Lowe SS230 2012 vs Lowe ST170 2010 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Lowe SS230 2012 or the Lowe ST170 2010?

The Lowe SS230 2012 is the longer of the two at 21,7 feet overall. The Lowe ST170 2010 comes in at 17,4 feet, making it roughly 4,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe SS230 2012 or the Lowe ST170 2010?

For trailering, the Lowe ST170 2010 has the edge at 995 lbs dry weight versus 1 805 lbs for the Lowe SS230 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 SS230 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe ST170 2010 tops out at 75 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 SS230 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 13 passengers, while the Lowe ST170 2010 is certified for 4. 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 SS230 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 85" for the Lowe ST170 2010. 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: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Lowe SS230 2012 or the Lowe ST170 2010?

The Lowe SS230 2012 has the bigger tank at 24 gallons, versus 2 gallons on the Lowe ST170 2010. That 22-gallon difference translates to roughly 66–110 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Lowe SS230 2012 and Lowe ST170 2010 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe SS230 2012 and the Lowe ST170 2010 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 SS230 2012 vs Lowe ST170 2010

Lowe

Lowe SS230 2012

2012

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Lowe

Lowe ST170 2010

2010

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Lowe SS230 2012 vs Lowe ST170 2010 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a pontoon Lowe SS230 2012 against a modified vee Lowe ST170 2010 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 SS230 2012 measures 21,7 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 4,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lowe ST170 2010 at 17,4 feet (2010). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe SS230 2012 tips the scales at 1 805 lbs — 810 lbs more than the Lowe ST170 2010 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 150 hp, the Lowe SS230 2012 has a 75-hp advantage over the Lowe ST170 2010's 75-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 SS230 2012 carries 24 gallons versus 2 gallons in the Lowe ST170 2010. 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 SS230 2012 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Lowe ST170 2010 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe SS230 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Lowe SS230 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 ST170 2010 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

ModelSS23

ModelST17

Model Year2012

Model Year201

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.5 m)

Beam85 in. (2.15 m)

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters2.16

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches85

Weight - Detail1,805 lbs. (819 kg)

Weight - Detail995 lbs. (451 kg)

Weight - kg818.73

Weight - kg451.32

Weight - lbs.1805

Weight - lbs.995

Length [at waterline]22 ft. 3 in. (6.78 m) pontoon log

Length [at waterline]not available

Length [deck]21 ft. 8 in. (6.6 m)

Length [deck]not available

Length - Feet21.67

Length - Feet17.42

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Detail21 in. (0.53 m)

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters53.34

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches21

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail12 in. (0.30 m)

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.3

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches12

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - DetailBottom Width: 60 in. (1.52 m)

Height [transom]not available

Height [transom]20 in. (0.5 m)

Length overall - Detailnot available

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 5 in. (5.31 m)

Length overall - Metersnot available

Length overall - Meters5.31

Length overall - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Inches209

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typePontoon

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull thickness0.100 in. (2.5 mm)

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter25 in. (0.64 m)

Tube diameternot available

Tube gauge0.080 in. (2.03 mm)

Tube gaugenot available

Number of tubes2

Number of tubesnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail24 gal. (91 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detail20 gal. (75 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters90.85

Fuel tank capacity - Liters75.71

Fuel tank capacity - Gal24

Fuel tank capacity - Gal2

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typenot available

Engine max150 hp (112 kW)

Engine max75 hp (56 kW)

Operational Info

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

Maximum capacity1,100 lbs. (503 kg)

Maximum people13 / 1,877 lbs. (851 kg)

Maximum people4 / 650 lbs. (295 kg)

Trailer Info

Trailer - Detailnot available

Trailer - DetailPainted bunk tralier with swing tongue

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over all20 ft. 8 in. with tongue in

Trailer - Widthnot available

Trailer - Width89 in. (2.26 m)

Lowe SS230 2012 vs Lowe ST170 2010 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Lowe SS230 2012 or the Lowe ST170 2010?

The Lowe SS230 2012 is the longer of the two at 21,7 feet overall. The Lowe ST170 2010 comes in at 17,4 feet, making it roughly 4,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Lowe SS230 2012 or the Lowe ST170 2010?

For trailering, the Lowe ST170 2010 has the edge at 995 lbs dry weight versus 1 805 lbs for the Lowe SS230 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 SS230 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Lowe ST170 2010 tops out at 75 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 SS230 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 13 passengers, while the Lowe ST170 2010 is certified for 4. 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 SS230 2012 measures 102" wide, compared to 85" for the Lowe ST170 2010. 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Lowe SS230 2012 or the Lowe ST170 2010?

The Lowe SS230 2012 has the bigger tank at 24 gallons, versus 2 gallons on the Lowe ST170 2010. That 22-gallon difference translates to roughly 66–110 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Lowe SS230 2012 and Lowe ST170 2010 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Lowe SS230 2012 and the Lowe ST170 2010 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 SS230 2012 full specs ← Lowe ST170 2010 full specs