Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 vs Lowe R1860 2010 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 or the Lowe R1860 2010?

The Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 is the longer of the two at 22,3 feet overall. The Lowe R1860 2010 comes in at 18,4 feet, making it roughly 3,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 or the Lowe R1860 2010?

For trailering, the Lowe R1860 2010 has the edge at 85 lbs dry weight versus 2 104 lbs for the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 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 Platinum 23 RFL 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe R1860 2010 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 RFL 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Lowe R1860 2010 is certified for 7. 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 RFL 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 84" for the Lowe R1860 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: Are the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 and Lowe R1860 2010 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 and the Lowe R1860 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 Platinum 23 RFL 2012 vs Lowe R1860 2010

Lowe

Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012

2012

View full specs →

Lowe

Lowe R1860 2010

2010

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 vs Lowe R1860 2010 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a pontoon Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 against a modified vee Lowe R1860 2010 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 Platinum 23 RFL 2012 measures 22,3 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 3,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe R1860 2010 at 18,4 feet (2010). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 tips the scales at 2 104 lbs — 2 019 lbs more than the Lowe R1860 2010 at 85 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 Platinum 23 RFL 2012 has a 90-hp advantage over the Lowe R1860 2010's 60-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 Platinum 23 RFL 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Lowe R1860 2010 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 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 R1860 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeLowe

ModelPlatinum 23 RFL

ModelR186

Model Year2012

Model Year201

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.5 m)

Beam83.5 in. (2.12 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters2.13

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches83.5

Weight - Detail2,104 lbs. (954 kg)

Weight - Detail850 lbs. (386 kg)

Weight - kg954.36

Weight - kg385.55

Weight - lbs.2104

Weight - lbs.85

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 - Feet18.42

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Detail25 in. (0.64 m)

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters63.5

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches25

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - DetailBottom Width: 60 in. (1.52 m)

Height [transom]not available

Height [transom]20 in. (0.51 m)

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 5 in. (5.61 m)

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Meters5.61

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Inches221

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typePontoon

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull thickness0.110 in. (2.8 mm)

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter25 in. (0.64 m)

Tube diameternot available

Tube gauge0.080 in. (2.03 mm)

Tube gaugenot available

Number of tubes2

Number of tubesnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail24 gal. (91 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters90.85

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal24

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typenot available

Engine max150 hp (112 kW)

Engine max60 hp (45 kW)

Operational Info

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

Maximum capacity1,680 lbs. (762 kg)

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

Maximum people7 / 1,078 lbs. (489 kg)

Trailer Info

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - DetailPainted bunk trailer with swing tongue

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over all21 ft. 2 in. (6.45 m)

Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 vs Lowe R1860 2010 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 or the Lowe R1860 2010?

The Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 is the longer of the two at 22,3 feet overall. The Lowe R1860 2010 comes in at 18,4 feet, making it roughly 3,8 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 or the Lowe R1860 2010?

For trailering, the Lowe R1860 2010 has the edge at 85 lbs dry weight versus 2 104 lbs for the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 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 Platinum 23 RFL 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe R1860 2010 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 RFL 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Lowe R1860 2010 is certified for 7. 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 RFL 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 84" for the Lowe R1860 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.

Are the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 and Lowe R1860 2010 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2012 and the Lowe R1860 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 Platinum 23 RFL 2012 full specs ← Lowe R1860 2010 full specs