Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 vs Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 or the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009?

The Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 is the longer of the two at 23,5 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009 comes in at 16,0 feet, making it roughly 7,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 or the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009 has the edge at 197 lbs dry weight versus 4 575 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010. 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 236 OB 2010 is rated to a maximum of 250 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009 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 236 OB 2010 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009 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 236 OB 2010 measures 102" wide, compared to 85" for the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009. 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 236 OB 2010 or the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009?

The Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 has the bigger tank at 48 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009. That 22-gallon difference translates to roughly 66–110 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 and Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 and the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 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 236 OB 2010 vs Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010

2010

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Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009

2009

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 vs Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a tri-hull Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 against a modified vee Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 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 236 OB 2010 measures 23,5 feet overall (2010), giving it roughly 7,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009 at 16,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 tips the scales at 4 575 lbs — 4 378 lbs more than the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009 at 197 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 250 hp, the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 has a 115-hp advantage over the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009's 135-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 236 OB 2010 carries 48 gallons versus 26 gallons in the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009. 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 236 OB 2010 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009 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 236 OB 2010 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 23,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009 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 236 OB

ModelFDGS 172 OB

Model Year201

Model Year2009

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam102 in. (2.59 m)

Beam85 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters2.16

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches85

Draft [drive up] - Detail13 in. (0.33 m)

Draft [drive up] - Detail11 in

Draft [drive up] meters0.33

Draft [drive up] meters0.28

Draft [drive up] inches13

Draft [drive up] inches11

Weight - Detail3,475 lbs. (1,578 kg) Wet: 4,575 lbs. (2,077 kg)

Weight - Detail1,239 lbs. Wet: 1,970 lbs

Weight - kg2075.18

Weight - kg893.58

Weight - lbs.4575

Weight - lbs.197

Length - Feet23.5

Length - Feet16

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 6 in. (7.14 m)

Length overall - Detail16 ft. 9 in

Length overall - Meters7.16

Length overall - Meters5.11

Length overall - Inches282

Length overall - Inches201

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches9

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeTri-Hull

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail48 gal. (182 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters181.7

Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42

Fuel tank capacity - Gal48

Fuel tank capacity - Gal26

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max250 hp (186.43 kW)

Engine max135 hp

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,700 lbs. (1,225 kg)

Maximum capacity1,350 lbs

Maximum people12

Maximum people6

Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 vs Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 or the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009?

The Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 is the longer of the two at 23,5 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009 comes in at 16,0 feet, making it roughly 7,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 or the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009 has the edge at 197 lbs dry weight versus 4 575 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010. 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 236 OB 2010 is rated to a maximum of 250 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009 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 236 OB 2010 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009 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 236 OB 2010 measures 102" wide, compared to 85" for the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009. 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 236 OB 2010 or the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009?

The Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 has the bigger tank at 48 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009. That 22-gallon difference translates to roughly 66–110 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 and Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2010 and the Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 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 236 OB 2010 full specs ← Hurricane Boats FDGS 172 OB 2009 full specs