Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 vs Lowe FS185 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 or the Lowe FS185 2012?

The Lowe FS185 2012 is the longer of the two at 18,3 feet overall. The Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 16,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 or the Lowe FS185 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 has the edge at 71 lbs dry weight versus 135 lbs for the Lowe FS185 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 FS185 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 tops out at 75 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 2070 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Lowe FS185 2012 is certified for 7. 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 Frontier 2070 2011 measures 96" wide, compared to 95" for the Lowe FS185 2012. 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 2070 2011 and Lowe FS185 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 and the Lowe FS185 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 Frontier 2070 2011 vs Lowe FS185 2012

Lowe

Lowe Frontier 2070 2011

2011

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Lowe

Lowe FS185 2012

2012

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 vs Lowe FS185 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 against a deep vee Lowe FS185 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 FS185 2012 measures 18,3 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 16,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 at 2,0 feet (2011). At 71 lbs and 135 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 FS185 2012 has a 75-hp advantage over the Lowe Frontier 2070 2011's 75-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 FS185 2012 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe FS185 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe FS185 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 18,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 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

ModelFrontier 207

ModelFS185

Model Year2011

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam96 in. (2.44 m)

Beam95 in. (2.41 m)

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Meters2.41

Beam - Inches96

Beam - Inches95

Depth - Detail24 in. (0.61 m)

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters60.96

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches24

Depth - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail710 lbs. (322 kg)

Weight - Detail1,350 lbs. (612 kg)

Weight - kg322.05

Weight - kg612.35

Weight - lbs.71

Weight - lbs.135

Width [transom] - Detail70 in. (1.78 m) bottom

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

Height [transom]20 in. (0.51 m)

Height [transom]25 in. (0.64 m)

Length - Feet2

Length - Feet18.25

Length overall - Detail20 ft. (6.1 m)

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 3 in. (5.56 m)

Length overall - Meters6.1

Length overall - Meters5.56

Length overall - Inches24

Length overall - Inches219

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Detail41 in. (1.04 m) bow

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters1.04

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches41

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thickness0.100 in. (2.5 mm)

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max75 hp (56 kW)

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

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail38 gal. (144 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters143.85

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal38

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,360 lbs. (617 kg)

Maximum capacity1,759 lbs. (798 kg)

Maximum people6 / 800 lbs. (363 kg)

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

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over all24 ft. (7.32 m)

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Widthnot available

Trailer - Width102 in. (2.59 m)

Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 vs Lowe FS185 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 or the Lowe FS185 2012?

The Lowe FS185 2012 is the longer of the two at 18,3 feet overall. The Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 16,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 or the Lowe FS185 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 has the edge at 71 lbs dry weight versus 135 lbs for the Lowe FS185 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 FS185 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 tops out at 75 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 2070 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 6 passengers, while the Lowe FS185 2012 is certified for 7. 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 Frontier 2070 2011 measures 96" wide, compared to 95" for the Lowe FS185 2012. 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 2070 2011 and Lowe FS185 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe Frontier 2070 2011 and the Lowe FS185 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 Frontier 2070 2011 full specs ← Lowe FS185 2012 full specs