Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 vs Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 or the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005?

The Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 is the longer of the two at 20,8 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 18,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 or the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 has the edge at 3 591 lbs dry weight versus 4 205 lbs for the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005. 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 SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 tops out at 200 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 203 OB 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 10 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 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 SS 203 OB 2013 and Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 share an 102 in. (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 SS 203 OB 2013 or the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005?

The Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 has the bigger tank at 52 gallons, versus 49 gallons on the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 and Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 and the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 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 SS 203 OB 2013 vs Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013

2013

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Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005

2005

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 vs Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 vs Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 measures 20,8 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 18,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 at 2,0 feet (2005). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 tips the scales at 4 205 lbs — 614 lbs less than the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 at 3 591 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 SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 has a 100-hp advantage over the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013's 200-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 49 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 SS 203 OB 2013 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 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 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 SunDeck 217 I/O 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

ModelSS 203 OB

ModelSunDeck 217 I/O

Model Year2013

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam102 in. (2.59 m)

Beam102 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

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

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.3

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches12

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

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

Weight - Detail4,205 lbs

Weight - kg1628.85

Weight - kg1907.35

Weight - lbs.3591

Weight - lbs.4205

Length - Feet20.75

Length - Feet2

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

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 10 in

Length overall - Meters6.32

Length overall - Meters6.35

Length overall - Inches249

Length overall - Inches25

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail16 in

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.41

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches16

Height - Detailnot available

Height - DetailBridge Clearance: 54 in

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters1.37

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches54

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches1

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeTri-Hull

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail49 gal. (186 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail52 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters185.49

Fuel tank capacity - Liters196.84

Fuel tank capacity - Gal49

Fuel tank capacity - Gal52

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typeI/O

Engine max200 hp (149 kW)

Engine max300 hp

Operational Info

Maximum people10 (9)

Maximum people1

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity1,440 lbs

Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 vs Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 or the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005?

The Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 is the longer of the two at 20,8 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 18,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 or the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 has the edge at 3 591 lbs dry weight versus 4 205 lbs for the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005. 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 SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 tops out at 200 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 203 OB 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 10 passengers, while the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 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 SS 203 OB 2013 and Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 share an 102 in. (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 SS 203 OB 2013 or the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005?

The Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 has the bigger tank at 52 gallons, versus 49 gallons on the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 and Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats SS 203 OB 2013 and the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 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 SS 203 OB 2013 full specs ← Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 full specs