Lowe R1542V 2005 vs Lowe R1860CJ 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe R1542V 2005 or the Lowe R1860CJ 2011?

The Lowe R1860CJ 2011 is the longer of the two at 18,4 feet overall. The Lowe R1542V 2005 comes in at 14,0 feet, making it roughly 4,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe R1542V 2005 or the Lowe R1860CJ 2011?

For trailering, the Lowe R1542V 2005 has the edge at 325 lbs dry weight versus 962 lbs for the Lowe R1860CJ 2011. 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 R1860CJ 2011 is rated to a maximum of 90 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe R1542V 2005 tops out at 30 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 R1542V 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 4 passengers, while the Lowe R1860CJ 2011 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 R1860CJ 2011 measures 84" wide, compared to 63" for the Lowe R1542V 2005. 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 R1542V 2005 and Lowe R1860CJ 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe R1542V 2005 and the Lowe R1860CJ 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 R1542V 2005 vs Lowe R1860CJ 2011

Lowe

Lowe R1542V 2005

2005

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Lowe

Lowe R1860CJ 2011

2011

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe R1542V 2005 vs Lowe R1860CJ 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Lowe R1542V 2005 vs Lowe R1860CJ 2011 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 R1860CJ 2011 measures 18,4 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 4,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe R1542V 2005 at 14,0 feet (2005). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe R1860CJ 2011 tips the scales at 962 lbs — 637 lbs less than the Lowe R1542V 2005 at 325 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 90 hp, the Lowe R1860CJ 2011 has a 60-hp advantage over the Lowe R1542V 2005's 30-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 R1860CJ 2011 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe R1542V 2005 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe R1860CJ 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe R1860CJ 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 18,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe R1542V 2005 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

ModelR1542V

ModelR1860CJ

Model Year2005

Model Year2011

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam63 in. (1.6 m)

Beam83.5 in. (2.12 m)

Beam - Meters1.6

Beam - Meters2.13

Beam - Inches63

Beam - Inches83.5

Depth - Detail20 in. (.50 m)

Depth - Detail25 in. (0.64 m)

Depth - Centimeters50.8

Depth - Centimeters63.5

Depth - Inches2

Depth - Inches25

Weight - Detail325 lbs. (147 kg)

Weight - Detail962 lbs. (436 kg)

Weight - kg147.42

Weight - kg436.36

Weight - lbs.325

Weight - lbs.962

Width [transom] - Detail42 in. (1.06 m)

Width [transom] - Detail60 in. (1.52 m) bottom

Height [transom]15 in. (.38 m)

Height [transom]20 in. (0.51 m)

Length - Meters4.54

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet14

Length - Feet18.42

Length - Inches11

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail14 ft. 11 in. (4.54 m)

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

Length overall - Meters4.55

Length overall - Meters5.61

Length overall - Inches179

Length overall - Inches221

Body / Hull

Hull thickness.080 in. (.20 cm)

Hull thickness0.110 in. (2.8 mm)

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typenot available

Hull typeTunnel

Engine and Drivetrain

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max30 hp (22 kw)

Engine max90 hp (67 kW)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail20 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters75.71

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal2

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Operational Info

Maximum capacity888 lbs. (403 kg)

Maximum capacity1,680 lbs. (762 kg)

Maximum people4

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 R1542V 2005 vs Lowe R1860CJ 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe R1542V 2005 or the Lowe R1860CJ 2011?

The Lowe R1860CJ 2011 is the longer of the two at 18,4 feet overall. The Lowe R1542V 2005 comes in at 14,0 feet, making it roughly 4,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe R1542V 2005 or the Lowe R1860CJ 2011?

For trailering, the Lowe R1542V 2005 has the edge at 325 lbs dry weight versus 962 lbs for the Lowe R1860CJ 2011. 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 R1860CJ 2011 is rated to a maximum of 90 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe R1542V 2005 tops out at 30 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 R1542V 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 4 passengers, while the Lowe R1860CJ 2011 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 R1860CJ 2011 measures 84" wide, compared to 63" for the Lowe R1542V 2005. 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 R1542V 2005 and Lowe R1860CJ 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe R1542V 2005 and the Lowe R1860CJ 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 R1542V 2005 full specs ← Lowe R1860CJ 2011 full specs