Lowe 22 Bay 2013 vs Lowe FS185 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe 22 Bay 2013 or the Lowe FS185 2009?

The Lowe 22 Bay 2013 is the longer of the two at 22,3 feet overall. The Lowe FS185 2009 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 4,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe 22 Bay 2013 or the Lowe FS185 2009?

For trailering, the Lowe FS185 2009 has the edge at 135 lbs dry weight versus 1 923 lbs for the Lowe 22 Bay 2013. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Lowe 22 Bay 2013 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe FS185 2009 tops out at 150 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Lowe 22 Bay 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Lowe FS185 2009 is certified for 7. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Lowe 22 Bay 2013 and Lowe FS185 2009 share an 95.5 in. (2.43 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Lowe 22 Bay 2013 or the Lowe FS185 2009?

The Lowe 22 Bay 2013 has the bigger tank at 41 gallons, versus 38 gallons on the Lowe FS185 2009. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Lowe 22 Bay 2013 and Lowe FS185 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe 22 Bay 2013 and the Lowe FS185 2009 are built by Lowe. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Lowe 22 Bay 2013 vs Lowe FS185 2009

Lowe

Lowe 22 Bay 2013

2013

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Lowe

Lowe FS185 2009

2009

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe 22 Bay 2013 vs Lowe FS185 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Lowe 22 Bay 2013 against a deep vee Lowe FS185 2009 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 FS185 2009 at 18,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe 22 Bay 2013 tips the scales at 1 923 lbs — 1 788 lbs more than the Lowe FS185 2009 at 135 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 FS185 2009'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 — 41 gal and 38 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 FS185 2009 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 FS185 2009 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

MakeLowe

Model22 Bay

ModelFS185

Model Year2013

Model Year2009

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam95.5 in. (2.43 m)

Beam95 in. (5.56 m)

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Meters2.41

Beam - Inches95.5

Beam - Inches95

Depth - Detail25 in. (0.64 m)

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters63.5

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches25

Depth - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail1,923 lbs. (872 kg)

Weight - Detail1,350 lbs. (612 kg)

Weight - kg872.26

Weight - kg612.35

Weight - lbs.1923

Weight - lbs.135

Width [transom] - Detail86.25 in. (2.18 m) bottom

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Height [transom]25 in. (0.64 m)

Height [transom]20 in. (0.5 m)

Length - Feet22.25

Length - Feet18

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 3 in. (6.8 m)

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 3 in. (5.49 m)

Length overall - Meters6.78

Length overall - Meters5.56

Length overall - Inches267

Length overall - Inches219

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters5.49

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches3

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thickness0.125 in. (3.18 mm) bottom; 0.110 in. (2.8 mm) sides

Hull thickness0.100 in. (2.5 mm)

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail41 gal. (155.2 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail38 gal. (144 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters155.2

Fuel tank capacity - Liters143.85

Fuel tank capacity - Gal41

Fuel tank capacity - Gal38

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typenot available

Engine max200 hp (149 kW)

Engine max150 hp (111 kw)

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,923 lbs. (872.3 kg)

Maximum capacity1,759 lbs. (798 kg)

Maximum people8 / 1,160 lbs. (526.2 kg)

Maximum people7 / 1,115 lbs. (506 kg)

Trailer Info

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - DetailPainted bunk trailer with swing tongue

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over all22 ft. 7 in. (6.9 m)

Trailer - Widthnot available

Trailer - Width102 in. (2.59 m)

Lowe 22 Bay 2013 vs Lowe FS185 2009 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe 22 Bay 2013 or the Lowe FS185 2009?

The Lowe 22 Bay 2013 is the longer of the two at 22,3 feet overall. The Lowe FS185 2009 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 4,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe 22 Bay 2013 or the Lowe FS185 2009?

For trailering, the Lowe FS185 2009 has the edge at 135 lbs dry weight versus 1 923 lbs for the Lowe 22 Bay 2013. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Lowe 22 Bay 2013 is rated to a maximum of 200 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe FS185 2009 tops out at 150 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Lowe 22 Bay 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Lowe FS185 2009 is certified for 7. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Lowe 22 Bay 2013 and Lowe FS185 2009 share an 95.5 in. (2.43 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Lowe 22 Bay 2013 or the Lowe FS185 2009?

The Lowe 22 Bay 2013 has the bigger tank at 41 gallons, versus 38 gallons on the Lowe FS185 2009. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Lowe 22 Bay 2013 and Lowe FS185 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe 22 Bay 2013 and the Lowe FS185 2009 are built by Lowe. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Lowe 22 Bay 2013 full specs ← Lowe FS185 2009 full specs