Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Lowe FS165 2009 vs Lowe SS210 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a deep vee Lowe FS165 2009 against a pontoon Lowe SS210 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 SS210 2012 measures 19,7 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 3,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe FS165 2009 at 16,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe SS210 2012 tips the scales at 168 lbs — 167 lbs less than the Lowe FS165 2009 at 1 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 115 hp, the Lowe SS210 2012 has a 25-hp advantage over the Lowe FS165 2009's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 27 gal and 24 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lowe SS210 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Lowe FS165 2009 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe SS210 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Lowe SS210 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 19,7 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe FS165 2009 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
Model Year2009
Model Year2012
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam82 in. (2.08 m)
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.5 m)
Beam - Meters2.08
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches82
Beam - Inches102
Weight - Detail1,000 lbs. (453 kg)
Weight - Detail1,680 lbs. (762 kg)
Weight - kg453.59
Weight - kg762.03
Weight - lbs.1
Weight - lbs.168
Height [transom]20 in. (0.5 m)
Height [transom]not available
Length - Meters5
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet16
Length - Feet19.67
Length - Inches5
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail16 ft. 5 in. (5 m)
Length overall - Detailnot available
Length overall - Meters5
Length overall - Metersnot available
Length overall - Inches197
Length overall - Inchesnot available
Length [at waterline]not available
Length [at waterline]20 ft. 3 in. (6.17 m) pontoon log
Length [deck]not available
Length [deck]19 ft. 8 in. (6 m)
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialAluminum
Hull thickness0.100 in. (2.5 mm)
Hull thicknessnot available
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typePontoon
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standardMercury 90 hp 2-stroke
Engine/s standardnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail27 gal. (102 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail24 gal. (91 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters102.21
Fuel tank capacity - Liters90.85
Fuel tank capacity - Gal27
Fuel tank capacity - Gal24
Engine max90 hp (67 kw)
Engine max115 hp (86 kW)
Drive typenot available
Drive typeOutboard
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,497 lbs. (679 kg)
Maximum capacity2,248 lbs. (1,020 kg)
Maximum people6 / 995 lbs. (451 kg)
Maximum people12 / 1,746 lbs. (792 kg)
Trailer Info
Trailer - DetailPainted bunk trailer with swing tongue
Trailer - Detailnot available
Trailer - Length over all20 ft. 8 in. (6.3 m)
Trailer - Length over allnot available
Trailer - Width89 in. (2.26 m)
Trailer - Widthnot available
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