Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008 vs Lowe SS230 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008 or the Lowe SS230 2012?

The Lowe SS230 2012 is the longer of the two at 21,7 feet overall. The Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 3,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008 or the Lowe SS230 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008 has the edge at 595 lbs dry weight versus 1 805 lbs for the Lowe SS230 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 SS230 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008 tops out at 90 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 R1860VT Roughneck 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe SS230 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 SS230 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 81" for the Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008. 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 R1860VT Roughneck 2008 and Lowe SS230 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008 and the Lowe SS230 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 R1860VT Roughneck 2008 vs Lowe SS230 2012

Lowe

Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008

2008

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Lowe

Lowe SS230 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008 vs Lowe SS230 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008 against a pontoon Lowe SS230 2012 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Lowe SS230 2012 measures 21,7 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 3,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008 at 18,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe SS230 2012 tips the scales at 1 805 lbs — 1 210 lbs less than the Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008 at 595 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 SS230 2012 has a 60-hp advantage over the Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008's 90-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 SS230 2012 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe SS230 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe SS230 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 R1860VT Roughneck 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeLowe

ModelR1860VT Roughneck

ModelSS23

Model Year2008

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam81 in. (2.05 m)

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.5 m)

Beam - Meters2.06

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches81

Beam - Inches102

Depth - Detail21.5 in. (.55 m)

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters55.88

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches21.5

Depth - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail595 lbs. (270 kg)

Weight - Detail1,805 lbs. (819 kg)

Weight - kg269.89

Weight - kg818.73

Weight - lbs.595

Weight - lbs.1805

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

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Height [transom]20 in. (.5 m)

Height [transom]not available

Length - Meters5.49

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet18

Length - Feet21.67

Length overall - Detail18 ft. (5.49 m)

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Meters5.49

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Inches216

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 materialAluminum

Hull thickness.100 in. (2.5 mm)

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typePontoon

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine maxRemote: 90 hp (67 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 capacity1,680 lbs. (762 kg)

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

Maximum people7 / 1,120 lbs. (508 kg)

Maximum people13 / 1,877 lbs. (851 kg)

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over all21 ft. 2 in. (6.45 m)

Trailer - Length over allnot available

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 R1860VT Roughneck 2008 vs Lowe SS230 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008 or the Lowe SS230 2012?

The Lowe SS230 2012 is the longer of the two at 21,7 feet overall. The Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008 comes in at 18,0 feet, making it roughly 3,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008 or the Lowe SS230 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008 has the edge at 595 lbs dry weight versus 1 805 lbs for the Lowe SS230 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 SS230 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008 tops out at 90 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 R1860VT Roughneck 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe SS230 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 SS230 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 81" for the Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008. 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 R1860VT Roughneck 2008 and Lowe SS230 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe R1860VT Roughneck 2008 and the Lowe SS230 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 R1860VT Roughneck 2008 full specs ← Lowe SS230 2012 full specs