Lowe RV170 2011 vs Lowe SS250 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe RV170 2011 or the Lowe SS250 2012?

The Lowe SS250 2012 is the longer of the two at 23,7 feet overall. The Lowe RV170 2011 comes in at 17,3 feet, making it roughly 6,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe RV170 2011 or the Lowe SS250 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe SS250 2012 has the edge at 194 lbs dry weight versus 739 lbs for the Lowe RV170 2011. 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 SS250 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe RV170 2011 tops out at 60 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 RV170 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 4 passengers, while the Lowe SS250 2012 is certified for 14. 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 SS250 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 86" for the Lowe RV170 2011. 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 RV170 2011 and Lowe SS250 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe RV170 2011 and the Lowe SS250 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 RV170 2011 vs Lowe SS250 2012

Lowe

Lowe RV170 2011

2011

View full specs →

Lowe

Lowe SS250 2012

2012

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe RV170 2011 vs Lowe SS250 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Lowe RV170 2011 against a pontoon Lowe SS250 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 SS250 2012 measures 23,7 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 6,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe RV170 2011 at 17,3 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe RV170 2011 tips the scales at 739 lbs — 545 lbs more than the Lowe SS250 2012 at 194 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 SS250 2012 has a 90-hp advantage over the Lowe RV170 2011'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 SS250 2012 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Lowe RV170 2011 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe SS250 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe SS250 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 23,7 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe RV170 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeLowe

ModelRV17

ModelSS25

Model Year2011

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam85.5 in. (2.17 m)

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.5 m)

Beam - Meters2.18

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches85.5

Beam - Inches102

Depth - Detail19.5 in. (0.50 m)

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters50.8

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches19.5

Depth - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail739 lbs. (335 kg)

Weight - Detail1,940 lbs. (880 kg)

Weight - kg335.2

Weight - kg879.97

Weight - lbs.739

Weight - lbs.194

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

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Height [transom]20 in. (0.51 m)

Height [transom]not available

Length - Feet17.25

Length - Feet23.67

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 3 in. (5.26 m)

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Meters5.26

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Inches207

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Length [at waterline]not available

Length [at waterline]24 ft. 3 in. (7.39 m) pontoon log

Length [deck]not available

Length [deck]23 ft. 8 in. (7.2 m)

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thickness0.100 in. (2.5 mm)

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typePontoon

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max60 hp (45 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 capacity1,110 lbs. (503 kg)

Maximum capacity2,787 lbs. (1,264 kg)

Maximum people4 / 650 lbs. (295 kg)

Maximum people14 / 2,147 lbs. (974 kg)

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over all20 ft. 8 in. (6.3 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 RV170 2011 vs Lowe SS250 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe RV170 2011 or the Lowe SS250 2012?

The Lowe SS250 2012 is the longer of the two at 23,7 feet overall. The Lowe RV170 2011 comes in at 17,3 feet, making it roughly 6,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe RV170 2011 or the Lowe SS250 2012?

For trailering, the Lowe SS250 2012 has the edge at 194 lbs dry weight versus 739 lbs for the Lowe RV170 2011. 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 SS250 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe RV170 2011 tops out at 60 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 RV170 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 4 passengers, while the Lowe SS250 2012 is certified for 14. 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 SS250 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 86" for the Lowe RV170 2011. 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 RV170 2011 and Lowe SS250 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe RV170 2011 and the Lowe SS250 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 RV170 2011 full specs ← Lowe SS250 2012 full specs