When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lowe Stinger 17 HP 2012 and the Lowe Stinger ST195 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 Stinger 17 HP 2012 at 17,2 ft versus Lowe Stinger ST195 2013 at 19,0 ft. At 99 lbs and 106 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 115 hp, the Lowe Stinger ST195 2013 has a 25-hp advantage over the Lowe Stinger 17 HP 2012's 90-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 Stinger 17 HP 2012 carries 19 gallons versus 2 gallons in the Lowe Stinger ST195 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 Stinger ST195 2013 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Lowe Stinger 17 HP 2012 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lowe Stinger ST195 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Lowe Stinger ST195 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 19,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lowe Stinger 17 HP 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.