Lowe Utility Boats For Sale

Lowe builds aluminum fishing and utility boats in Lebanon, Missouri, near the Lake of the Ozarks, where Carl Lowe and JB Appleby founded the company in 1971. Brunswick acquired the brand in 2004, which is why every Lowe rolls off the line with a Mercury outboard rather than a choice of engine brands. The lineup spans deep-V fishing boats, modified-V hulls, bass-style boats, a center console bay boat, and tiller-handle utility boats, so shoppers looking at Lowe utility boats for sale are choosing from a builder focused squarely on aluminum rigs rather than fiberglass. Most models arrive ready to fish, packaged with motor and trailer, and many include a trolling motor from the factory.

Construction uses 5052-grade aluminum (Lowe labels it H34) in gauges from 0.072 up to 0.125 inch, with the heaviest 0.125 reserved for the larger boats. The hulls are welded rather than riveted, and because Brunswick invests in robotics, many of those welds are machine-laid for consistency. An extruded keel locks into a tongue-and-groove channel and is then welded for a solid centerline, and closed-cell foam adds flotation and rigidity underfoot. Every boat is water-tested under pressure in a tank for several minutes to confirm the welds hold. Decking on some models is seven-layer marine-grade plywood, with each layer treated before lamination; the hulls carry a limited lifetime warranty and a three-year bow-to-stern warranty.

The 1648 Aura is a flat-bottom tiller boat that seats three comfortably, including a portable middle seat, and is rated for a 25-horsepower outboard with a 45-pound trolling motor up front. The 2023 Roughneck 1760 follows the Tracker Grizzly pattern, with a Versatrack-style gunnel cap, factory front-deck hatches, and a roto-molded plastic bow live well with a divider. The FM 1625 WT is an entry-level deep-V measuring 16.5 feet with an 82-inch beam, rated to 75 horsepower, with a 23-gallon aerated bow live well, a locking rod locker for six 8-foot rods, a black anodized windshield frame, an optional rear bench-to-casting-deck conversion, and five color choices.

On the water, the 1648 Aura with a 25-horsepower Mercury runs 24 to 26 mph, and that figure holds whether you load one angler or three as long as weight is distributed. The flat bottom sips fuel and slips quietly to within about 30 feet of crappie. Its modified-V bow flattens toward the front, so it does not cut chop or boat wake cleanly, and the 16-by-48-inch hull can feel tippy with two people on one side. Buyers who want more stability in rough water generally need to step up to a wider bottom.

On price, a Lowe 160T at 16 feet with a 40-horsepower Mercury starts around $17,000 in baseline trim with motor and trailer, and the Scorpion 16 bass-style boat with the same 40-horsepower power starts near $16,000. By comparison, a similarly sized Lund 1650 Angler with a 40-horsepower motor runs about $22,000, putting Lowe several thousand dollars lower for a comparable all-welded aluminum package.

Weigh the trade-offs before you buy. The all-welded, all-aluminum hull avoids the wood-transom rot stories tied to some riveted boats, and the welds on the larger Roughneck hull look clean. Factory storage is a known weak spot: the 1648 has limited compartment space, and the Roughneck's front-deck hatches are shallow and sloped, which is why owners often add a custom gun box or larger hatches. The Mercury-only engine policy and trailers that lag some competitors are the other points to factor against the lower entry price.