Lowe L1648 2009 vs Lowe SS230XD 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe L1648 2009 or the Lowe SS230XD 2012?

The Lowe SS230XD 2012 is the longer of the two at 21,7 feet overall. The Lowe L1648 2009 comes in at 15,0 feet, making it roughly 6,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe L1648 2009 or the Lowe SS230XD 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe L1648 2009 has the edge at 42 lbs dry weight versus 1 805 lbs for the Lowe SS230XD 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 SS230XD 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe L1648 2009 tops out at 35 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 L1648 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 4 passengers, while the Lowe SS230XD 2012 is certified for 13. 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 SS230XD 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 7" for the Lowe L1648 2009. 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 L1648 2009 and Lowe SS230XD 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe L1648 2009 and the Lowe SS230XD 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 L1648 2009 vs Lowe SS230XD 2012

Lowe

Lowe L1648 2009

2009

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Lowe

Lowe SS230XD 2012

2012

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe L1648 2009 vs Lowe SS230XD 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a flat Lowe L1648 2009 against a pontoon Lowe SS230XD 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 SS230XD 2012 measures 21,7 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 6,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe L1648 2009 at 15,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe SS230XD 2012 tips the scales at 1 805 lbs — 1 763 lbs less than the Lowe L1648 2009 at 42 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 SS230XD 2012 has a 115-hp advantage over the Lowe L1648 2009's 35-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 SS230XD 2012 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Lowe L1648 2009 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe SS230XD 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe SS230XD 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 21,7 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe L1648 2009 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

ModelL1648

ModelSS230XD

Model Year2009

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam70 in. (1.77 m)

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.5 m)

Beam - Meters1.78

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches7

Beam - Inches102

Depth - Detail21 in. (0.53 m)

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters53.34

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches21

Depth - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail420 lbs. (190 kg)

Weight - Detail1,805 lbs. (819 kg)

Weight - kg190.51

Weight - kg818.73

Weight - lbs.42

Weight - lbs.1805

Height [transom]15 / 20 in. (0.38 / 0.5 m)

Height [transom]not available

Length - Meters4.82

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet15

Length - Feet21.67

Length - Inches1

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail15 ft. 10 in. (4.82 m)

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Meters4.83

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Inches19

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Length [at waterline]not available

Length [at waterline]22 ft. 3 in. (6.78 m) pontoon log

Length [deck]not available

Length [deck]21 ft. 8 in. (6.6 m)

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thickness0.072 in. (1.83 mm)

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull typeFlat

Hull typePontoon

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel typeGas

Engine max35 hp (26 kw)

Engine max150 hp (112 kW)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail24 gal. (91 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters90.85

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal24

Drive typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Operational Info

Maximum capacity973 lbs. (441 kg)

Maximum capacity2,517 lbs. (1,142 kg)

Maximum people4/555 lbs. (252 kg)

Maximum people13 / 1,877 lbs. (851 kg)

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over all20 ft. (6.1 m)

Trailer - Length over allnot 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

Lowe L1648 2009 vs Lowe SS230XD 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe L1648 2009 or the Lowe SS230XD 2012?

The Lowe SS230XD 2012 is the longer of the two at 21,7 feet overall. The Lowe L1648 2009 comes in at 15,0 feet, making it roughly 6,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe L1648 2009 or the Lowe SS230XD 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe L1648 2009 has the edge at 42 lbs dry weight versus 1 805 lbs for the Lowe SS230XD 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 SS230XD 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe L1648 2009 tops out at 35 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 L1648 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 4 passengers, while the Lowe SS230XD 2012 is certified for 13. 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 SS230XD 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 7" for the Lowe L1648 2009. 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 L1648 2009 and Lowe SS230XD 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe L1648 2009 and the Lowe SS230XD 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 L1648 2009 full specs ← Lowe SS230XD 2012 full specs