Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 vs Tahoe Boats 228 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 or the Tahoe Boats 228 2011?

The Tahoe Boats 228 2011 is the longer of the two at 22,4 feet overall. The Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 comes in at 19,0 feet, making it roughly 3,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 or the Tahoe Boats 228 2011?

For trailering, the Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 has the edge at 21 lbs dry weight versus 395 lbs for the Tahoe Boats 228 2011. 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 Tahoe Boats 228 2011 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 tops out at 225 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 Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Tahoe Boats 228 2011 is certified for 12. 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 Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 and Tahoe Boats 228 2011 share an 102 in 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: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 or the Tahoe Boats 228 2011?

The Tahoe Boats 228 2011 has the bigger tank at 48 gallons, versus 45 gallons on the Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006. 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 Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 and Tahoe Boats 228 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 and the Tahoe Boats 228 2011 are built by Tahoe Boats. 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

Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 vs Tahoe Boats 228 2011

Tahoe Boats

Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006

2006

View full specs →

Tahoe Boats

Tahoe Boats 228 2011

2011

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 vs Tahoe Boats 228 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 vs Tahoe Boats 228 2011 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 Tahoe Boats 228 2011 measures 22,4 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 3,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 at 19,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Tahoe Boats 228 2011 tips the scales at 395 lbs — 374 lbs less than the Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 at 21 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 300 hp, the Tahoe Boats 228 2011 has a 75-hp advantage over the Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006's 225-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 45 gal and 48 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Tahoe Boats 228 2011 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Tahoe Boats 228 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Tahoe Boats 228 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 22,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 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

MakeTahoe Boats

Model196 WT OB

Model228

Model Year2006

Model Year2011

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam102 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Deadrise20℃

Weight - Detail2,100 lbs

Weight - Detail3,950 lbs

Weight - kg952.54

Weight - kg1791.69

Weight - lbs.21

Weight - lbs.395

Length - Feet19

Length - Feet22.42

Length - Inches1

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail19 ft. 10 in

Length overall - Detail22.42 ft

Length overall - Meters6.05

Length overall - Meters6.83

Length overall - Inches238

Length overall - Inches269.04

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail19 in

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.48

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches19

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standard115 Optimax? SaltWater

Engine/s standardnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail45 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail48 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters170.34

Fuel tank capacity - Liters181.7

Fuel tank capacity - Gal45

Fuel tank capacity - Gal48

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typeI/O

Engine max225 hp

Engine max300 hp

Engine makenot available

Engine makeMercury®

Engine modelnot available

Engine modelMerCruiser® 4.3 l V-6

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Horsepowernot available

Horsepower190 hp

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,400 lbs

Maximum capacity1,850 lbs

Maximum people8

Maximum people12

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over all24 ft. 6 in. w/optional trailer

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Weight2,548 lbs

Trailer - Weightnot available

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 vs Tahoe Boats 228 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 or the Tahoe Boats 228 2011?

The Tahoe Boats 228 2011 is the longer of the two at 22,4 feet overall. The Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 comes in at 19,0 feet, making it roughly 3,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 or the Tahoe Boats 228 2011?

For trailering, the Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 has the edge at 21 lbs dry weight versus 395 lbs for the Tahoe Boats 228 2011. 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 Tahoe Boats 228 2011 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 tops out at 225 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 Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Tahoe Boats 228 2011 is certified for 12. 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 Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 and Tahoe Boats 228 2011 share an 102 in 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 or the Tahoe Boats 228 2011?

The Tahoe Boats 228 2011 has the bigger tank at 48 gallons, versus 45 gallons on the Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006. 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 Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 and Tahoe Boats 228 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 and the Tahoe Boats 228 2011 are built by Tahoe Boats. 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.

← Tahoe Boats 196 WT OB 2006 full specs ← Tahoe Boats 228 2011 full specs