Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Lowe RV190 Bay 2011 vs Lowe SS250XD 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a modified vee Lowe RV190 Bay 2011 against a pontoon Lowe SS250XD 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 SS250XD 2012 measures 23,7 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 5,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe RV190 Bay 2011 at 18,4 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe SS250XD 2012 tips the scales at 194 lbs — 106 lbs less than the Lowe RV190 Bay 2011 at 88 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 SS250XD 2012 has a 35-hp advantage over the Lowe RV190 Bay 2011's 115-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Lowe SS250XD 2012 carries 24 gallons versus 2 gallons in the Lowe RV190 Bay 2011. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lowe SS250XD 2012 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Lowe RV190 Bay 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 SS250XD 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Lowe SS250XD 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 RV190 Bay 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
ModelRV190 Bay
ModelSS250XD
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 - Detail880 lbs. (399 kg)
Weight - Detail1,940 lbs. (880 kg)
Weight - kg399.16
Weight - kg879.97
Weight - lbs.88
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 - Feet18.42
Length - Feet23.67
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 5 in. (5.61 m)
Length overall - Detailnot available
Length overall - Meters5.61
Length overall - Metersnot available
Length overall - Inches221
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 materialAluminum
Hull thickness0.100 in. (2.5 mm)
Hull thicknessnot available
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typePontoon
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail20 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Detail24 gal. (91 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters75.71
Fuel tank capacity - Liters90.85
Fuel tank capacity - Gal2
Fuel tank capacity - Gal24
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max115 hp (86 kW)
Engine max150 hp (112 kW)
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,290 lbs. (585 kg)
Maximum capacity2,787 lbs. (1,264 kg)
Maximum people4 / 650 lbs. (295 kg)
Maximum people14 / 2,147 lbs. (974 kg)
Trailer Info
Trailer - DetailPainted trailer with swing tongue
Trailer - Detailnot available
Trailer - Length over all21 ft. 11 in. (6.7 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