The Lowe 165 Fish & Ski 2008 vs Lowe Boats Ultra 162 Fish Cruise 2024 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Lowe 165 Fish & Ski 2008 at 16,0 ft versus Lowe Boats Ultra 162 Fish Cruise 2024 at 17,1 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe Boats Ultra 162 Fish Cruise 2024 tips the scales at 1 629 lbs — 1 628 lbs less than the Lowe 165 Fish & Ski 2008 at 1 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 90 hp, the Lowe 165 Fish & Ski 2008 has a 40-hp advantage over the Lowe Boats Ultra 162 Fish Cruise 2024's 50-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Lowe 165 Fish & Ski 2008 carries 27 gallons versus 7 gallons in the Lowe Boats Ultra 162 Fish Cruise 2024. 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 Lowe 165 Fish & Ski 2008 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Lowe Boats Ultra 162 Fish Cruise 2024 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe 165 Fish & Ski 2008 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Lowe 165 Fish & Ski 2008 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 33 lbs per hp for the Lowe Boats Ultra 162 Fish Cruise 2024. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
The Lowe Boats Ultra 162 Fish Cruise 2024 is trailerable — a genuine lifestyle advantage at this size. The Lowe 165 Fish & Ski 2008 isn't listed as trailerable, which may mean a permanent berth or mooring is required.
Bottom line: Choose the Lowe 165 Fish & Ski 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 16,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe Boats Ultra 162 Fish Cruise 2024 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.