When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lowe FM185DC 2009 and the Lowe FS175 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 FM185DC 2009 at 18,0 ft versus Lowe FS175 2012 at 17,3 ft. At 121 lbs and 115 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 150 hp, the Lowe FM185DC 2009 has a 35-hp advantage over the Lowe FS175 2012's 115-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 FM185DC 2009 carries 38 gallons versus 27 gallons in the Lowe FS175 2012. 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 FS175 2012 is rated for 960 passengers, while the Lowe FM185DC 2009 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe FS175 2012 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Lowe FM185DC 2009 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 1 lbs per hp for the Lowe FS175 2012. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.