When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lowe A160S 2012 and the Lowe A1667WT 2009 are modified 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 A160S 2012 at 16,1 ft versus Lowe A1667WT 2009 at 16,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe A160S 2012 tips the scales at 711 lbs — 667 lbs more than the Lowe A1667WT 2009 at 44 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 50 hp for the Lowe A160S 2012 and 30 hp for the Lowe A1667WT 2009. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup.

Both boats are rated for 5 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 A1667WT 2009 comes in at 2 lbs per hp versus 14 lbs per hp for the Lowe A160S 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.