Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 vs Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 or the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005?

The Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 is the longer of the two at 23,2 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 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 SS 231 OB 2011 or the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 has the edge at 4 205 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: How many people can each boat hold?

The Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 12 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 231 OB 2011 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 231 OB 2011 or the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005?

The Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 has the bigger tank at 61 gallons, versus 52 gallons on the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005. 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 SS 231 OB 2011 and Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 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 231 OB 2011 vs Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005

Hurricane Boats

Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011

2011

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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 231 OB 2011 vs Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 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 231 OB 2011 measures 23,2 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 21,2 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 SS 231 OB 2011 tips the scales at 4 475 lbs — 270 lbs more than the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 at 4 205 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 300 hp for the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 and 300 hp for the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 carries 61 gallons versus 52 gallons in the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005. 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 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 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 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 231 OB

ModelSunDeck 217 I/O

Model Year2011

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam102 in. (2.59 m)

Beam102 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

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

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.36

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] inches14

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

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

Weight - Detail4,205 lbs

Weight - kg2029.82

Weight - kg1907.35

Weight - lbs.4475

Weight - lbs.4205

Length - Feet23.17

Length - Feet2

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

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 10 in

Length overall - Meters7.06

Length overall - Meters6.35

Length overall - Inches278

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 - Detail61 gal. (231 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail52 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters230.91

Fuel tank capacity - Liters196.84

Fuel tank capacity - Gal61

Fuel tank capacity - Gal52

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typeI/O

Engine max300 hp (224 kW)

Engine max300 hp

Operational Info

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

Maximum capacity1,440 lbs

Maximum people12

Maximum people1

Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 vs Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 or the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005?

The Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 is the longer of the two at 23,2 feet overall. The Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 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 SS 231 OB 2011 or the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005?

For trailering, the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 has the edge at 4 205 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.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 12 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 231 OB 2011 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 231 OB 2011 or the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005?

The Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 has the bigger tank at 61 gallons, versus 52 gallons on the Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005. 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 SS 231 OB 2011 and Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Hurricane Boats SS 231 OB 2011 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 231 OB 2011 full specs ← Hurricane Boats SunDeck 217 I/O 2005 full specs