Lowe R1756VT 2005 vs Lowe SF214 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe R1756VT 2005 or the Lowe SF214 2012?

The Lowe SF214 2012 is the longer of the two at 19,7 feet overall. The Lowe R1756VT 2005 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 2,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe R1756VT 2005 or the Lowe SF214 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe R1756VT 2005 has the edge at 545 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 R1756VT 2005 tops out at 80 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 R1756VT 2005 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 77" for the Lowe R1756VT 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 R1756VT 2005 and Lowe SF214 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe R1756VT 2005 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 R1756VT 2005 vs Lowe SF214 2012

Lowe

Lowe R1756VT 2005

2005

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Lowe

Lowe SF214 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe R1756VT 2005 vs Lowe SF214 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Lowe R1756VT 2005 vs Lowe SF214 2012 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Lowe R1756VT 2005 at 17,0 ft versus Lowe SF214 2012 at 19,7 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe SF214 2012 tips the scales at 1 701 lbs — 1 156 lbs less than the Lowe R1756VT 2005 at 545 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 35-hp advantage over the Lowe R1756VT 2005's 80-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 R1756VT 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 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 R1756VT 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

ModelR1756VT

ModelSF214

Model Year2005

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam77 in. (2.03 m)

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.5 m)

Beam - Meters1.96

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches77

Beam - Inches102

Depth - Detail21 in. (.53 m)

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters53.34

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches21

Depth - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail545 lbs. (247 kg)

Weight - Detail1,701 lbs. (772 kg)

Weight - kg247.21

Weight - kg771.56

Weight - lbs.545

Weight - lbs.1701

Width [transom] - Detail56 in. (1.42 m)

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Height [transom]20 in. (.50 m)

Height [transom]not available

Length - Meters5.18

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet17

Length - Feet19.67

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 0 in. (5.18 m)

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Meters5.18

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Inches204

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 thickness.100 in. (.25 cm)

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typenot available

Hull typePontoon

Engine and Drivetrain

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max80 / 50* hp (*Remote Tiller) (60 / 37 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

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,175 lbs. (533 kg)

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

Maximum people4

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

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 R1756VT 2005 vs Lowe SF214 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe R1756VT 2005 or the Lowe SF214 2012?

The Lowe SF214 2012 is the longer of the two at 19,7 feet overall. The Lowe R1756VT 2005 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 2,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe R1756VT 2005 or the Lowe SF214 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe R1756VT 2005 has the edge at 545 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 R1756VT 2005 tops out at 80 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 R1756VT 2005 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 77" for the Lowe R1756VT 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 R1756VT 2005 and Lowe SF214 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe R1756VT 2005 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 R1756VT 2005 full specs ← Lowe SF214 2012 full specs