I I’ve had both boats. I started with a 1999 192 equipped with a 1999 175 Evinrude Ficht (which I bought in 2015 as my first boat). We absolutely loved that little boat. We used it all year round, trailered it all over Alabama and Florida, and it was spacious overall for a 19-foot boat. I had up to seven people onboard for cruising (two of whom were small kids). The Ficht was getting near impossible to find parts for, so in 2023, I repowered it with a Suzuki 175 and kept racking up the hours. It rode smooth handled all the rough water I wanted to tackle.
However, there were some drawbacks. The bow seating was small, and as people got bigger, it became uncomfortable for more than four passengers.
I’ve had a 2013 225 Freedom for about a year now. It has significantly more room in the bow, handles rougher water, and is much more comfortable for four or more adult passengers. The full transom and bracket makes it feel even bigger.
On the downside, the large bow and head compartment eat into the cocpit and it feels like it has about the same amount of usable room behind the windshield as the 192. The gunnell rod holders aren’t as user-friendly, and it’s much heavier and burns more fuel (both while running and towing). It also has a deeper draft.
Overall, I couldn’t have been happier with either one. The 192 was the right boat for me at that stage of my life, and the 225 is right for me today. Both have great build quality and great lines.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
