When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lowe A160S 2012 and the Lowe RV170 Bay 2010 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 RV170 Bay 2010 at 17,3 ft. At 711 lbs and 789 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 75 hp, the Lowe RV170 Bay 2010 has a 25-hp advantage over the Lowe A160S 2012's 50-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lowe A160S 2012 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Lowe RV170 Bay 2010 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe A160S 2012 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Lowe RV170 Bay 2010 comes in at 11 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.
Bottom line: Choose the Lowe A160S 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 16,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe RV170 Bay 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.