Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 vs Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 or the Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006?

The Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 is the longer of the two at 19,0 feet overall. The Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 17,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 or the Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006?

For trailering, the Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 has the edge at 15 lbs dry weight versus 1 502 lbs for the Princecraft 20 L4S 2006. 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 Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 tops out at 90 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 Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 is certified for 9. 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 Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 and Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 share an 8 ft. 0 in. (2.4 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 Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 or the Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006?

The Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 has the bigger tank at 18 gallons, versus 6 gallons on the Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006. That 12-gallon difference translates to roughly 36–60 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 and Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 and the Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 are built by Princecraft. 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

Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 vs Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006

Princecraft

Princecraft 20 L4S 2006

2006

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Princecraft

Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006

2006

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 vs Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 vs Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 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 Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 measures 19,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 17,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 at 2,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 tips the scales at 1 502 lbs — 1 487 lbs more than the Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 at 15 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 Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 has a 110-hp advantage over the Princecraft 20 L4S 2006's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 carries 18 gallons versus 6 gallons in the Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006. 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 Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakePrincecraft

Model20 L4S

ModelSP 196 Platinum

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 0 in. (2.4 m)

Beam96 in. (2.4 m)

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Inches96

Weight - Detail1,502 lbs. (681 kg)

Weight - Detail1,500 lbs. (680 kg)

Weight - kg681.3

Weight - kg680.39

Weight - lbs.1502

Weight - lbs.15

Length [deck]20 ft. 0 in. (6.1 m)

Length [deck]not available

Length - Meters6.2

Length - Meters5.9

Length - Feet2

Length - Feet19

Length - Inches4

Length - Inches6

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 4 in. (6.2 m)

Length overall - Detail19 ft. 6 in. (5.9 m)

Length overall - Meters6.2

Length overall - Meters5.94

Length overall - Inches244

Length overall - Inches234

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Detail47.5 in. (1.2 m)

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters121.92

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches47.5

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail31 in. (0.8 m)

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.79

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches31

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - Detail80 in. (2.0 m)

Height [transom]not available

Height [transom]25 in. (0.6 m)

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter25 in. (0.64 m)

Tube diameternot available

Tube gauge.080 in. (2.0 mm)

Tube gaugenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail18 gal. (68 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail60 gal. (227 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters68.14

Fuel tank capacity - Liters227.12

Fuel tank capacity - Gal18

Fuel tank capacity - Gal6

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max90 hp (67 kw)

Engine max200 hp (149 kw)

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,097 lbs. (951 kg)

Maximum capacity1,915 lbs. (869 kg)

Maximum people11

Maximum people9

Body / Hull

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull thicknessBottom: .110 in. (2.8 mm) Side: .072 in. (1.8 mm)

Trailer Info

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - DetailStandard Painted Bunk Style Trailer

Trailer - Weightnot available

Trailer - Weight683 lbs. (310 kg)

Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 vs Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 or the Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006?

The Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 is the longer of the two at 19,0 feet overall. The Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 17,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 or the Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006?

For trailering, the Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 has the edge at 15 lbs dry weight versus 1 502 lbs for the Princecraft 20 L4S 2006. 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 Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 tops out at 90 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 Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 is certified for 9. 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 Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 and Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 share an 8 ft. 0 in. (2.4 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 Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 or the Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006?

The Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 has the bigger tank at 18 gallons, versus 6 gallons on the Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006. That 12-gallon difference translates to roughly 36–60 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 and Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 and the Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 are built by Princecraft. 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.

← Princecraft 20 L4S 2006 full specs ← Princecraft SP 196 Platinum 2006 full specs