Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Princecraft Platinum SE 206 2013 vs Princecraft Pro 196 GL 2005: Same Brand, Different Boat
The Princecraft Platinum SE 206 2013 vs Princecraft Pro 196 GL 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Princecraft Platinum SE 206 2013 at 20,0 ft versus Princecraft Pro 196 GL 2005 at 19,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princecraft Platinum SE 206 2013 tips the scales at 1 840 lbs - 421 lbs more than the Princecraft Pro 196 GL 2005 at 1 419 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 250 hp, the Princecraft Platinum SE 206 2013 has a 50-hp advantage over the Princecraft Pro 196 GL 2005's 200-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 59 gal and 60 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Princecraft Platinum SE 206 2013 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Princecraft Pro 196 GL 2005 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Princecraft Platinum SE 206 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Princecraft Platinum SE 206 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 10 passengers and at 20,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Princecraft Pro 196 GL 2005 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
MakePrincecraft
ModelPlatinum SE 206
ModelPro 196 GL
Model Year2013
Model Year2005
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam99 in. (2.5 m)
Beam96 in. (2.4 m)
Beam - Meters2.51
Beam - Meters2.44
Beam - Inches99
Beam - Inches96
Depth - Detail48 in. (1.2 m)
Depth - Detail46 in. (1.2 m)
Depth - Centimeters121.92
Depth - Centimeters116.84
Depth - Inches48
Depth - Inches46
Draft [max] - Detail34 in. (0.9 m)
Draft [max] - Detail31 in. (0.8 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.86
Draft [max] - Meters0.79
Draft [max] - Inches34
Draft [max] - Inches31
Weight - Detail1,840 lbs. (835 kg)
Weight - Detail1,419 lbs. (644 kg)
Weight - kg834.61
Weight - kg643.65
Weight - lbs.1840
Weight - lbs.1419
Width [transom] - Detail84 in. (2.1 m) chine
Width [transom] - Detail80 in. (2.0 m)
Height [transom]25 in. (0.6 m)
Height [transom]25 in. (0.6 m)
Length - Feet20
Length - Feet19
Length overall - Detail20 ft. (6.1 m)
Length overall - Detail19 ft. 6 in. (5.9 m)
Length overall - Meters6.1
Length overall - Meters5.94
Length overall - Inches240
Length overall - Inches234
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Meters5.9
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches6
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialnot available
Hull thickness0.110 in. (2.8 mm) bottom 0.072 in. (1.8 mm) side
Hull thicknessBottom: .110 in. (2.8 mm) Side: .072 in. (1.8 mm)
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail59 gal. (227 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail60 gal. Built-in (227 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters223.34
Fuel tank capacity - Liters227.12
Fuel tank capacity - Gal59
Fuel tank capacity - Gal60
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typenot available
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max250 hp (186 kW)
Engine max200 hp (149 kw)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity2,209 lbs. (1,002 kg)
Maximum capacity1,915 lbs. (869 kg)
Maximum people10 / 1,350 lbs. (612 kg)
Maximum people9