When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lowe 175 Fish & Ski 2008 and the Lowe FS165 2012 are deep vee designs with aluminum construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Lowe 175 Fish & Ski 2008 at 17,0 ft versus Lowe FS165 2012 at 16,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe FS165 2012 tips the scales at 955 lbs — 840 lbs less than the Lowe 175 Fish & Ski 2008 at 115 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 115 hp, the Lowe 175 Fish & Ski 2008 has a 25-hp advantage over the Lowe FS165 2012's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 27 gal and 27 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 6 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Lowe 175 Fish & Ski 2008 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 11 lbs per hp for the Lowe FS165 2012. 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.