Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012 vs Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012 or the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008?

The Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012 is the longer of the two at 22,2 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 comes in at 16,0 feet, making it roughly 6,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012 or the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 has the edge at 1 237 lbs dry weight versus 3 168 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FD 226 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 FD 226 OB 2012 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 tops out at 135 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 226 OB 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 13 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 is certified for 6. 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 FD 226 OB 2012 measures 91" wide, compared to 85" for the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 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 226 OB 2012 or the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008?

The Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012 has the bigger tank at 29 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008. 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 226 OB 2012 and Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012 and the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 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 226 OB 2012 vs Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012

2012

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Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008

2008

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012 vs Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a tri-hull Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012 against a modified vee Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 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 226 OB 2012 measures 22,2 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 6,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 at 16,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012 tips the scales at 3 168 lbs — 1 931 lbs more than the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 200 hp, the Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012 has a 65-hp advantage over the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008's 135-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 29 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 226 OB 2012 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 22,2 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeHurricane Boats

ModelFD 226 OB

ModelFDGS 172 OB

Model Year2012

Model Year2008

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam90.5 in. (2.3 m)

Beam85 in

Beam - Meters2.31

Beam - Meters2.16

Beam - Inches90.5

Beam - Inches85

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail11 in

Draft [drive up] meters0.25

Draft [drive up] meters0.28

Draft [drive up] inches1

Draft [drive up] inches11

Weight - Detail2,300 lbs. (1,044 kg) dry 3,168 lbs. (1,438 kg) wet

Weight - Detail1,237 lbs

Weight - kg1436.98

Weight - kg561.09

Weight - lbs.3168

Weight - lbs.1237

Length - Feet22.17

Length - Feet16

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 2 in. (6.75 m)

Length overall - Detail16 ft. 9 in

Length overall - Meters6.76

Length overall - Meters5.11

Length overall - Inches266

Length overall - Inches201

Deadrisenot available

Deadrise16°

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail28 in

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.71

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches28

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches9

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeTri-Hull

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail29 gal. (110 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters109.78

Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42

Fuel tank capacity - Gal29

Fuel tank capacity - Gal26

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max200 hp (149 kW)

Engine max135 hp

Operational Info

Maximum people13

Maximum people6

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity1,350 lbs

Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012 vs Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012 or the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008?

The Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012 is the longer of the two at 22,2 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 comes in at 16,0 feet, making it roughly 6,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012 or the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 has the edge at 1 237 lbs dry weight versus 3 168 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FD 226 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 FD 226 OB 2012 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 tops out at 135 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 226 OB 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 13 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 is certified for 6. 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 FD 226 OB 2012 measures 91" wide, compared to 85" for the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 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 226 OB 2012 or the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008?

The Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012 has the bigger tank at 29 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008. 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 226 OB 2012 and Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 226 OB 2012 and the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 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 226 OB 2012 full specs ← Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2008 full specs