Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 vs Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 or the Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013?

For trailering, the Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 has the edge at 15 lbs dry weight versus 1 255 lbs for the Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013. 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 SP 196 O/B 2004 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013 tops out at 125 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 Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013 is certified for 6. 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 Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 measures 96" wide, compared to 91" for the Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013. 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 Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 or the Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013?

The Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013 has the bigger tank at 26 gallons, versus 6 gallons on the Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004. That 20-gallon difference translates to roughly 60–100 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 and Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 and the Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013 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 Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 vs Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013

Princecraft

Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004

2004

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Princecraft

Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013

2013

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 vs Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 vs Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 200 hp, the Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 has a 75-hp advantage over the Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013's 125-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 Sport 172 WS 2013 carries 26 gallons versus 6 gallons in the Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004. 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 Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakePrincecraft

ModelPlatinum SP 196 O/B

ModelSport 172 WS

Model Year2004

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam96 in

Beam91 in. (2.3 m)

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Meters2.31

Beam - Inches96

Beam - Inches91

Draft [max] - Detail31 in

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

Draft [max] - Meters0.79

Draft [max] - Meters0.76

Draft [max] - Inches31

Draft [max] - Inches3

Weight - Detail1500 lbs

Weight - Detail1,255 lbs. (569 kg)

Weight - kg680.39

Weight - kg569.26

Weight - lbs.15

Weight - lbs.1255

Height - Detail47.5 in

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Meters1.22

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Inches47.5

Height - Inchesnot available

Height [transom]25 in

Height [transom]25 in. (0.6 m)

Length overall - Detail19 ft. 6 in

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 5 in. (5.3 m)

Length overall - Meters5.94

Length overall - Meters5.31

Length overall - Inches234

Length overall - Inches209

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Detail39 in. (1 m)

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters99.06

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches39

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - Detail75 in. (1.9 m) chine

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Feet17.42

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail60 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal. (98 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters227.12

Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42

Fuel tank capacity - Gal6

Fuel tank capacity - Gal26

Engine max200 HP

Engine max125 hp (93 kW)

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1915 lbs

Maximum capacity1,570 lbs. (712 kg)

Maximum people9 Persons

Maximum people6 / 830 lbs. (376 kg)

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull thickness0.10 in. (2.5 mm) bottom 0.072 in. (1.8 mm) side

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 vs Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 or the Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013?

For trailering, the Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 has the edge at 15 lbs dry weight versus 1 255 lbs for the Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013. 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 SP 196 O/B 2004 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013 tops out at 125 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 Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013 is certified for 6. 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 Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 measures 96" wide, compared to 91" for the Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013. 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 Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 or the Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013?

The Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013 has the bigger tank at 26 gallons, versus 6 gallons on the Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004. That 20-gallon difference translates to roughly 60–100 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 and Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Princecraft Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 and the Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013 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 Platinum SP 196 O/B 2004 full specs ← Princecraft Sport 172 WS 2013 full specs