Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003 vs Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003 or the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005 has the edge at 29 lbs dry weight versus 29 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003. 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: How many people can each boat hold?

The Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003 is Coast Guard rated for 10 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005 is certified for 1. 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 FunDeck 218 RE 2003 and Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005 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: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003 and Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 52 gallons and 52 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003 and Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003 and the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005 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 FunDeck 218 RE 2003 vs Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003

2003

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Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005

2005

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003 vs Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003 vs Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 200 hp for the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003 and 200 hp for the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 52 gal and 52 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005 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 FunDeck 218 RE 2003 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 10 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005 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

ModelFunDeck 218 RE

ModelFunDeck 218 REF

Model Year2003

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam102 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Draft [drive up] - Detailn/a

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail9 in

Draft [max] - Detail16 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.23

Draft [max] - Meters0.41

Draft [max] - Inches9

Draft [max] - Inches16

Weight - Detail2900 lbs

Weight - Detail2,900 lbs

Weight - kg1315.42

Weight - lbs.29

Height - DetailBridge Clearance 59 in

Height - DetailBridge Clearance: 59 in

Height - Meters1.5

Height - Inches59

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 8 in

Length overall - Meters6.6

Length overall - Inches26

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet21

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches8

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail52 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters196.84

Fuel tank capacity - Gal52

Engine max200 hp

Drive typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Operational Info

Water capacityn/a

Water capacitynot available

Maximum people10 persons

Maximum people1

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity1,440 lbs

Trailer Info

Trailer - Detailn/a

Trailer - Detailnot available

Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003 vs Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003 or the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005 has the edge at 29 lbs dry weight versus 29 lbs for the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003. 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.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003 is Coast Guard rated for 10 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005 is certified for 1. 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 FunDeck 218 RE 2003 and Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005 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.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003 and Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 52 gallons and 52 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003 and Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 RE 2003 and the Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005 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 FunDeck 218 RE 2003 full specs ← Hurricane Boats FunDeck 218 REF 2005 full specs