Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 vs Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 or the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013?

The Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 is the longer of the two at 20,8 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 comes in at 16,8 feet, making it roughly 4,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 or the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 has the edge at 197 lbs dry weight versus 3 591 lbs for the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013. 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 203 OB 2013 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 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 SS 172 OB 2010 is Coast Guard rated for 1 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SS 203 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: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 measures 102" wide, compared to 85" for the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010. 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 SS 172 OB 2010 or the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013?

The Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 has the bigger tank at 49 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010. That 23-gallon difference translates to roughly 69–115 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 and Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 and the Hurricane Boats SS 203 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 SS 172 OB 2010 vs Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010

2010

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Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013

2013

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 vs Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 against a tri-hull Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 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 203 OB 2013 measures 20,8 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 4,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 at 16,8 feet (2010). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 tips the scales at 3 591 lbs — 3 394 lbs less than the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 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 200 hp, the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 has a 65-hp advantage over the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010'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 SS 203 OB 2013 carries 49 gallons versus 26 gallons in the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010. 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 203 OB 2013 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 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 203 OB 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 10 passengers and at 20,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 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

ModelSS 172 OB

ModelSS 203 OB

Model Year201

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam85 in. (2.16 m)

Beam102 in. (2.59 m)

Beam - Meters2.16

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches85

Beam - Inches102

Draft [drive up] - Detail11 in. (0.28 m)

Draft [drive up] - Detail12 in. (0.30 m)

Draft [drive up] meters0.28

Draft [drive up] meters0.3

Draft [drive up] inches11

Draft [drive up] inches12

Weight - Detail1,237 lbs. (562 kg) Wet: 1,970 lbs. (894 kg)

Weight - Detail2,600 lbs. (1,180 kg) dry 3,591 lbs. (1,631 kg) wet

Weight - kg893.58

Weight - kg1628.85

Weight - lbs.197

Weight - lbs.3591

Length - Feet16.75

Length - Feet20.75

Length overall - Detail16 ft. 9 in. (5.06 m)

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 9 in. (6.33 m)

Length overall - Meters5.11

Length overall - Meters6.32

Length overall - Inches201

Length overall - Inches249

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typeTri-Hull

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal. (99 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail49 gal. (186 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42

Fuel tank capacity - Liters185.49

Fuel tank capacity - Gal26

Fuel tank capacity - Gal49

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max135 hp (100.67 kW)

Engine max200 hp (149 kW)

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,425 lbs. (646 kg)

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people1

Maximum people10 (9)

Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 vs Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 or the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013?

The Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 is the longer of the two at 20,8 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 comes in at 16,8 feet, making it roughly 4,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 or the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 has the edge at 197 lbs dry weight versus 3 591 lbs for the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013. 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 203 OB 2013 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 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 SS 172 OB 2010 is Coast Guard rated for 1 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SS 203 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.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 measures 102" wide, compared to 85" for the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010. 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 SS 172 OB 2010 or the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013?

The Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 has the bigger tank at 49 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010. That 23-gallon difference translates to roughly 69–115 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 and Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats SS 172 OB 2010 and the Hurricane Boats SS 203 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 SS 172 OB 2010 full specs ← Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 full specs