Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Palm Beach Fishing 173 Whitecap 2006 vs Palm Beach Pontoons 220-25 Family CastMaster 2007 — Same Brand, Different Boat
The Palm Beach Fishing 173 Whitecap 2006 vs Palm Beach Pontoons 220-25 Family CastMaster 2007 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 Palm Beach Pontoons 220-25 Family CastMaster 2007 measures 22,0 feet overall (2007), giving it roughly 5,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Palm Beach Fishing 173 Whitecap 2006 at 17,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Palm Beach Fishing 173 Whitecap 2006 tips the scales at 1 375 lbs — 1 181 lbs more than the Palm Beach Pontoons 220-25 Family CastMaster 2007 at 194 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 120 hp, the Palm Beach Pontoons 220-25 Family CastMaster 2007 has a 30-hp advantage over the Palm Beach Fishing 173 Whitecap 2006's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Palm Beach Pontoons 220-25 Family CastMaster 2007 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Palm Beach Fishing 173 Whitecap 2006 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Palm Beach Pontoons 220-25 Family CastMaster 2007 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Palm Beach Pontoons 220-25 Family CastMaster 2007 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Palm Beach Fishing 173 Whitecap 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakePalm Beach Fishing
MakePalm Beach Pontoons
Model173 Whitecap
Model220-25 Family CastMaster
Model Year2006
Model Year2007
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam - Meters2.24
Beam - Meters2.44
Beam - Inches88
Beam - Inches96
Deadrise12℃
Deadrisenot available
Draft [drive up] - Detail6 in
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.15
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] inches6
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [max] - Detail8 in
Draft [max] - Detailnot available
Draft [max] - Meters0.2
Draft [max] - Metersnot available
Draft [max] - Inches8
Draft [max] - Inchesnot available
Weight - Detail1,375 lbs
Weight - Detail1,940 lbs
Weight - kg623.69
Weight - kg879.97
Weight - lbs.1375
Weight - lbs.194
Height [transom]20 in
Height [transom]not available
Length - Feet17
Length - Feet22
Length - Inches6
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail17 ft. 6 in
Length overall - Detail22 ft. 0 in
Length overall - Meters5.33
Length overall - Meters6.71
Length overall - Inches21
Length overall - Inches264
Length [deck]not available
Length [deck]21.5 ft
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail35 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters132.49
Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Gal35
Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max90 hp
Engine max120 hp
Fuel typenot available
Fuel typeGas
Operational Info
Maximum people5
Maximum people14 @ 2,450 lbs
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum capacity3,140 lbs
Body / Hull
Hull materialnot available
Hull materialAluminum
Hull typenot available
Hull typePontoon
Pontoon and Inflatable Specific
Tube diameternot available
Tube diameter25 in
Tube gaugenot available
Tube gauge0.09 in
Number of tubesnot available
Number of tubes2