Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 vs Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 or the Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004?

For trailering, the Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 has the edge at 139 lbs dry weight versus 1 237 lbs for the Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004. 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: How many people can each boat hold?

The Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004 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: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 and Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004 share an 94 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: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 and Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 6 gallons and 6 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 and Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 and the Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004 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 SP 186 Platinum 2006 vs Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004

Princecraft

Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006

2006

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Princecraft

Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004

2004

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 vs Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 vs Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 175 hp for the Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 and 175 hp for the Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 6 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 SP 186 Platinum 2006 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004 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

ModelSP 186 Platinum

ModelTournament SP 188 DLX AE

Model Year2006

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam94 in. (2.4 m)

Beam94 in

Beam - Meters2.39

Beam - Inches94

Depth - Detail43 in. (1.1 m)

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters109.22

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches43

Depth - Inchesnot available

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

Draft [max] - Detail32 in

Draft [max] - Meters0.79

Draft [max] - Meters0.81

Draft [max] - Inches31

Draft [max] - Inches32

Weight - Detail1,390 lbs. (630 kg)

Weight - Detail1237 lbs

Weight - kg630.49

Weight - kg561.09

Weight - lbs.139

Weight - lbs.1237

Width [transom] - Detail76 im. (1.9 m)

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Height [transom]20 in. (0.5 m)

Height [transom]20 in

Length - Meters5.6

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet18

Length - Feetnot available

Length - Inches4

Length - Inchesnot available

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

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 4 in

Length overall - Meters5.59

Length overall - Inches22

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Detail40 in

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters1.02

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches4

Body / Hull

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

Hull thicknessnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail60 gal. (227 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail60 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters227.12

Fuel tank capacity - Gal6

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typenot available

Engine max175 hp (131 kw)

Engine max175 HP

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,784 lbs. (809 kg)

Maximum capacity1600 lbs

Maximum people8

Maximum people7 Persons

Trailer Info

Trailer - DetailStandard Painted Bunk Style Trailer

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - Weight571 lbs. (259 kg)

Trailer - Weightnot available

Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 vs Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 or the Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004?

For trailering, the Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 has the edge at 139 lbs dry weight versus 1 237 lbs for the Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004. 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.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004 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.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 and Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004 share an 94 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.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 and Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 6 gallons and 6 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 and Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Princecraft SP 186 Platinum 2006 and the Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004 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 SP 186 Platinum 2006 full specs ← Princecraft Tournament SP 188 DLX AE 2004 full specs