How Much Does a 19 Ft Boat Weigh?

ByGarrett Durham

A 19 Ft boat may be the most common boat you’ll find out on the water.  They are easily maneuverable, easy to trailer, and have plenty of room for people and gear on board.  What’s better, is there are plenty of options available when it comes to buying a boat in the size range. 

Boatbuilders don’t usually build a boat that is exactly 19 Ft., rather, boats that are said to be 19 Ft will fall within a range, typically from about 19 Ft to 19 Ft. 11 In., though there could be some variation here, too.  As we’ll get into below, there is also a variety of weights for 19 Ft boats. 

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How Much Does a 19 Ft Boat Weigh?

How Much Does a 19 Ft Boat Weigh? Depending on the model and style, anywhere from 2,010 to 2,700 lbs., without a trailer.

Finding an answer to this question can be challenging and time-consuming since there are many different types of boats and boat manufacturers unless you already know what skiff type you’re interested in buying, you’ll need to do some research to get an average weight. 

Weight is an important factor when shopping for a boat, but one that may not be on the top of your mind because there are other, more fun parts of buying a boat – boat type, horsepower, and planning how you’re going to spend your time on the water.  Nonetheless, the weight of your personal watercraft is important, especially if you will be towing your boat with your car, truck, or SUV.    

I’ve researched multiple 19 Ft fiberglass boats and the vehicles with towing capacities that can handle that boat weight, and I have put the information in this guide

Boston Whaler 190 Montauk – Center Console

Known as the “Unsinkable Legend,” Boston Whaler is a boatbuilder that’s been around for a long time, about 60 years. 

Boston Whaler uses technology that keeps these boats floating, even when they are over their maximum weight capacity, filled with holes, or cut in half.  There’s a video the company made where they used a chainsaw to cut off the bow of one of their boats while the boat was in the water.  They then drove away on half a boat. 

From a usability, versatility, and design features standpoint, Boston Whaler is an innovator in the boating industry.  While most of their line-up is filled with Center Consoles, there are also a handful of walk-arounds to choose from. 

Ranging in size from just over 11 Ft all the way to just over 42 Ft, there are a lot of options to fit a lot of needs.  The 190 Montauk has a 60-gallon fuel tank, a fish box and a fiberglass swim platform making it ideal for a day on the water.  What’s a rough estimate of how much it weighs? Here’s a breakdown:

  • Dry Weight – 2,000 lbs. (without engine).  The 190 Montauk comes standard with a 115 HP Mercury outboard that will add another 363 lbs. making the total dry weight (without fuel, gear, etc.) 2,363 lbs.  For a boat that can hold 8 people and a maximum weight of 2,500 lbs., the Montauk is very light.
  • Gear and Fuel Weight – approx. 890 lbs.  We came to this by adding the weight of the fuel (8.4 lbs. per gallon, 60-gallon tank), other gear (life jackets, oars, fishing poles, tackle, etc.), and batteries. 890 lbs. is just an estimate and could be more, or less, depending on what you choose to bring onboard.
  • Trailer Weight – approx. 700 lbs.  I’ve made an assumption that this boat will use a single axle aluminum trailer since Boston Whalers will often be used in a saltwater setting and aluminum holds up slightly better in saltwater.  Galvanized steel will be slightly heavier and will require more maintenance around saltwater. 
  • Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) – approx. 3,955 lbs. GTW is simply the dry weight (including engines) plus gear and fuel weight plus trailer weight.  Wet weight is that plus a full tank of gas. As mentioned above, knowing the GTW is important when deciding if your vehicle is capable of towing your boat.

Nitro Z19 – Bass Boat

Nitro is a builder of freshwater fishing boats with a big focus on their line of bass fishing boats, though they also have a line of fish and ski boats and multi-species fishing boats.  The Nitro Z19 bass boat comes well equipped and has a standard 200 HP Mercury L Pro XS. 

As bass anglers know, speed to your favorite fishing hole is important, especially if it’s a tournament day.  You want to be able to move quickly to be the first one to your favorite spot and be able to get into hard to reach areas.  The Z19 offers the ability to do it all. 

With 200 HP on the rear, you’ll be up on plane and cruising across the lake in no time and, since the boat is 19 Ft it’s going to be lighter than your competition using larger boat, meaning you’ll be able to get as far back into the weeds as you need to be. Here’s the weight profile:

  • Dry Weight – 1850 lbs. (without engine) and about 2,355 lbs. with the standard 200 HP Mercury. The maximum suggested HP rating for this boat is 200 HP, so there won’t be a lot of variation in the dry weight of the boat unless you opted for a smaller motor.
  • Gear and Fuel Weight – approx. 900 lbs.  The Z19 has a fuel capacity of 50 gallons, which weighs about 420 lbs.  The rest of the gear and fuel weight would come from gear – I’ve estimated about 450 lbs. for things like tackle, fishing poles, life jackets, trolling motor, etc. and about 75 lbs. for batteries.  Weight of Gear and Fuel is the number with the most potential for variation since the amount and type of gear brought aboard will vary from person to person.
  • Trailer Weight – 895 lbs.  The Nitro Z19 comes standard with a powder-coated galvanized trailer that’s equipped with surge disc brakes, a fold-away tongue, and submersible LED lights.
  • Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) – 4,150 lbs.  Again, this will be the most important weight to know for trailering purposes.  Because each vehicle has a limit to what they can safely tow, you’ll need to know what your vehicle is rated for and not exceed that amount.

Tahoe GT Cruise – Pontoon Boat

Pontoon boats are great for cruising and getting a lot of people on the water.  What’s more is that pontoon boat manufacturers have come out with a lot of options, making pontoon boats highly customizable. 

Most manufacturers have different seating configurations and other options, including tables, Bimini tops, and electronic packages.  The GT Cruise is no different, and it is a relatively affordable option for getting on the water.

  • Dry Weight – 1,650 lbs. (without engine), or 2,010 lbs. with the maximum HP the GT Cruise is rated for.  With a maximum capacity of 8 people, the GT cruise is lightweight and very capable of getting out on the water with everything, and everyone you want.
  • Gear and Fuel Weight – approx. 500 lbs.  To get here, we added the weight of the fuel (210 lbs.) to the weight of gear (cooler, food, ice, etc.).  You don’t need a lot on board to have a great time on the water, but if you wanted to bring more, the boat has a maximum weight of 1,610 lbs. (including people)
  • Weight of the Trailer – approx. 495 lbs.  This weight assumes a single axle galvanized steel trailer with a capacity of 2,500 lbs.
  • Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) – 3,005 lbs.

Boat Towing Tips

How Much Does a 19 Ft Boat Weigh? 1

Spending time on a boat is a fun way to spend an afternoon – swimming, fishing, water skiing, etc.  It’s also important to keep safety a top priority to help you get the most of your time on the water. 

We’ve talked about the weight of a variety of fiberglass boat types, including Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), sometimes known as towing weight.  Now to tie everything together, here are some tips for safely towing your boat.  Below is a table that outlines important weight ratios to keep in mind when deciding if your vehicle can tow your boat.  GTW, as we’ve discussed, is the weight of the boat, any gear, and the trailer. 

All vehicles will have a maximum GTW it’s important to stay well below.  In addition, every vehicle will have a Gross Combined Weight Rating that is the GTW plus the vehicle plus people and gear.  This is the total maximum weight your vehicle can safely carry in any way.  Staying at least a few hundred lbs. below these ratings will go a long way in ensuring your safety on the road.

GTW Gross Trailer Weight Trailer + gear
GVWR Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Vehicle + people and gear
GCWR Gross Combined Weight Rating Vehicle + people and gear + trailer and gear
GAWR Gross Axle Weight Rating Distribution over each axle of vehicle + people and gear + trailer and gear

Other trailering tips:

  • Keep 60% of the weight on the trailer in front of the axle. Boats already have great weight distribution, but if you add anything else inside the boat while towing, you’ll want to follow this rule of thumb.
  • Strap the boat to the trailer – use the ratchet strap, or your boat’s equivalent, to attach the bow to the front of the trailer, then also strap the stern to the trailer using straps.  This will ensure the trailer doesn’t bounce while going down the road.
  • Make wide turns – keep an eye on the trailer when going around turns and swing wide to avoid hitting curbs or other vehicles.
  • Leave plenty of room to stop – towing a boat adds weight to your vehicle and it will take longer to stop, so leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front of you.

Most importantly, have fun and make some memories!

How Much Does a 19 Ft Boat Weigh?