Lowe FS185 2013 vs Lowe L1436L 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe FS185 2013 or the Lowe L1436L 2005?

The Lowe FS185 2013 is the longer of the two at 18,4 feet overall. The Lowe L1436L 2005 comes in at 14,0 feet, making it roughly 4,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe FS185 2013 or the Lowe L1436L 2005?

For trailering, the Lowe FS185 2013 has the edge at 17 lbs dry weight versus 145 lbs for the Lowe L1436L 2005. 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 2013 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe L1436L 2005 tops out at 15 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 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe L1436L 2005 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 2013 measures 96" wide, compared to 57" for the Lowe L1436L 2005. 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 2013 and Lowe L1436L 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe FS185 2013 and the Lowe L1436L 2005 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 2013 vs Lowe L1436L 2005

Lowe

Lowe FS185 2013

2013

View full specs →

Lowe

Lowe L1436L 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe FS185 2013 vs Lowe L1436L 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Lowe FS185 2013 vs Lowe L1436L 2005 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 2013 measures 18,4 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 4,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe L1436L 2005 at 14,0 feet (2005). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe L1436L 2005 tips the scales at 145 lbs — 128 lbs less than the Lowe FS185 2013 at 17 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 2013 has a 135-hp advantage over the Lowe L1436L 2005's 15-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 2013 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe L1436L 2005 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 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe FS185 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 18,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe L1436L 2005 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

ModelL1436L

Model Year2013

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam96 in. (2.44 m)

Beam57 in. (1.44 m)

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Meters1.45

Beam - Inches96

Beam - Inches57

Weight - Detail1,700 lbs. (771.1 kg)

Weight - Detail145 lbs. (65 kg)

Weight - kg771.11

Weight - kg65.77

Weight - lbs.17

Weight - lbs.145

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

Width [transom] - Detail36 in. (.91 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 - Feet18.42

Length - Feet14

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 5 in. (5.56 m)

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

Length overall - Meters5.61

Length overall - Meters4.27

Length overall - Inches221

Length overall - Inches168

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Detail17 in. (.43 m)

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters43.18

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches17

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters4.27

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull materialnot available

Hull thickness0.100 in. (2.5 mm)

Hull thickness.050 in. (.127 cm)

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail32 gal. (121.1 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters121.13

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal32

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

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

Engine max15 hp (11 kw)

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,759 lbs. (798 kg)

Maximum capacity552 lbs. (250 kg)

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

Maximum people3

Trailer Info

Trailer - Width102 in. (2.59 m)

Trailer - Widthnot available

Lowe FS185 2013 vs Lowe L1436L 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe FS185 2013 or the Lowe L1436L 2005?

The Lowe FS185 2013 is the longer of the two at 18,4 feet overall. The Lowe L1436L 2005 comes in at 14,0 feet, making it roughly 4,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe FS185 2013 or the Lowe L1436L 2005?

For trailering, the Lowe FS185 2013 has the edge at 17 lbs dry weight versus 145 lbs for the Lowe L1436L 2005. 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 2013 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe L1436L 2005 tops out at 15 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 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe L1436L 2005 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 2013 measures 96" wide, compared to 57" for the Lowe L1436L 2005. 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 2013 and Lowe L1436L 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe FS185 2013 and the Lowe L1436L 2005 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 2013 full specs ← Lowe L1436L 2005 full specs