When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lowe L1648MT 2009 and the Lowe L1652MT 2012 are flat designs with aluminum construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Lowe L1648MT 2009 at 15,0 ft versus Lowe L1652MT 2012 at 15,8 ft. At 42 lbs and 45 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 35 hp for the Lowe L1648MT 2009 and 50 hp for the Lowe L1652MT 2012. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lowe L1652MT 2012 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Lowe L1648MT 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 L1652MT 2012 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Lowe L1652MT 2012 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 1 lbs per hp for the Lowe L1648MT 2009. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
Bottom line: Choose the Lowe L1652MT 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 15,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe L1648MT 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.