Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 vs Lowe Sportsman 16 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 or the Lowe Sportsman 16 2011?

The Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 is the longer of the two at 22,3 feet overall. The Lowe Sportsman 16 2011 comes in at 16,0 feet, making it roughly 6,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe Sportsman 16 2011 tops out at 60 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 Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Lowe Sportsman 16 2011 is certified for 4. 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 Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 75" for the Lowe Sportsman 16 2011. 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 Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 or the Lowe Sportsman 16 2011?

The Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 has the bigger tank at 24 gallons, versus 16 gallons on the Lowe Sportsman 16 2011. That 8-gallon difference translates to roughly 24–40 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 and Lowe Sportsman 16 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 and the Lowe Sportsman 16 2011 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 Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 vs Lowe Sportsman 16 2011

Lowe

Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012

2012

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Lowe

Lowe Sportsman 16 2011

2011

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 vs Lowe Sportsman 16 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a pontoon Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 against a modified vee Lowe Sportsman 16 2011 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 150 hp, the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 has a 90-hp advantage over the Lowe Sportsman 16 2011's 60-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 carries 24 gallons versus 16 gallons in the Lowe Sportsman 16 2011. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Lowe Sportsman 16 2011 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 22,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe Sportsman 16 2011 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

ModelPlatinum 23 Cruise

ModelSportsman 16

Model Year2012

Model Year2011

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.5 m)

Beam75 in. (1.9 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters1.91

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches75

Length [at waterline]22 ft. (6.7 m) pontoon log

Length [at waterline]not available

Length [deck]22 ft. 3 in. (6.78 m)

Length [deck]not available

Length - Feet22.25

Length - Feet16

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Detail22 in. (0.56 m)

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters55.88

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches22

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail900 lbs. (408 kg)

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg408.23

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.9

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - Detail57 in. (1.45 m) bottom

Height [transom]not available

Height [transom]20 in. (0.51 m)

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Detail16 ft. (4.88 m)

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Meters4.88

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Inches192

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typePontoon

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull thickness0.100 in. (2.5 mm)

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter25 in. (0.64 m)

Tube diameternot available

Number of tubes2

Number of tubesnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail24 gal. (91 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail16 gal. (61 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters90.85

Fuel tank capacity - Liters60.57

Fuel tank capacity - Gal24

Fuel tank capacity - Gal16

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max150 hp (112 kW)

Engine max60 hp (45 kW)

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,345 lbs. (1,064 kg)

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people12 / 1,705 lbs. (773 kg)

Maximum people4 / 600 lbs. (272 kg)

Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 vs Lowe Sportsman 16 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 or the Lowe Sportsman 16 2011?

The Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 is the longer of the two at 22,3 feet overall. The Lowe Sportsman 16 2011 comes in at 16,0 feet, making it roughly 6,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe Sportsman 16 2011 tops out at 60 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 Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Lowe Sportsman 16 2011 is certified for 4. 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 Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 75" for the Lowe Sportsman 16 2011. 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 Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 or the Lowe Sportsman 16 2011?

The Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 has the bigger tank at 24 gallons, versus 16 gallons on the Lowe Sportsman 16 2011. That 8-gallon difference translates to roughly 24–40 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 and Lowe Sportsman 16 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 and the Lowe Sportsman 16 2011 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 Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 full specs ← Lowe Sportsman 16 2011 full specs