Lowe L1236 2006 vs Lowe SD224 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe L1236 2006 or the Lowe SD224 2012?

The Lowe SD224 2012 is the longer of the two at 22,0 feet overall. The Lowe L1236 2006 comes in at 11,0 feet, making it roughly 11,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe L1236 2006 or the Lowe SD224 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe L1236 2006 has the edge at 14 lbs dry weight versus 218 lbs for the Lowe SD224 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 SD224 2012 is rated to a maximum of 175 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe L1236 2006 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 L1236 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 3 passengers, while the Lowe SD224 2012 is certified for 12. 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 SD224 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 56" for the Lowe L1236 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 L1236 2006 and Lowe SD224 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe L1236 2006 and the Lowe SD224 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 L1236 2006 vs Lowe SD224 2012

Lowe

Lowe L1236 2006

2006

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Lowe

Lowe SD224 2012

2012

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe L1236 2006 vs Lowe SD224 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Lowe L1236 2006 vs Lowe SD224 2012 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 SD224 2012 measures 22,0 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 11,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe L1236 2006 at 11,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe SD224 2012 tips the scales at 218 lbs — 204 lbs less than the Lowe L1236 2006 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 175 hp, the Lowe SD224 2012 has a 165-hp advantage over the Lowe L1236 2006'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 SD224 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Lowe L1236 2006 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe SD224 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe SD224 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe L1236 2006 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

ModelL1236

ModelSD224

Model Year2006

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam56 in. (1.42 m)

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.5 m)

Beam - Meters1.42

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches56

Beam - Inches102

Depth - Detail17 in. (.43 m)

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters43.18

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches17

Depth - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail140 lbs. (63 kg)

Weight - Detail2,180 lbs. (988 kg)

Weight - kg63.5

Weight - kg988.83

Weight - lbs.14

Weight - lbs.218

Width [transom] - Detail36 in. (.91 m)

Width [transom] - Detail85 in. (2.15 m) bottom

Height [transom]15 in. (.38 m)

Height [transom]20 in. (0.5 m)

Length - Meters3.63

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet11

Length - Feet22

Length - Inches11

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail11 ft. 11 in. (3.63 m)

Length overall - Detail22 ft. (6.7 m)

Length overall - Meters3.63

Length overall - Meters6.71

Length overall - Inches143

Length overall - Inches264

Body / Hull

Hull thickness.050 in. (.127 cm)

Hull thickness0.110 in. (2.79 mm)

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typenot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max10 hp (7.5 kW)

Engine max175 hp (130 kW)

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 capacity527 lbs. (239 kg)

Maximum capacity2,404 lbs. (1,090 kg)

Maximum people3

Maximum people12 / 1,660 lbs. (753 kg)

Lowe L1236 2006 vs Lowe SD224 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe L1236 2006 or the Lowe SD224 2012?

The Lowe SD224 2012 is the longer of the two at 22,0 feet overall. The Lowe L1236 2006 comes in at 11,0 feet, making it roughly 11,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe L1236 2006 or the Lowe SD224 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe L1236 2006 has the edge at 14 lbs dry weight versus 218 lbs for the Lowe SD224 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 SD224 2012 is rated to a maximum of 175 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe L1236 2006 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 L1236 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 3 passengers, while the Lowe SD224 2012 is certified for 12. 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 SD224 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 56" for the Lowe L1236 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 L1236 2006 and Lowe SD224 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe L1236 2006 and the Lowe SD224 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 L1236 2006 full specs ← Lowe SD224 2012 full specs