Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Lowe 185 Fishing Machine 2008 vs Lowe 22 Bay 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a deep vee Lowe 185 Fishing Machine 2008 against a modified vee Lowe 22 Bay 2013 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Lowe 22 Bay 2013 measures 22,3 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 4,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe 185 Fishing Machine 2008 at 18,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe 22 Bay 2013 tips the scales at 1 923 lbs — 1 802 lbs less than the Lowe 185 Fishing Machine 2008 at 121 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 200 hp, the Lowe 22 Bay 2013 has a 50-hp advantage over the Lowe 185 Fishing Machine 2008's 150-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 38 gal and 41 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lowe 22 Bay 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Lowe 185 Fishing Machine 2008 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe 22 Bay 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Lowe 22 Bay 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 22,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe 185 Fishing Machine 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
Model185 Fishing Machine
Model22 Bay
Model Year2008
Model Year2013
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam95 in. (2.41 m)
Beam95.5 in. (2.43 m)
Beam - Meters2.41
Beam - Meters2.44
Beam - Inches95
Beam - Inches95.5
Weight - Detail1,210 lbs. (549 kg)
Weight - Detail1,923 lbs. (872 kg)
Weight - kg548.85
Weight - kg872.26
Weight - lbs.121
Weight - lbs.1923
Width [transom] - Detail83 in. (2.1 m)
Width [transom] - Detail86.25 in. (2.18 m) bottom
Height - Detail41 in. (1 m)
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Meters1.04
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Inches41
Height - Inchesnot available
Height [transom]20 in. (.53 m)
Height [transom]25 in. (0.64 m)
Length - Meters5.56
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet18
Length - Feet22.25
Length - Inches3
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 3 in. (5.56 m)
Length overall - Detail22 ft. 3 in. (6.8 m)
Length overall - Meters5.56
Length overall - Meters6.78
Length overall - Inches219
Length overall - Inches267
Depth - Detailnot available
Depth - Detail25 in. (0.64 m)
Depth - Centimetersnot available
Depth - Centimeters63.5
Depth - Inchesnot available
Depth - Inches25
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialAluminum
Hull thickness.100 in. (2.5 mm)
Hull thickness0.125 in. (3.18 mm) bottom; 0.110 in. (2.8 mm) sides
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail38 gal. (144 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail41 gal. (155.2 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters143.85
Fuel tank capacity - Liters155.2
Fuel tank capacity - Gal38
Fuel tank capacity - Gal41
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max150 hp (111 kW)
Engine max200 hp (149 kW)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,759 lbs. (798 kg)
Maximum capacity1,923 lbs. (872.3 kg)
Maximum people7 / 1,115 lbs. (798 kg)
Maximum people8 / 1,160 lbs. (526.2 kg)
Trailer Info
Trailer - Length over allTongue in: 22 ft. 7 in. (6.9 m)
Trailer - Length over allnot available
Trailer - Width102 in. (2.59 m)
Trailer - Widthnot available