Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Lowe FM165 2010 vs Lowe SS210 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a deep vee Lowe FM165 2010 against a pontoon Lowe SS210 2012 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 SS210 2012 measures 19,7 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 3,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe FM165 2010 at 16,4 feet (2010). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe FM165 2010 tips the scales at 955 lbs — 787 lbs more than the Lowe SS210 2012 at 168 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 115 hp, the Lowe SS210 2012 has a 40-hp advantage over the Lowe FM165 2010's 75-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 27 gal and 24 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lowe SS210 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Lowe FM165 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 SS210 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Lowe SS210 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 19,7 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe FM165 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
Model Year201
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam82 in. (2.08 m)
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.5 m)
Beam - Meters2.08
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches82
Beam - Inches102
Weight - Detail955 lbs. (433 kg)
Weight - Detail1,680 lbs. (762 kg)
Weight - kg433.18
Weight - kg762.03
Weight - lbs.955
Weight - lbs.168
Width [transom] - DetailBottom Width: 70.5 in. (1.8 m)
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Height - DetailBow Height: 38 in. (0.97 m)
Height - Detailnot available
Height - Meters0.97
Height - Metersnot available
Height - Inches38
Height - Inchesnot available
Height [transom]20 in. (0.5 m)
Height [transom]not available
Length - Feet16.42
Length - Feet19.67
Length overall - Detail16 ft. 5 in. (5 m)
Length overall - Detailnot available
Length overall - Meters5
Length overall - Metersnot available
Length overall - Inches197
Length overall - Inchesnot available
Length [at waterline]not available
Length [at waterline]20 ft. 3 in. (6.17 m) pontoon log
Length [deck]not available
Length [deck]19 ft. 8 in. (6 m)
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialAluminum
Hull thickness0.090 in. (2.3 mm)
Hull thicknessnot available
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typePontoon
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail27 gal. (102 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail24 gal. (91 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters102.21
Fuel tank capacity - Liters90.85
Fuel tank capacity - Gal27
Fuel tank capacity - Gal24
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max75 hp (56 kW)
Engine max115 hp (86 kW)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,350 lbs. (612 kg)
Maximum capacity2,248 lbs. (1,020 kg)
Maximum people6 / 875 lbs. (397 kg)
Maximum people12 / 1,746 lbs. (792 kg)
Trailer Info
Trailer - DetailPainted bunk trailer with swing tongue
Trailer - Detailnot available
Trailer - Length over all20 ft. 8 in. (6.3 m) with tongue in
Trailer - Length over allnot available
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