Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 vs Lowe FM175DC 2010 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 or the Lowe FM175DC 2010?

The Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 is the longer of the two at 24,3 feet overall. The Lowe FM175DC 2010 comes in at 17,3 feet, making it roughly 7,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 or the Lowe FM175DC 2010?

For trailering, the Lowe FM175DC 2010 has the edge at 113 lbs dry weight versus 2 207 lbs for the Lowe Boats LS 230 2022. 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 Boats LS 230 2022 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe FM175DC 2010 tops out at 115 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 Boats LS 230 2022 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe FM175DC 2010 is certified for 6. 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 Boats LS 230 2022 measures 103" wide, compared to 92" for the Lowe FM175DC 2010. 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: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 or the Lowe FM175DC 2010?

The Lowe FM175DC 2010 has the bigger tank at 27 gallons, versus 24 gallons on the Lowe Boats LS 230 2022. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 and Lowe FM175DC 2010 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 and the Lowe FM175DC 2010 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 Boats LS 230 2022 vs Lowe FM175DC 2010

Lowe

Lowe Boats LS 230 2022

2022

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Lowe

Lowe FM175DC 2010

2010

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 vs Lowe FM175DC 2010 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 vs Lowe FM175DC 2010 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 Boats LS 230 2022 measures 24,3 feet overall (2022), giving it roughly 7,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe FM175DC 2010 at 17,3 feet (2010). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 tips the scales at 2 207 lbs — 2 094 lbs more than the Lowe FM175DC 2010 at 113 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 Boats LS 230 2022 has a 35-hp advantage over the Lowe FM175DC 2010's 115-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 24 gal and 27 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe FM175DC 2010 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 24,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe FM175DC 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

Measurements / Dimensions

Length overall - Detail24.30 ft

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 3 in. (5.25 m)

Length - Feet24.3

Length - Feet17.25

Length overall - Meters7.41

Length overall - Meters5.26

Length overall - Inches292

Length overall - Inches207

Beam8.60 ft

Beam92 in. (2.33 m)

Beam - Meters2.62

Beam - Meters2.34

Beam - Inches103

Beam - Inches92

Displacement2207.00 lbs

Displacementnot available

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail1,130 lbs. (512 kg)

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg512.56

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.113

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - DetailBottom Width: 80 in. (2 m)

Height - Detailnot available

Height - DetailBow Height: 40 in. (1.01 m)

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters1.02

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches4

Height [transom]not available

Height [transom]20 in. (0.5 m)

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Gal24

Fuel tank capacity - Gal27

Fuel tank capacity - Liters90.85

Fuel tank capacity - Liters102.21

Engine makeMercury

Engine makenot available

Engine modelFourStroke

Engine modelnot available

Horsepower150 hp

Horsepowernot available

Drive typeoutboard

Drive typenot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail27 gal. (144 l)

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Engine maxnot available

Engine max115 hp (86 kW)

Operational Info

TrailerableYes

Trailerablenot available

Boat typePower

Boat typenot available

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity1,600 lbs. (726 kg)

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people6 / 960 lbs. (435 kg)

General Boat Info

Makenot available

MakeLowe

Modelnot available

ModelFM175DC

Model Yearnot available

Model Year201

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull thickness0.100 in. (2.5 mm)

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Trailer Info

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - DetailPainted bunk trailer with swing tongue

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over all20 ft. 11 in. (6.4 m)

Trailer - Widthnot available

Trailer - Width102 in. (2.59 m)

Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 vs Lowe FM175DC 2010 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 or the Lowe FM175DC 2010?

The Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 is the longer of the two at 24,3 feet overall. The Lowe FM175DC 2010 comes in at 17,3 feet, making it roughly 7,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 or the Lowe FM175DC 2010?

For trailering, the Lowe FM175DC 2010 has the edge at 113 lbs dry weight versus 2 207 lbs for the Lowe Boats LS 230 2022. 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 Boats LS 230 2022 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe FM175DC 2010 tops out at 115 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 Boats LS 230 2022 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe FM175DC 2010 is certified for 6. 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 Boats LS 230 2022 measures 103" wide, compared to 92" for the Lowe FM175DC 2010. 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 or the Lowe FM175DC 2010?

The Lowe FM175DC 2010 has the bigger tank at 27 gallons, versus 24 gallons on the Lowe Boats LS 230 2022. That 3-gallon difference translates to roughly 9–15 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 and Lowe FM175DC 2010 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe Boats LS 230 2022 and the Lowe FM175DC 2010 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 Boats LS 230 2022 full specs ← Lowe FM175DC 2010 full specs