Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011 vs Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011 or the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013?

The Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011 is the longer of the two at 23,5 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 comes in at 20,8 feet, making it roughly 2,7 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 2011 or the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 has the edge at 3 747 lbs dry weight versus 4 575 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011. 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 2011 is rated to a maximum of 250 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 tops out at 225 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 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SD 217 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 236 OB 2011 and Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 share an 102 (2.59 m) 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 236 OB 2011 or the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013?

The Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011 has the bigger tank at 48 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013. That 43-gallon difference translates to roughly 129–215 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011 and Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011 and the Hurricane Boats SD 217 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 236 OB 2011 vs Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011

2011

View full specs →

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013

2013

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011 vs Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 — A Close Look at Two Tri-Hulls

When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011 and the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 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 236 OB 2011 at 23,5 ft versus Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 at 20,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011 tips the scales at 4 575 lbs — 828 lbs more than the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 at 3 747 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 2011 has a 25-hp advantage over the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013's 225-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 2011 carries 48 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 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 FD 236 OB 2011 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SD 217 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 FD 236 OB 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011 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 SD 217 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.

General Boat Info

MakeHurricane Boats

ModelFD 236 OB

ModelSD 217 OB

Model Year2011

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam102 (2.59 m)

Beam102 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

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

Draft [drive up] - Detail14 in. (0.36 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.33

Draft [drive up] meters0.36

Draft [drive up] inches13

Draft [drive up] inches14

Weight - Detail3,475 lbs. (1,576 kg) Wet: 4,575 lbs. (2,075 kg)

Weight - Detail2,630 lbs. (1,193 kg) dry 3,747 lbs. (1,700 kg) wet

Weight - kg2075.18

Weight - kg1699.61

Weight - lbs.4575

Weight - lbs.3747

Length - Feet23.5

Length - Feet20.83

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

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 10 in. (6.35 m)

Length overall - Meters7.16

Length overall - Meters6.35

Length overall - Inches282

Length overall - Inches25

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeTri-Hull

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail48 gal. (182 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (190 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters181.7

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Gal48

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max250 hp (186 kW)

Engine max225 hp (168 kW)

Operational Info

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

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people12

Maximum people10 (9)

Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011 vs Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011 or the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013?

The Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011 is the longer of the two at 23,5 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 comes in at 20,8 feet, making it roughly 2,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011 or the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 has the edge at 3 747 lbs dry weight versus 4 575 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011. 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 2011 is rated to a maximum of 250 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 tops out at 225 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 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SD 217 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 236 OB 2011 and Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 share an 102 (2.59 m) 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 236 OB 2011 or the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013?

The Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011 has the bigger tank at 48 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013. That 43-gallon difference translates to roughly 129–215 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011 and Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FD 236 OB 2011 and the Hurricane Boats SD 217 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 236 OB 2011 full specs ← Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 full specs