Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 vs Lowe ST160 2009 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 or the Lowe ST160 2009?

The Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 is the longer of the two at 22,0 feet overall. The Lowe ST160 2009 comes in at 16,0 feet, making it roughly 6,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 or the Lowe ST160 2009?

For trailering, the Lowe ST160 2009 has the edge at 865 lbs dry weight versus 2 839 lbs for the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013. 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 2013 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe ST160 2009 tops out at 50 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 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Lowe ST160 2009 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 RFL 2013 measures 102" wide, compared to 77" for the Lowe ST160 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: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 or the Lowe ST160 2009?

The Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 has the bigger tank at 22 gallons, versus 13 gallons on the Lowe ST160 2009. That 9-gallon difference translates to roughly 27–45 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 and Lowe ST160 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 and the Lowe ST160 2009 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 2013 vs Lowe ST160 2009

Lowe

Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013

2013

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Lowe

Lowe ST160 2009

2009

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 vs Lowe ST160 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a pontoon Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 against a modified vee Lowe ST160 2009 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 2013 measures 22,0 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 6,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe ST160 2009 at 16,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 tips the scales at 2 839 lbs — 1 974 lbs more than the Lowe ST160 2009 at 865 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 2013 has a 100-hp advantage over the Lowe ST160 2009's 50-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 RFL 2013 carries 22 gallons versus 13 gallons in the Lowe ST160 2009. 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 RFL 2013 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Lowe ST160 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 Platinum 23 RFL 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe ST160 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

ModelPlatinum 23 RFL

ModelST16

Model Year2013

Model Year2009

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam102 in. (2.5 m)

Beam77 in. (1.96 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters1.96

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches77

Weight - Detail2,839 lbs. (1,287 kg)

Weight - Detail865 lbs. (392 kg)

Weight - kg1287.75

Weight - kg392.36

Weight - lbs.2839

Weight - lbs.865

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

Length [at waterline]not available

Length [deck]22 ft. (6.7 m)

Length [deck]not available

Length - Feet22

Length - Feet16

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Detail21 in. (0.53 m)

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters53.34

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches21

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail12 in. (0.30 m)

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.3

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches12

Height [transom]not available

Height [transom]20 in. (0.5 m)

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Meters4.88

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

Tube gauge0.080 in. (2.03 mm)

Tube gaugenot available

Number of tubes2

Number of tubesnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail22 gal. (91 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail13 gal. (49 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters83.28

Fuel tank capacity - Liters49.21

Fuel tank capacity - Gal22

Fuel tank capacity - Gal13

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typenot available

Engine max150 hp (112 kW)

Engine max50 hp (37 kw)

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,140 lbs. (970 kg)

Maximum capacity1,100 lbs. (499 kg)

Maximum people11 / 1,478 lbs. (670 kg)

Maximum people4 / 550 lbs. (249 kg)

Trailer Info

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - DetailPainted bunk trailer with swing tongue

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over all19 ft. 2 in. (5.8 m) with tongue in

Trailer - Widthnot available

Trailer - Width79 in. (0.20 m)

Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 vs Lowe ST160 2009 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 or the Lowe ST160 2009?

The Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 is the longer of the two at 22,0 feet overall. The Lowe ST160 2009 comes in at 16,0 feet, making it roughly 6,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 or the Lowe ST160 2009?

For trailering, the Lowe ST160 2009 has the edge at 865 lbs dry weight versus 2 839 lbs for the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013. 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 2013 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe ST160 2009 tops out at 50 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 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Lowe ST160 2009 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 RFL 2013 measures 102" wide, compared to 77" for the Lowe ST160 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 or the Lowe ST160 2009?

The Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 has the bigger tank at 22 gallons, versus 13 gallons on the Lowe ST160 2009. That 9-gallon difference translates to roughly 27–45 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 and Lowe ST160 2009 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe Platinum 23 RFL 2013 and the Lowe ST160 2009 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 2013 full specs ← Lowe ST160 2009 full specs