Lowe Frontier 1756 2011 vs Lowe SS230XD 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe Frontier 1756 2011 or the Lowe SS230XD 2013?

The Lowe SS230XD 2013 is the longer of the two at 22,0 feet overall. The Lowe Frontier 1756 2011 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 5,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe Frontier 1756 2011 or the Lowe SS230XD 2013?

For trailering, the Lowe SS230XD 2013 has the edge at 199 lbs dry weight versus 545 lbs for the Lowe Frontier 1756 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 SS230XD 2013 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe Frontier 1756 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 Frontier 1756 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Lowe SS230XD 2013 is certified for 13. 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 SS230XD 2013 measures 102" wide, compared to 8" for the Lowe Frontier 1756 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 Frontier 1756 2011 and Lowe SS230XD 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe Frontier 1756 2011 and the Lowe SS230XD 2013 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 Frontier 1756 2011 vs Lowe SS230XD 2013

Lowe

Lowe Frontier 1756 2011

2011

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Lowe

Lowe SS230XD 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe Frontier 1756 2011 vs Lowe SS230XD 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Lowe Frontier 1756 2011 against a pontoon Lowe SS230XD 2013 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 SS230XD 2013 measures 22,0 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 5,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe Frontier 1756 2011 at 17,0 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe Frontier 1756 2011 tips the scales at 545 lbs — 346 lbs more than the Lowe SS230XD 2013 at 199 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 SS230XD 2013 has a 100-hp advantage over the Lowe Frontier 1756 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 SS230XD 2013 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Lowe Frontier 1756 2011 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe SS230XD 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe SS230XD 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe Frontier 1756 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeLowe

ModelFrontier 1756

ModelSS230XD

Model Year2011

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam80 in. (2.03 m)

Beam102 in. (2.5 m)

Beam - Meters2.03

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches8

Beam - Inches102

Depth - Detail23 in. (0.58 m)

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters58.42

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches23

Depth - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail545 lbs. (247 kg)

Weight - Detail1,990 lbs. (902 kg)

Weight - kg247.21

Weight - kg902.65

Weight - lbs.545

Weight - lbs.199

Width [transom] - Detail56 in. (1.42 m) bottom

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Height [transom]20 in. (0.51 m)

Height [transom]not available

Length - Feet17

Length - Feet22

Length overall - Detail17 ft. (5.18 m)

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Meters5.18

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Inches204

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Length [at waterline]not available

Length [at waterline]22 ft. 3 in. (6.78 m) pontoon log

Length [deck]not available

Length [deck]22 ft. (6.71 m)

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thickness0.100 in. (2.5 mm)

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typePontoon

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max50 hp (37 kW)

Engine max150 hp (112 kW)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail22 gal. (83 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters83.28

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal22

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,151 lbs. (522 kg)

Maximum capacity2,460 lbs. (1,115 kg)

Maximum people5 / 650 lbs. (295 kg)

Maximum people13 / 1,798 lbs. (815 kg)

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 Frontier 1756 2011 vs Lowe SS230XD 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe Frontier 1756 2011 or the Lowe SS230XD 2013?

The Lowe SS230XD 2013 is the longer of the two at 22,0 feet overall. The Lowe Frontier 1756 2011 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 5,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe Frontier 1756 2011 or the Lowe SS230XD 2013?

For trailering, the Lowe SS230XD 2013 has the edge at 199 lbs dry weight versus 545 lbs for the Lowe Frontier 1756 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 SS230XD 2013 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe Frontier 1756 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 Frontier 1756 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Lowe SS230XD 2013 is certified for 13. 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 SS230XD 2013 measures 102" wide, compared to 8" for the Lowe Frontier 1756 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 Frontier 1756 2011 and Lowe SS230XD 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe Frontier 1756 2011 and the Lowe SS230XD 2013 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 Frontier 1756 2011 full specs ← Lowe SS230XD 2013 full specs