Lowe R1960MTC 2005 vs Lowe SF234 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe R1960MTC 2005 or the Lowe SF234 2012?

The Lowe SF234 2012 is the longer of the two at 21,7 feet overall. The Lowe R1960MTC 2005 comes in at 19,0 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 R1960MTC 2005 or the Lowe SF234 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe R1960MTC 2005 has the edge at 75 lbs dry weight versus 184 lbs for the Lowe SF234 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 SF234 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe R1960MTC 2005 tops out at 105 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 R1960MTC 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 9 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 83" for the Lowe R1960MTC 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 R1960MTC 2005 and Lowe SF234 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe R1960MTC 2005 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 R1960MTC 2005 vs Lowe SF234 2012

Lowe

Lowe R1960MTC 2005

2005

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Lowe

Lowe SF234 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe R1960MTC 2005 vs Lowe SF234 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Lowe R1960MTC 2005 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Lowe R1960MTC 2005 at 19,0 ft versus Lowe SF234 2012 at 21,7 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe SF234 2012 tips the scales at 184 lbs — 109 lbs less than the Lowe R1960MTC 2005 at 75 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 45-hp advantage over the Lowe R1960MTC 2005's 105-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 R1960MTC 2005 caps at 9. 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 R1960MTC 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeLowe

ModelR1960MTC

ModelSF234

Model Year2005

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam83 in. (2.1 m)

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.5 m)

Beam - Meters2.11

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches83

Beam - Inches102

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

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters55.88

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches21.5

Depth - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail750 lbs. (340 kg)

Weight - Detail1,840 lbs. (835 kg)

Weight - kg340.19

Weight - kg834.61

Weight - lbs.75

Weight - lbs.184

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

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

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

Height [transom]not available

Length - Meters5.79

Length - Metersnot available

Length - Feet19

Length - Feet21.67

Length overall - Detail19 ft. 0 in. (5.79 m)

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Meters5.79

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Inches228

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

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max105 hp (78 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

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,898 lbs. (861 kg)

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

Maximum people9

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 R1960MTC 2005 vs Lowe SF234 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe R1960MTC 2005 or the Lowe SF234 2012?

The Lowe SF234 2012 is the longer of the two at 21,7 feet overall. The Lowe R1960MTC 2005 comes in at 19,0 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 R1960MTC 2005 or the Lowe SF234 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe R1960MTC 2005 has the edge at 75 lbs dry weight versus 184 lbs for the Lowe SF234 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 SF234 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe R1960MTC 2005 tops out at 105 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 R1960MTC 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 9 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 83" for the Lowe R1960MTC 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 R1960MTC 2005 and Lowe SF234 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe R1960MTC 2005 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 R1960MTC 2005 full specs ← Lowe SF234 2012 full specs