Lowe FM175 2009 vs Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe FM175 2009 or the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012?

The Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 is the longer of the two at 22,3 feet overall. The Lowe FM175 2009 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 5,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe FM175 2009 or the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe FM175 2009 has the edge at 113 lbs dry weight versus 2 104 lbs for the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012. 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 Platinum 23 RFL 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe FM175 2009 tops out at 115 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 FM175 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 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 Platinum 23 RFL 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 92" for the Lowe FM175 2009. 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 FM175 2009 or the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012?

The Lowe FM175 2009 has the bigger tank at 27 gallons, versus 24 gallons on the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Lowe FM175 2009 and Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe FM175 2009 and the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 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 FM175 2009 vs Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012

Lowe

Lowe FM175 2009

2009

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Lowe

Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe FM175 2009 vs Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Lowe FM175 2009 against a pontoon Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 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 Platinum 23 RFL 2012 measures 22,3 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 5,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe FM175 2009 at 17,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 tips the scales at 2 104 lbs — 1 991 lbs less than the Lowe FM175 2009 at 113 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 Platinum 23 RFL 2012 has a 35-hp advantage over the Lowe FM175 2009's 115-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 Platinum 23 RFL 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Lowe FM175 2009 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 22,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe FM175 2009 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

MakeLowe

ModelFM175

ModelPlatinum 23 RFL

Model Year2009

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam92 in. (2.33 m)

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.5 m)

Beam - Meters2.34

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches92

Beam - Inches102

Weight - Detail1,130 lbs. (512 kg)

Weight - Detail2,104 lbs. (954 kg)

Weight - kg512.56

Weight - kg954.36

Weight - lbs.113

Weight - lbs.2104

Height [transom]20 in. (0.5 m)

Height [transom]not available

Length - Meters5.25

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet17

Length - Feet22.25

Length - Inches3

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 3 in. (5.25 m)

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Meters5.26

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Inches207

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Length [at waterline]not available

Length [at waterline]22 ft. (6.7 m) pontoon log

Length [deck]not available

Length [deck]22 ft. 3 in. (6.78 m)

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thickness0.100 in. (2.5 mm)

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typePontoon

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standardMercury 90 hp 2-stroke

Engine/s standardnot available

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

Fuel typeGas

Engine max115 hp (86 kw)

Engine max150 hp (112 kW)

Drive typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,600 lbs. (726 kg)

Maximum capacity2,345 lbs. (1,064 kg)

Maximum people6 / 960 lbs. (435 kg)

Maximum people12 / 1,705 lbs. (773 kg)

Trailer Info

Trailer - DetailPainted bunk trailer with swing tongue

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - Length over all20 ft. 11 in. (6.4 m) with tongue in

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Width102 in. (2.59 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 FM175 2009 vs Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe FM175 2009 or the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012?

The Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 is the longer of the two at 22,3 feet overall. The Lowe FM175 2009 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 5,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe FM175 2009 or the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe FM175 2009 has the edge at 113 lbs dry weight versus 2 104 lbs for the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012. 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 Platinum 23 RFL 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe FM175 2009 tops out at 115 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 FM175 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 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 Platinum 23 RFL 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 92" for the Lowe FM175 2009. 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 FM175 2009 or the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012?

The Lowe FM175 2009 has the bigger tank at 27 gallons, versus 24 gallons on the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Lowe FM175 2009 and Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe FM175 2009 and the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 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 FM175 2009 full specs ← Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 full specs