Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 vs Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 or the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012?

The Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 is the longer of the two at 25,7 feet overall. The Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 comes in at 22,3 feet, making it roughly 3,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 tops out at 150 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 Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 is certified for 12. 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 Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 measures 103" wide, compared to 102" for the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012. 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: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 and Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 24 gallons and 24 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 and Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 and the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 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 Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 vs Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012

Lowe

Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021

2021

View full specs →

Lowe

Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012

2012

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 vs Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 vs Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 has a 150-hp advantage over the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012's 150-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 24 gal and 24 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 22,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

Measurements / Dimensions

Length overall - Detail25.70 ft

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length - Feet25.7

Length - Feet22.25

Length overall - Meters7.83

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Inches308

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Beam8.60 ft

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.5 m)

Beam - Meters2.62

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches103

Beam - Inches102

Displacement2715.00 lbs

Displacementnot available

Length [at waterline]not available

Length [at waterline]22 ft. (6.7 m) pontoon log

Length [deck]not available

Length [deck]22 ft. 3 in. (6.78 m)

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Gal24

Fuel tank capacity - Liters90.85

Engine makeMercury

Engine makenot available

Horsepower300 hp

Horsepowernot available

Fuel typeGasoline

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeoutboard

Drive typeOutboard

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail24 gal. (91 l)

Engine maxnot available

Engine max150 hp (112 kW)

Operational Info

TrailerableYes

Trailerablenot available

Boat typePower

Boat typenot available

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity2,345 lbs. (1,064 kg)

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum people12 / 1,705 lbs. (773 kg)

General Boat Info

Makenot available

MakeLowe

Modelnot available

ModelPlatinum 23 Cruise

Model Yearnot available

Model Year2012

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typenot available

Hull typePontoon

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameternot available

Tube diameter25 in. (0.64 m)

Number of tubesnot available

Number of tubes2

Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 vs Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 or the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012?

The Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 is the longer of the two at 25,7 feet overall. The Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 comes in at 22,3 feet, making it roughly 3,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 tops out at 150 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 Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 is certified for 12. 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 Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 measures 103" wide, compared to 102" for the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012. 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.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 and Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 24 gallons and 24 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 and Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 and the Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 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 Boats Retreat 250 WT 2021 full specs ← Lowe Platinum 23 Cruise 2012 full specs