Princecraft 20 ST 2006 vs Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Princecraft 20 ST 2006 or the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012?

The Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 is the longer of the two at 17,5 feet overall. The Princecraft 20 ST 2006 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 15,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Princecraft 20 ST 2006 or the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012?

For trailering, the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 has the edge at 1 331 lbs dry weight versus 1 775 lbs for the Princecraft 20 ST 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 Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 is rated to a maximum of 125 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Princecraft 20 ST 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 ST 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 is certified for 7. 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 has the better power-to-weight ratio?

The Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 has a better power-to-weight ratio at 11 lbs per hp compared to 20 lbs per hp for the Princecraft 20 ST 2006. A lower number means quicker acceleration and faster time to plane — the number that actually matters most on short, sporty boats like these.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Princecraft 20 ST 2006 measures 96" wide, compared to 92" for the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012. 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 2006 or the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012?

The Princecraft 20 ST 2006 has the bigger tank at 33 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012. That 7-gallon difference translates to roughly 21–35 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Princecraft 20 ST 2006 and Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Princecraft 20 ST 2006 and the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 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 2006 vs Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012

Princecraft

Princecraft 20 ST 2006

2006

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Princecraft

Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Princecraft 20 ST 2006 vs Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Princecraft 20 ST 2006 vs Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 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 SE 176 FnP 2012 measures 17,5 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 15,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Princecraft 20 ST 2006 at 2,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princecraft 20 ST 2006 tips the scales at 1 775 lbs — 444 lbs more than the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 at 1 331 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 125 hp, the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 has a 35-hp advantage over the Princecraft 20 ST 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 ST 2006 carries 33 gallons versus 26 gallons in the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012. 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 ST 2006 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Princecraft 20 ST 2006 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 comes in at 11 lbs per hp versus 20 lbs per hp for the Princecraft 20 ST 2006. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.

Bottom line: Choose the Princecraft 20 ST 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 Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakePrincecraft

Model20 ST

ModelPlatinum SE 176 FNP

Model Year2006

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 0 in. (2.4 m)

Beam92 in. (2.3 m)

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Meters2.34

Beam - Inches96

Beam - Inches92

Weight - Detail1,775 lbs. (805 kg)

Weight - Detail1,331 lbs. (604 kg)

Weight - kg805.13

Weight - kg603.73

Weight - lbs.1775

Weight - lbs.1331

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

Length [deck]not available

Length - Meters6.2

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet2

Length - Feet17.5

Length - Inches4

Length - Inchesnot available

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

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 6 in. (5.3 m)

Length overall - Meters6.2

Length overall - Meters5.33

Length overall - Inches244

Length overall - Inches21

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Detail40 in. (1 m)

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters101.6

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches4

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail30 in. (0.8 m)

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.76

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches3

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - Detail75 in. (1.9 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 - Detail33 gal. (125 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal. (98 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters124.92

Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42

Fuel tank capacity - Gal33

Fuel tank capacity - Gal26

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max90 hp (67 kw)

Engine max125 hp (93 kW)

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,097 lbs. (951 kg)

Maximum capacity1,647 lbs. (747 kg)

Maximum people11

Maximum people7 / 907 lbs. (411 kg)

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull thicknessBottom: 0.100 in. (2.5 mm) Side: 0.072 in. (1.8 mm)

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Princecraft 20 ST 2006 vs Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Princecraft 20 ST 2006 or the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012?

The Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 is the longer of the two at 17,5 feet overall. The Princecraft 20 ST 2006 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 15,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Princecraft 20 ST 2006 or the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012?

For trailering, the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 has the edge at 1 331 lbs dry weight versus 1 775 lbs for the Princecraft 20 ST 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 Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 is rated to a maximum of 125 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Princecraft 20 ST 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 ST 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 is certified for 7. 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 has the better power-to-weight ratio?

The Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 has a better power-to-weight ratio at 11 lbs per hp compared to 20 lbs per hp for the Princecraft 20 ST 2006. A lower number means quicker acceleration and faster time to plane — the number that actually matters most on short, sporty boats like these.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Princecraft 20 ST 2006 measures 96" wide, compared to 92" for the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012. 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 2006 or the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012?

The Princecraft 20 ST 2006 has the bigger tank at 33 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012. That 7-gallon difference translates to roughly 21–35 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Princecraft 20 ST 2006 and Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Princecraft 20 ST 2006 and the Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 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 2006 full specs ← Princecraft Platinum SE 176 FnP 2012 full specs