [drive up] inches12

Draft [max] - Detail34 in

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.86

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Inches34

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail3,995 lbs

Weight - Detail2,600 lbs. (1,180 kg) dry 3,591 lbs. (1,631 kg) wet

Weight - kg1812.1

Weight - kg1628.85

Weight - lbs.3995

Weight - lbs.3591

Length - Feet21

Length - Feet20.75

Length - Inches8

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 8 in

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 9 in. (6.33 m)

Length overall - Meters6.6

Length overall - Meters6.32

Length overall - Inches26

Length overall - Inches249

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typePontoon

Hull typeTri-Hull

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail52 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail49 gal. (186 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters196.84

Fuel tank capacity - Liters185.49

Fuel tank capacity - Gal52

Fuel tank capacity - Gal49

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeI/O

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max300 hp

Engine max200 hp (149 kW)

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,440 lbs

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people1

Maximum people10 (9)

Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 vs Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 or the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013?

The Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 is the longer of the two at 21,0 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 comes in at 20,8 feet, making it roughly 0,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 or the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 has the edge at 3 591 lbs dry weight versus 3 995 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008. 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 218 RE3 I/O 2008 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 tops out at 200 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 218 RE3 I/O 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 1 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 is certified for 10. 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.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 and Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 share an 102 in beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 or the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013?

The Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 has the bigger tank at 52 gallons, versus 49 gallons on the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013. 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 218 RE3 I/O 2008 and Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 218 RE3 I/O 2008 and the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 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 218 RE3 I/O 2008 full specs ← Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 full specs