Lowe A160T 2012 vs Lowe SF232 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe A160T 2012 or the Lowe SF232 2013?

The Lowe SF232 2013 is the longer of the two at 22,0 feet overall. The Lowe A160T 2012 comes in at 16,1 feet, making it roughly 5,9 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe A160T 2012 or the Lowe SF232 2013?

For trailering, the Lowe A160T 2012 has the edge at 661 lbs dry weight versus 2 136 lbs for the Lowe SF232 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 SF232 2013 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe A160T 2012 tops out at 40 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 A160T 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Lowe SF232 2013 is certified for 12. 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: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Lowe SF232 2013 measures 102" wide, compared to 75" for the Lowe A160T 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Lowe A160T 2012 or the Lowe SF232 2013?

The Lowe SF232 2013 has the bigger tank at 24 gallons, versus 6 gallons on the Lowe A160T 2012. That 18-gallon difference translates to roughly 54–90 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Lowe A160T 2012 and Lowe SF232 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe A160T 2012 and the Lowe SF232 2013 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 A160T 2012 vs Lowe SF232 2013

Lowe

Lowe A160T 2012

2012

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Lowe

Lowe SF232 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe A160T 2012 vs Lowe SF232 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Lowe A160T 2012 against a pontoon Lowe SF232 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 SF232 2013 measures 22,0 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 5,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe A160T 2012 at 16,1 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe SF232 2013 tips the scales at 2 136 lbs — 1 475 lbs less than the Lowe A160T 2012 at 661 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 150 hp, the Lowe SF232 2013 has a 110-hp advantage over the Lowe A160T 2012's 40-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Lowe SF232 2013 carries 24 gallons versus 6 gallons in the Lowe A160T 2012. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lowe SF232 2013 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Lowe A160T 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe SF232 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe SF232 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe A160T 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeLowe

ModelA160T

ModelSF232

Model Year2012

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam75 in. (1.91 m)

Beam102 in. (2.5 m)

Beam - Meters1.91

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches75

Beam - Inches102

Weight - Detail661 lbs. (300 kg)

Weight - Detail2,136 lbs. (969 kg)

Weight - kg299.82

Weight - kg968.87

Weight - lbs.661

Weight - lbs.2136

Width [transom] - Detail61 in. (1.5 m) bottom

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Height [transom]20 in. (0.5 m)

Height [transom]not available

Length - Feet16.08

Length - Feet22

Length overall - Detail16 ft. 1 in. (4.9 m)

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Meters4.9

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Inches193

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Length [at waterline]not available

Length [at waterline]22 ft. 3 in. (6.78 m) pontoon log

Length [deck]not available

Length [deck]22 ft. (6.71 m)

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thickness0.090 in. (2.3 mm)

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typePontoon

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail6 gal. (23 l) portable

Fuel tank capacity - Detail24 gal. (91 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters22.71

Fuel tank capacity - Liters90.85

Fuel tank capacity - Gal6

Fuel tank capacity - Gal24

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max40 hp (30 kW)

Engine max150 hp (112 kW)

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,123 lbs. (509 kg)

Maximum capacity2,434 lbs. (1,104 kg)

Maximum people5 / 705 lbs. (320 kg)

Maximum people12 / 1,772 lbs. (803 kg)

Trailer Info

Trailer - Width89 in. (2.26 m)

Trailer - Widthnot available

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameternot available

Tube diameter25 in . (0.64 m)

Tube gaugenot available

Tube gauge0.080 in. (2.03 mm)

Number of tubesnot available

Number of tubes2

Lowe A160T 2012 vs Lowe SF232 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe A160T 2012 or the Lowe SF232 2013?

The Lowe SF232 2013 is the longer of the two at 22,0 feet overall. The Lowe A160T 2012 comes in at 16,1 feet, making it roughly 5,9 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe A160T 2012 or the Lowe SF232 2013?

For trailering, the Lowe A160T 2012 has the edge at 661 lbs dry weight versus 2 136 lbs for the Lowe SF232 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 SF232 2013 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe A160T 2012 tops out at 40 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 A160T 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Lowe SF232 2013 is certified for 12. 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.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Lowe SF232 2013 measures 102" wide, compared to 75" for the Lowe A160T 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Lowe A160T 2012 or the Lowe SF232 2013?

The Lowe SF232 2013 has the bigger tank at 24 gallons, versus 6 gallons on the Lowe A160T 2012. That 18-gallon difference translates to roughly 54–90 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Lowe A160T 2012 and Lowe SF232 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe A160T 2012 and the Lowe SF232 2013 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 A160T 2012 full specs ← Lowe SF232 2013 full specs