When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lowe ST175 2011 and the Lowe Stryker 16 2013 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 ST175 2011 at 17,4 ft versus Lowe Stryker 16 2013 at 16,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lowe ST175 2011 tips the scales at 995 lbs — 934 lbs more than the Lowe Stryker 16 2013 at 61 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 75 hp, the Lowe ST175 2011 has a 25-hp advantage over the Lowe Stryker 16 2013's 50-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 ST175 2011 carries 13 gallons versus 6 gallons in the Lowe Stryker 16 2013. 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 ST175 2011 is rated for 4 passengers, while the Lowe Stryker 16 2013 caps at 3. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe ST175 2011 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Lowe Stryker 16 2013 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 13 lbs per hp for the Lowe ST175 2011. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.