When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 and the Lowe FS185 2011 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 FM185 Pro WT 2013 at 18,4 ft versus Lowe FS185 2011 at 18,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe FS185 2011 tips the scales at 135 lbs — 118 lbs less than the Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 at 17 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 150 hp for the Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 and 150 hp for the Lowe FS185 2011. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 38 gal and 38 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 7 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.