Lowe R1756VT 2006 vs Lowe SF234 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe R1756VT 2006 or the Lowe SF234 2012?

The Lowe SF234 2012 is the longer of the two at 21,7 feet overall. The Lowe R1756VT 2006 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 4,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe R1756VT 2006 or the Lowe SF234 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe SF234 2012 has the edge at 184 lbs dry weight versus 545 lbs for the Lowe R1756VT 2006. 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 SF234 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe R1756VT 2006 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 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Lowe SF234 2012 is certified for 13. 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 SF234 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 77" for the Lowe R1756VT 2006. 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 2006 and Lowe SF234 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe R1756VT 2006 and the Lowe SF234 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 2006 vs Lowe SF234 2012

Lowe

Lowe R1756VT 2006

2006

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Lowe

Lowe SF234 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe R1756VT 2006 vs Lowe SF234 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Lowe R1756VT 2006 vs Lowe SF234 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Lowe SF234 2012 measures 21,7 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 4,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe R1756VT 2006 at 17,0 feet (2006). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe R1756VT 2006 tips the scales at 545 lbs — 361 lbs more than the Lowe SF234 2012 at 184 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 SF234 2012 has a 70-hp advantage over the Lowe R1756VT 2006'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 SF234 2012 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Lowe R1756VT 2006 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe SF234 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe SF234 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 21,7 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe R1756VT 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeLowe

ModelR1756VT

ModelSF234

Model Year2006

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 - Detail1,840 lbs. (835 kg)

Weight - kg247.21

Weight - kg834.61

Weight - lbs.545

Weight - lbs.184

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 - Feet21.67

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]22 ft. 3 in. (6.78 m) pontoon log

Length [deck]not available

Length [deck]21 ft. 8 in. (6.6 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

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine maxRemote: 80 hp (60 kW) Tiller: 50 hp (37 kW)

Engine max150 hp (112 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 capacity1,175 lbs. (533 kg)

Maximum capacity2,517 lbs. (1,142 kg)

Maximum people5

Maximum people13 / 1,877 lbs. (851 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 2006 vs Lowe SF234 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe R1756VT 2006 or the Lowe SF234 2012?

The Lowe SF234 2012 is the longer of the two at 21,7 feet overall. The Lowe R1756VT 2006 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 4,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe R1756VT 2006 or the Lowe SF234 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe SF234 2012 has the edge at 184 lbs dry weight versus 545 lbs for the Lowe R1756VT 2006. 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 SF234 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe R1756VT 2006 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 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Lowe SF234 2012 is certified for 13. 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 SF234 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 77" for the Lowe R1756VT 2006. 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 2006 and Lowe SF234 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe R1756VT 2006 and the Lowe SF234 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 2006 full specs ← Lowe SF234 2012 full specs