When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lowe R1860CC 2010 and the Lowe RV170 2010 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 R1860CC 2010 at 18,4 ft versus Lowe RV170 2010 at 17,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe R1860CC 2010 tips the scales at 956 lbs — 217 lbs more than the Lowe RV170 2010 at 739 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 R1860CC 2010 has a 30-hp advantage over the Lowe RV170 2010's 60-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 R1860CC 2010 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe RV170 2010 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe R1860CC 2010 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Lowe R1860CC 2010 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 RV170 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.