When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lowe R1760SC 2009 and the Lowe Sportsman 18 2013 are modified vee designs with aluminum construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Lowe R1760SC 2009 at 17,0 ft versus Lowe Sportsman 18 2013 at 18,0 ft. At 876 lbs and 958 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 75 hp for the Lowe R1760SC 2009 and 90 hp for the Lowe Sportsman 18 2013. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lowe R1760SC 2009 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Lowe Sportsman 18 2013 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe R1760SC 2009 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Lowe Sportsman 18 2013 comes in at 11 lbs per hp versus 12 lbs per hp for the Lowe R1760SC 2009. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
Bottom line: Choose the Lowe R1760SC 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 17,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe Sportsman 18 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.