Princecraft 20 ST 2005 vs Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Princecraft 20 ST 2005 or the Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005?

The Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 is the longer of the two at 18,0 feet overall. The Princecraft 20 ST 2005 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 16,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Princecraft 20 ST 2005 or the Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005?

For trailering, the Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 has the edge at 1 399 lbs dry weight versus 1 734 lbs for the Princecraft 20 ST 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: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 has a documented max rating of 175 hp. Engine specifications for the Princecraft 20 ST 2005 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Princecraft 20 ST 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 is certified for 8. 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 Princecraft 20 ST 2005 measures 96" wide, compared to 94" for the Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005. 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 Princecraft 20 ST 2005 or the Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005?

The Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 has the bigger tank at 6 gallons, versus 3 gallons on the Princecraft 20 ST 2005. 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 Princecraft 20 ST 2005 and Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Princecraft 20 ST 2005 and the Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 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 ST 2005 vs Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005

Princecraft

Princecraft 20 ST 2005

2005

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Princecraft

Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Princecraft 20 ST 2005 vs Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Princecraft 20 ST 2005 vs Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 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 Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 measures 18,0 feet overall (2005), giving it roughly 16,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Princecraft 20 ST 2005 at 2,0 feet (2005). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princecraft 20 ST 2005 tips the scales at 1 734 lbs — 335 lbs more than the Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 at 1 399 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 Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 tops out at 175 hp. Engine specs for the Princecraft 20 ST 2005 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 3 gal and 6 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Princecraft 20 ST 2005 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Princecraft 20 ST 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Princecraft 20 ST 2005 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 Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakePrincecraft

Model20 ST

ModelPlatinum SP 186 SE

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 0 in. (2.4 m)

Beam94 in. (2.4 m)

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Meters2.39

Beam - Inches96

Beam - Inches94

Weight - Detail1,734 lbs. (787 kg)

Weight - Detail1,399 lbs. (635 kg)

Weight - kg786.53

Weight - kg634.58

Weight - lbs.1734

Weight - lbs.1399

Length - Meters6.2

Length - Meters5.6

Length - Feet2

Length - Feet18

Length - Inches4

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

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 4 in. (5.6 m)

Length overall - Meters6.2

Length overall - Meters5.59

Length overall - Inches244

Length overall - Inches22

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Detail43 in. (1.1 m)

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters109.22

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches43

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] - Detail76 in. (1.9 m)

Height [transom]not available

Height [transom]20 in. (0.5 m)

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter25 in. (0.64 m)

Tube diameternot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standard90 hp (67 kw)

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail3 gal. Built-in (125 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail60 gal. Built-in (227 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters11.36

Fuel tank capacity - Liters227.12

Fuel tank capacity - Gal3

Fuel tank capacity - Gal6

Drive typeOutBoard

Drive typeOutboard

Engine maxnot available

Engine max175 hp (131 kw)

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,097 lbs. (951 kg)

Maximum capacity1,784 lbs. (809 kg)

Maximum people11 Persons

Maximum people8

Body / Hull

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull thicknessBottom: .100 in. (2.5 mm) Side: .072 in. (1.8 mm)

Princecraft 20 ST 2005 vs Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Princecraft 20 ST 2005 or the Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005?

The Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 is the longer of the two at 18,0 feet overall. The Princecraft 20 ST 2005 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 16,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Princecraft 20 ST 2005 or the Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005?

For trailering, the Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 has the edge at 1 399 lbs dry weight versus 1 734 lbs for the Princecraft 20 ST 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.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 has a documented max rating of 175 hp. Engine specifications for the Princecraft 20 ST 2005 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Princecraft 20 ST 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 is certified for 8. 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 Princecraft 20 ST 2005 measures 96" wide, compared to 94" for the Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005. 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 Princecraft 20 ST 2005 or the Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005?

The Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 has the bigger tank at 6 gallons, versus 3 gallons on the Princecraft 20 ST 2005. 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 Princecraft 20 ST 2005 and Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Princecraft 20 ST 2005 and the Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 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 ST 2005 full specs ← Princecraft Platinum SP 186 SE 2005 full specs