Lowe FS185 2012 vs Lowe L1448 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe FS185 2012 or the Lowe L1448 2006?

The Lowe FS185 2012 is the longer of the two at 18,3 feet overall. The Lowe L1448 2006 comes in at 14,0 feet, making it roughly 4,3 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 L1448 2006?

For trailering, the Lowe L1448 2006 has the edge at 26 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 L1448 2006 tops out at 25 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 L1448 2006 is certified for 4. 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 7" for the Lowe L1448 2006. 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 L1448 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe FS185 2012 and the Lowe L1448 2006 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 L1448 2006

Lowe

Lowe FS185 2012

2012

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Lowe

Lowe L1448 2006

2006

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe FS185 2012 vs Lowe L1448 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Lowe FS185 2012 vs Lowe L1448 2006 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Lowe FS185 2012 measures 18,3 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 4,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe L1448 2006 at 14,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe FS185 2012 tips the scales at 135 lbs — 109 lbs more than the Lowe L1448 2006 at 26 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 125-hp advantage over the Lowe L1448 2006's 25-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 L1448 2006 caps at 4. 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 L1448 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeLowe

ModelFS185

ModelL1448

Model Year2012

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam95 in. (2.41 m)

Beam70 in. (1.77 m)

Beam - Meters2.41

Beam - Meters1.78

Beam - Inches95

Beam - Inches7

Weight - Detail1,350 lbs. (612 kg)

Weight - Detail260 lbs. (117 kg)

Weight - kg612.35

Weight - kg117.93

Weight - lbs.135

Weight - lbs.26

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

Width [transom] - Detail48 in. (1.2 m)

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. (.38 m)

Length - Feet18.25

Length - Feet14

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

Length overall - Detail14 ft. 0 in. (4.27 m)

Length overall - Meters5.56

Length overall - Meters4.27

Length overall - Inches219

Length overall - Inches168

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Detail19 in. (.48 m)

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters48.26

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches19

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters4.27

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull materialnot available

Hull thickness0.100 in. (2.5 mm)

Hull thickness.072 in. (.183 cm)

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typenot available

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 max25 hp (19 kW)

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,759 lbs. (798 kg)

Maximum capacity825 lbs. (374 kg)

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

Maximum people4

Trailer Info

Trailer - Width102 in. (2.59 m)

Trailer - Widthnot available

Lowe FS185 2012 vs Lowe L1448 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe FS185 2012 or the Lowe L1448 2006?

The Lowe FS185 2012 is the longer of the two at 18,3 feet overall. The Lowe L1448 2006 comes in at 14,0 feet, making it roughly 4,3 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 L1448 2006?

For trailering, the Lowe L1448 2006 has the edge at 26 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 L1448 2006 tops out at 25 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 L1448 2006 is certified for 4. 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 7" for the Lowe L1448 2006. 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 L1448 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe FS185 2012 and the Lowe L1448 2006 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 L1448 2006 full specs