Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 vs Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 or the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011?

The Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 is the longer of the two at 23,2 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 21,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 or the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 has the edge at 393 lbs dry weight versus 4 475 lbs for the Hurricane Boats SS 231 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 SS 231 OB 2011 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 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 SD 217 OB 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 1 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 is certified for 12. 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 SD 217 OB 2009 and Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 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: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 or the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011?

The Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 has the bigger tank at 61 gallons, versus 52 gallons on the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009. That 9-gallon difference translates to roughly 27–45 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 and Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 and the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 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 SD 217 OB 2009 vs Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009

2009

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Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011

2011

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 vs Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 against a tri-hull Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 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 SS 231 OB 2011 measures 23,2 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 21,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 at 2,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 tips the scales at 4 475 lbs — 4 082 lbs less than the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 at 393 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 300 hp, the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 has a 75-hp advantage over the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009'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 SS 231 OB 2011 carries 61 gallons versus 52 gallons in the Hurricane Boats SD 217 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 SS 231 OB 2011 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 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 SS 231 OB 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 23,2 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 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

ModelSD 217 OB

ModelSS 231 OB

Model Year2009

Model Year2011

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam102 in

Beam102 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Draft [drive up] - Detail14 in

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

Draft [drive up] meters0.36

Draft [drive up] inches14

Weight - Detail2,630 lbs. Wet: 3,930 lbs

Weight - Detail3,200 lbs. (1,451 kg) Wet: 4,475 lbs. (2,030 kg)

Weight - kg1782.62

Weight - kg2029.82

Weight - lbs.393

Weight - lbs.4475

Length - Feet2

Length - Feet23.17

Length - Inches9

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 9 in

Length overall - Detail23 ft. 2 in. (7.06 m)

Length overall - Meters6.32

Length overall - Meters7.06

Length overall - Inches249

Length overall - Inches278

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typeTri-Hull

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail52 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail61 gal. (231 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters196.84

Fuel tank capacity - Liters230.91

Fuel tank capacity - Gal52

Fuel tank capacity - Gal61

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max225 hp

Engine max300 hp (224 kW)

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,212 lbs

Maximum capacity2,750 lbs. (1,247 kg)

Maximum people1

Maximum people12

Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 vs Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 or the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011?

The Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 is the longer of the two at 23,2 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 21,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 or the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 has the edge at 393 lbs dry weight versus 4 475 lbs for the Hurricane Boats SS 231 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 SS 231 OB 2011 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 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 SD 217 OB 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 1 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 is certified for 12. 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 SD 217 OB 2009 and Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 or the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011?

The Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 has the bigger tank at 61 gallons, versus 52 gallons on the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009. That 9-gallon difference translates to roughly 27–45 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 and Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats SD 217 OB 2009 and the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 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 SD 217 OB 2009 full specs ← Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 full specs