Lowe Fish and Ski Boats For Sale

Lowe fish and ski boats are all-welded aluminum V-hull runabouts built to fish hard and pull skiers, tubers and wakeboarders on the same day. Lowe was founded in 1971 by Carl Lowe and JB Applebe in Lebanon, Missouri, near the Lake of the Ozarks, where the boats are still built today; the company was acquired by Brunswick in 2004, which is why every Lowe fish and ski boat carries a Mercury outboard. The current lineup spans the compact 1610 at 16 feet 10 inches through the 1700 FS, the 1810 and the 1900 Fishing Ski, all sharing a raised bow casting deck, a stern casting platform and a walk-through windshield between dual consoles. Anyone shopping Lowe fish ski boats is buying a genuine combination hull rather than a fishing boat with a tow point bolted on.

Power ranges by model. The 1610 runs well on a 90-horsepower four-stroke Mercury and can be ordered up to a 150. The 1700 FS is rigged with a 115-horsepower Mercury four-stroke EFI with power trim, while the 1810 and the 1900 Fishing Ski carry a 150-horsepower Mercury, the latter using the Pro XS XL four-stroke EFI. Fuel capacity is 26 gallons on the 1700 FS and 32 gallons on the 1900. Person capacity is six on the 1700 FS and seven on the 1900. The 1610 stands out with a 96-inch beam, giving a 17-foot boat the width of many 22-footers and a deep forward entry that handles chop on bigger water.

The all-welded V-Tech hull uses a super lock construction process with extruded keel locks that slide tongue-and-groove into place before welding, backed by closed-cell foam flotation for a more solid feel underfoot. Lowe builds with 5052-alloy aluminum (marketed as H34) in gauges from .072 up to .125, with robotic welding for consistency, and water-tests every hull under pressure to verify the welds. Coverage includes a limited lifetime hull-seam warranty and a three-year bow-to-stern warranty. Some models still use seven-layer marine-grade plywood decking, treated layer by layer before it is bonded together.

Helm and systems are functional and upgradable. Standard gauges cover speedometer, tachometer, trim and fuel, with lighted helm switches, a 12-volt outlet, navigation and anchor lights, an electric horn and a bilge pump. A deluxe chrome-accent steering wheel and tilt steering are common, and the 1900 can be fitted with SeaStar hydraulic tilt steering. Audio runs from a Kicker or Jensen Bluetooth stereo with two speakers up to four-speaker setups with aux and USB inputs. Electronics options include Lowrance Hook and Elite units and the Humminbird Helix 9 CHIRP MSI GPS/fishfinder, plus Minn Kota trolling motors from 70 to 80 pounds of thrust with i-Pilot and Pro Mariner onboard battery chargers.

Layout is where these boats earn their name. A movable pedestal fishing chair drops into in-floor bases spread from the bow through the cockpit to the stern, and the raised stern platform hides a large aerated live well with a removable bait bucket flanked by flip-up jump seats with under-seat storage for batteries and gear. A lockable center rod box with tubes holds rods up to six-and-a-half or seven feet, and a full-length in-floor locker takes skis or a wakeboard. A removable ski/tow pylon uses a taper-lock system that twists into the floor, stows in the long compartment, and doubles as an assist handle, replacing tripod ski bars that eat cockpit space. A bow cushion kit with required handrails converts the fishing deck into a bowrider seating area. Boats trailer on Caravan bunk trailers with swing tongue, swivel jack, step fenders, side centering guides and a factory-fitted fit.

When comparing a new or used Lowe fish and ski boat for sale, weigh the standard fishfinder against an upgraded GPS/sonar unit, check hardware fit and floor sealing at the console, and confirm which electronics and trolling motor are actually installed. Because Lowe boats are heavily configurable at order, two used Lowe fish and ski boats of the same model can differ significantly in power, electronics and seating.