When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Hurricane Boats SD 187 OB 2013 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 SD 187 OB 2013 at 18,8 ft versus Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 at 20,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 tips the scales at 3 747 lbs — 448 lbs less than the Hurricane Boats SD 187 OB 2013 at 3 299 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 225 hp, the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2013 has a 25-hp advantage over the Hurricane Boats SD 187 OB 2013's 200-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 SD 187 OB 2013 carries 49 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.

Both boats are rated for 10 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.