Lowe FS185 2012 vs Lowe L1236 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe FS185 2012 or the Lowe L1236 2012?

The Lowe FS185 2012 is the longer of the two at 18,3 feet overall. The Lowe L1236 2012 comes in at 11,8 feet, making it roughly 6,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe FS185 2012 or the Lowe L1236 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe L1236 2012 has the edge at 14 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 L1236 2012 tops out at 10 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 FS185 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe L1236 2012 is certified for 3. 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 FS185 2012 measures 95" wide, compared to 56" for the Lowe L1236 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 FS185 2012 and Lowe L1236 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe FS185 2012 and the Lowe L1236 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 FS185 2012 vs Lowe L1236 2012

Lowe

Lowe FS185 2012

2012

View full specs →

Lowe

Lowe L1236 2012

2012

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe FS185 2012 vs Lowe L1236 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Lowe FS185 2012 against a flat Lowe L1236 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 6,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe L1236 2012 at 11,8 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe FS185 2012 tips the scales at 135 lbs — 121 lbs more than the Lowe L1236 2012 at 14 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 FS185 2012 has a 140-hp advantage over the Lowe L1236 2012's 10-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 L1236 2012 caps at 3. 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 L1236 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 3 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeLowe

ModelFS185

ModelL1236

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam95 in. (2.41 m)

Beam56 in. (1.42 m)

Beam - Meters2.41

Beam - Meters1.42

Beam - Inches95

Beam - Inches56

Weight - Detail1,350 lbs. (612 kg)

Weight - Detail140 lbs. (64 kg)

Weight - kg612.35

Weight - kg63.5

Weight - lbs.135

Weight - lbs.14

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

Width [transom] - Detail36 in. (0.91 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]15 in. (0.38 m)

Length - Feet18.25

Length - Feet11.83

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

Length overall - Detail11 ft. 10 in. (3.61 m)

Length overall - Meters5.56

Length overall - Meters3.61

Length overall - Inches219

Length overall - Inches142

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Detail17 in. (0.43 m)

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters43.18

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches17

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thickness0.100 in. (2.5 mm)

Hull thickness0.050 in. (1.27 mm)

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typeFlat

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 max10 hp (7.5 kW)

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,759 lbs. (798 kg)

Maximum capacity527 lbs. (239 kg)

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

Maximum people3 / 325 lbs. (147 kg)

Trailer Info

Trailer - Width102 in. (2.59 m)

Trailer - Widthnot available

Lowe FS185 2012 vs Lowe L1236 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe FS185 2012 or the Lowe L1236 2012?

The Lowe FS185 2012 is the longer of the two at 18,3 feet overall. The Lowe L1236 2012 comes in at 11,8 feet, making it roughly 6,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe FS185 2012 or the Lowe L1236 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe L1236 2012 has the edge at 14 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 L1236 2012 tops out at 10 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 FS185 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe L1236 2012 is certified for 3. 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 FS185 2012 measures 95" wide, compared to 56" for the Lowe L1236 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 FS185 2012 and Lowe L1236 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe FS185 2012 and the Lowe L1236 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 FS185 2012 full specs ← Lowe L1236 2012 full specs