Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 vs Lowe RV160 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 or the Lowe RV160 2011?

The Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 is the longer of the two at 18,4 feet overall. The Lowe RV160 2011 comes in at 16,0 feet, making it roughly 2,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 or the Lowe RV160 2011?

For trailering, the Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 has the edge at 17 lbs dry weight versus 654 lbs for the Lowe RV160 2011. 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 FM185 Pro WT 2013 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe RV160 2011 tops out at 50 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 FM185 Pro WT 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe RV160 2011 is certified for 4. 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 FM185 Pro WT 2013 measures 96" wide, compared to 77" for the Lowe RV160 2011. 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: Are the Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 and Lowe RV160 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 and the Lowe RV160 2011 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 FM185 Pro WT 2013 vs Lowe RV160 2011

Lowe

Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013

2013

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Lowe

Lowe RV160 2011

2011

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 vs Lowe RV160 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 against a modified vee Lowe RV160 2011 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 at 18,4 ft versus Lowe RV160 2011 at 16,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe RV160 2011 tips the scales at 654 lbs — 637 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 150 hp, the Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 has a 100-hp advantage over the Lowe RV160 2011's 50-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe RV160 2011 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 18,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe RV160 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeLowe

ModelFM185 Pro WT

ModelRV16

Model Year2013

Model Year2011

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam96 in. (2.44 m)

Beam76.5 in. (1.94 m)

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Meters1.96

Beam - Inches96

Beam - Inches76.5

Weight - Detail1,700 lbs. (771.1 kg)

Weight - Detail654 lbs. (297 kg)

Weight - kg771.11

Weight - kg296.65

Weight - lbs.17

Weight - lbs.654

Width [transom] - Detail83 in. (2.11 m) bottom

Width [transom] - Detail52 in. (1.32 m) bottom

Height - Detail41 in. (1.04 m) bow

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Meters1.04

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Inches41

Height - Inchesnot available

Height [transom]25 in. (0.64 m)

Height [transom]20 in. (0.51 m)

Length - Feet18.42

Length - Feet16

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 5 in. (5.61 m)

Length overall - Detail16 ft. (4.88 m)

Length overall - Meters5.61

Length overall - Meters4.88

Length overall - Inches221

Length overall - Inches192

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Detail19.5 in. (0.50 m)

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters50.8

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches19.5

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thickness0.100 in. (2.5 mm)

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail38 gal. (144 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters143.85

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal38

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max150 hp (111 kW) 9.9 hp (7.4 kW) Kicker motor

Engine max50 hp (37 kW)

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,759 lbs. (798 kg)

Maximum capacity1,100 lbs. (499 kg)

Maximum people7 / 1,115 lbs. (506 kg)

Maximum people4 / 550 lbs. (249 kg)

Trailer Info

Trailer - Width102 in. (2.59 m)

Trailer - Widthnot available

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over all19 ft. 2 in. (5.8 m)

Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 vs Lowe RV160 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 or the Lowe RV160 2011?

The Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 is the longer of the two at 18,4 feet overall. The Lowe RV160 2011 comes in at 16,0 feet, making it roughly 2,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 or the Lowe RV160 2011?

For trailering, the Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 has the edge at 17 lbs dry weight versus 654 lbs for the Lowe RV160 2011. 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 FM185 Pro WT 2013 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe RV160 2011 tops out at 50 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 FM185 Pro WT 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe RV160 2011 is certified for 4. 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 FM185 Pro WT 2013 measures 96" wide, compared to 77" for the Lowe RV160 2011. 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.

Are the Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 and Lowe RV160 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe FM185 Pro WT 2013 and the Lowe RV160 2011 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 FM185 Pro WT 2013 full specs ← Lowe RV160 2011 full specs