When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lowe R2065CC 2011 and the Lowe ST170 2009 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 R2065CC 2011 at 19,8 ft versus Lowe ST170 2009 at 17,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe R2065CC 2011 tips the scales at 1 112 lbs — 117 lbs more than the Lowe ST170 2009 at 995 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 115 hp, the Lowe R2065CC 2011 has a 40-hp advantage over the Lowe ST170 2009's 75-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 2 gal and 2 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lowe R2065CC 2011 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Lowe ST170 2009 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe R2065CC 2011 could be the deciding factor.