When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lowe F165 2010 and the Lowe FS185 2012 are deep 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 F165 2010 at 16,4 ft versus Lowe FS185 2012 at 18,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe F165 2010 tips the scales at 955 lbs — 820 lbs more than the Lowe FS185 2012 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 150 hp, the Lowe FS185 2012 has a 90-hp advantage over the Lowe F165 2010's 60-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 FS185 2012 carries 38 gallons versus 6 gallons in the Lowe F165 2010. 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 FS185 2012 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe F165 2010 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe FS185 2012 could be the deciding factor.