Lowe R1455 2011 vs Lowe SF214 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe R1455 2011 or the Lowe SF214 2012?

The Lowe SF214 2012 is the longer of the two at 19,7 feet overall. The Lowe R1455 2011 comes in at 14,6 feet, making it roughly 5,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe R1455 2011 or the Lowe SF214 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe R1455 2011 has the edge at 51 lbs dry weight versus 1 701 lbs for the Lowe SF214 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 SF214 2012 is rated to a maximum of 115 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe R1455 2011 tops out at 40 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 R1455 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 4 passengers, while the Lowe SF214 2012 is certified for 12. 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 SF214 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 79" for the Lowe R1455 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: Are the Lowe R1455 2011 and Lowe SF214 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe R1455 2011 and the Lowe SF214 2012 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 R1455 2011 vs Lowe SF214 2012

Lowe

Lowe R1455 2011

2011

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Lowe

Lowe SF214 2012

2012

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe R1455 2011 vs Lowe SF214 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Lowe R1455 2011 against a pontoon Lowe SF214 2012 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 SF214 2012 measures 19,7 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 5,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe R1455 2011 at 14,6 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe SF214 2012 tips the scales at 1 701 lbs — 1 650 lbs less than the Lowe R1455 2011 at 51 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 115 hp, the Lowe SF214 2012 has a 75-hp advantage over the Lowe R1455 2011's 40-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 SF214 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Lowe R1455 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 SF214 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe SF214 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 19,7 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe R1455 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

ModelR1455

ModelSF214

Model Year2011

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam79 in. (2.01 m)

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.5 m)

Beam - Meters2.01

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches79

Beam - Inches102

Depth - Detail25 in. (0.64 m)

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters63.5

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches25

Depth - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail510 lbs. (231 kg)

Weight - Detail1,701 lbs. (772 kg)

Weight - kg231.33

Weight - kg771.56

Weight - lbs.51

Weight - lbs.1701

Width [transom] - Detail55 in. (1.40 m) bottom

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Height [transom]20 in. (0.51 m)

Height [transom]not available

Length - Feet14.58

Length - Feet19.67

Length overall - Detail14 ft. 7 in. (4.45 m)

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Meters4.45

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Inches175

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Length [at waterline]not available

Length [at waterline]20 ft. 3 in. (6.17 m) pontoon log

Length [deck]not available

Length [deck]19 ft. 8 in. (5.99 m)

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thickness0.100 in. (2.5 mm)

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typePontoon

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max40 hp (30 kW)

Engine max115 hp (86 kW)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail24 gal. (91 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters90.85

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal24

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,100 lbs. (499 kg)

Maximum capacity2,248 lbs. (1,020 kg)

Maximum people4 / 599 lbs. (272 kg)

Maximum people12 / 1,746 lbs. (792 kg)

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over all19 ft. (5.79 m)

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameternot available

Tube diameter25 in . (0.64 m)

Tube gaugenot available

Tube gauge0.080 in. (2.03 mm)

Number of tubesnot available

Number of tubes2

Lowe R1455 2011 vs Lowe SF214 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe R1455 2011 or the Lowe SF214 2012?

The Lowe SF214 2012 is the longer of the two at 19,7 feet overall. The Lowe R1455 2011 comes in at 14,6 feet, making it roughly 5,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe R1455 2011 or the Lowe SF214 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe R1455 2011 has the edge at 51 lbs dry weight versus 1 701 lbs for the Lowe SF214 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 SF214 2012 is rated to a maximum of 115 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe R1455 2011 tops out at 40 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 R1455 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 4 passengers, while the Lowe SF214 2012 is certified for 12. 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 SF214 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 79" for the Lowe R1455 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.

Are the Lowe R1455 2011 and Lowe SF214 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe R1455 2011 and the Lowe SF214 2012 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 R1455 2011 full specs ← Lowe SF214 2012 full specs