Is The Lowe SF 234 The Fishing Pontoon Boat To Watch?

Lowe SF 234 Review

• Reference price: from $42,400 (excluding trailer)
• Type: Pontoon boat
• Weight: 1865 lbs (average dry weight)
• Capacity: 12 /14 TL
• Total length: 24’3″

What we like about it: Besides the fishing seats all around, it is also equipped with live wells with sufficient capacity.

What we don’t like about it: It’s not cheap, and the boat may have much shakes when turning at high speeds.

Rating (4.7/5)

Lowe, a half-century-old marine brand, has been designing great fishing boats for a long time. Its Lowe SF 234, as a versatile fishing boat, is perfect for family or friend trips. Whether you are going fishing, relaxing or doing water sports, this boat can bring you an unforgettable memory.

As a main fishing pontoon boat, this boat has fishing seats all around, and around the fishing seat, there is a large space for a live well. Of course, when you just want to take a boat to see the beautiful scenery or water sports, this boat can also meet your needs. The storage area under the L-shaped seat at the stern of the boat can ensure that you bring enough supplies, and the full-width swimming platform helps you to enter the water more easily. When you want to have a very romantic environment, its Kicker KMC45 Stereo w/ AM/FM Digital Tuner radio can let you enjoy the water trip very much with music.

Next, let’s take a deeper look at the driving experience, ride specifications and other versions of the Lowe SF 234.

If you want more information about related types of boats, please remember to follow us or contact us directly, we are happy to help you with your questions.

Driving Experience

My good friend Cecil and I are both part of the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council and we are both very passionate about fishing. As we all know, Lowe makes a great fishing boat that can help us fish very well. But since it was a bit expensive, we hesitated for a few months and decided to buy the boat together last month.

When we had the boat, we couldn’t wait to organize a small fishing party to Lake Fork, and we called up our other two friends from the club, William and Oliver. Because the boat had four fishing platforms, we didn’t have to worry about the lack of seats.

Since I have been very interested in boats before and have sailed a few times, I took the captaincy for this party. As soon as I boarded the ship, my feet touched the luxurious brown vinyl floor, which felt very soft. Such a color was also very resistant to dirt, preventing me from needing to clean it often.

Sitting in the helm chair, my eyes were completely attracted by its beautiful console. The smooth and textured steering wheel gave me a better grasp of direction. Thanks to the tinted windshield in front of the dashboard, I could also see the data on the dashboard very clearly in strong sunlight. By the joyful atmosphere of my friends enjoying the conversation on board, I could feel that today, as the captain, they should be satisfied on the Lowe SF 234.

Ride Experience

Fishing Performance

It didn’t take long. The quick speed brought by the Mercury 115 ELPT CT Four Stroke made us arrive at the place where we were fishing after just a while.

The boat stopped very smoothly on the water and Cecil took out the tackle from the bow rod locker set up at the front of the boat, which had plenty of capacity for us to fish here for a long time. Each of us occupied a fishing seat. Cecil and I were at the front of the boat and William and Oliver were at the back. But the 360° rotatable seats allowed us to talk easily.

Of course we didn’t have to bother with the location of the livewell. Because aside from the basic livewell large enough at the stern, it also came with a 13-gallon livewell at the front of the Lowe SF 234. We were very happy with this thoughtful configuration.

Leisure Performance

William was a little tired at a party he attended last night. I told him that he could safely lock the rod to the stand where was very spacious and we were all happy to help him look after the rod.

The boat was set up with an L-shaped lounge couch at the stern, perfectly adequate for him to lie down and rest on. The soft sofa also brought William to sleep quickly.

To prevent him from waking up from the heat of the sun, I raised the 9′ Bimini Top to guarantee him a better sleep. At this moment, he should not believe that he was sleeping on a boat.

Storage Performance

By noon, we were getting hungry, so I opened the cabinet door under the console and pulled out the lunchbox my wife had prepared for us.

Oliver was shocked to see the lunch box I had brought out. “Man, your new boat is like a treasure chest! it makes me feel like I’m at home!” he told me, patting me on the shoulder and expressing his admiration for the boat. William woke up from his dream and the four of us had a nice short lunch together.

Configuration Performance

As the sun was going down, each of us had a full catch as well. Thanks to the ample live wells, the fish we caught were still fresh and alive.

On the way back I connected my phone to Bluetooth and the beautiful music flowed slowly through the Kicker KMC45 Stereo w/ AM/FM Digital Tuner radio with perfect sound quality for us all to enjoy.

Along with the sunset, all the troubles of life washed away, making me feel so good about life.

Specification

Lounge

Although you may be out for the purpose of fishing, there will inevitably be times when you are tired and need to rest. This boat can let you have a good rest environment. L-shaped sofa can let your whole body easily lie on it, with Heavy-duty 9′ Bimini top w/boot & quick disconnects, you also don’t have to worry about being awakened by the strong sunlight while resting.

Cup holders are everywhere, so you don’t have to walk too much unnecessarily on the boat. The soft and wearable vinyl flooring also won’t make you feel discomfort on the soles of your feet while standing.

Cockpit

I have to mention that the Lowe SF 234 has a lot of details that I find very satisfying. When I first touched the cockpit as the captain, the automotive-grade instrument panel with chrome-rimmed tachometer, speedometer, fuel gauge and trim gauge made my eyes light up and gave me a very real sense of the quality of the boat.

At the same time, the armrest of the helm chair was foldable. When I sat for a bit too long, I took the armrest up easily and the spaciousness made me feel very comfortable.

Other versions of Lowe SF 214

Compared to the Lowe SF 234, the Lowe SF 214 is indeed more friendly in price, and it has almost the same layout as the SF 234. It also includes fishing seats all around as well as an aft L-shaped sofa, but its length and maximum passenger carrying capacity are lower than the SF 234, making it suitable for people with smaller needs and a lower budget.

The SF 214 is definitely a good choice if you’re looking for a leisurely trip on the water, and its price tag makes it doomed to a level of horsepower that won’t get your adrenaline pumping, but it’s perfectly adequate for fishing or partying on the water. Although its deck length is 2’90” shorter than the SF 234, this length is also perfect for a swim platform.

There is little difference except for the smaller load, smaller size and less horsepower of the SF 214, but it is about $12,000 less than the SF 234. This is indeed the biggest reason why this boat is a better seller than the SF 234. Who wouldn’t be impressed by its price? But if you have plenty of money and a large family or traveling companion, the SF 234 is well worth the price.

Lowe has indeed been committed to making fishing boats of excellent quality for a long time, so the price of its boats is slightly higher than other brands. If you think this price makes you feel a bit overwhelmed, please follow us or contact us for more types of boats and we will be happy to help you with your questions.

What we like about it

• Fishing seats are all around, perfect for meeting up with fishing buddies for a trip.
• Despite being a primarily fishing boat, it also has plenty of storage space.
• There is large space to move around on the boat, and a person can easily control the fishing platform when fishing.
• Equipped with enough live wells and tackle storage cabinets, space will no longer limit you even on the lake.
• The automotive grade instrument panel as well as the tinted windshield are undeniably great aids when driving a boat.
• The L-shaped sofa at the stern of the boat allows you to rest well even when you are a little tired.
• The full-width swim platform serves as a good assistant to enter the water easily.
• The Kicker KMC45 Stereo w/ AM/FM Digital Tuner configures the radio to meet the need for perfect sound quality.
• The comfortable vinyl flooring and vinyl wrapped seat bases make you feel comfortable.

What we don’t like about it

• Although the 4:1 Anti-feedback steering is also very responsive, the sudden sharp turn at high speed will make you feel a bit uncomfortable with the magnitude of the hull sway.
• The price is somewhat expensive, with a relatively high starting price, not quite suitable for people who do not have a big budget.

FAQ

1. Can I use this boat in saltwater?

The boat, made of fully welded aluminum, it is very strong and has stood the test of time well. It is suitable for almost any water, but designed for inland waterways, so it does not have the same construction as a marine vessel. If you plan to fish or swim in brackish and salty water, you can rinse its hull with fresh water after use, as this will help prevent corrosion. This is also a very simple step and you don’t have to worry about it.

• Why are Lowe SF 234 so expensive?

On the one hand, Lowe is not only a well-known brand, but also has the high quality of building boats, and the Lowe SF 234 is a boat with good performance and quality to meet many scenarios. Not only can you fish but you can also have a fun party on the water with it. On the other hand, Lowe has a high resale value. If you want to change to a better boat after using it for a while, the price won’t let you down.

• Does Lowe SF 234 include a trailer?

Unfortunately, even though this boat is almost perfect, it does not include a trailer. They trailer, provided by Karavan Trailers, need to purchase additionally. This of course adds to the purchase price of this boat, but Karavan Trailers has high-quality trailers and is always a preferred supplier of top quality boats. In the event that you have enough money to purchase it, you will definitely not regret it.

Lowe SF 234 SPECS

Standard

Fuel Capacity	24 gal / 30 gal TL
Max HP Capacity	150 HP/200 HP with TL
Max Weight Capacity	2,388 lb/ 2,746 lb with TL
Beam	8’6″
Deck Length	23′
Log Gauge	.080″
Pontoon Diameter	25″
Pontoon Log Length	22′ 6″
Overall Boat Length	24’3″
Boat Weight	1865 lb/2125 lb with TL

Video

Comparison table

Ships	Full length	Maximum horsepower limit	Maximum personnel carrying capacity
Sun Tracker Fishin’ Barge 22 DLX	24′ 2″	150HP	11 persons
Princecraft SPORTFISHER 21-4S 2023	21’6″	150HP	8 persons
Sylvan MIRAGE FISH 8522 PARTY FISH 4.0	22’10”	150HP	11 persons

Lowe SF 234 vs Sun Tracker Fishin’ Barge 22 DLX

Compared to the Lowe SF 234, the Sun Tracker Fishin’ Barge 22 DLX focuses on both fishing and relaxation. It has more lounge seating, with a double lounge seat at the front of the boat and an L-shaped sofa at the stern that is not only longer than the Lowe SF 234, but also has comfortable fabric and padding covering the back, cushions and armrests.

But even though it has a longer hull length than the Lowe SF 234, the couch area takes up some of the livewell that had to be reduced. However, with a total livewell capacity of 32 gallons, it should be sufficient for use. Also, it takes one livewell at each end of the front and rear. This makes it more convenient for the crew to have two fishing seats at the front and back.

Compared to the Lowe SF 234, the Fishin’ Barge 22 DLX has a larger console, which makes the dashboard numbers clearer and will give you peace of mind for those with poor eyesight. 10-foot SureShade®-powered Bimini Tops cover more of the sun, so crew members sitting in the front don’t have to worry about getting strong sunlight. If the Lowe SF 234 were to be compared to the Fishin’ Barge 22 DLX, I think the former would be better for fishing and the latter would be better for partying on the water.

Another major difference with the SF 234 is that this boat features 4:2 ratio no-feedback steering for responsive, allowing your operation to turn more silky-smooth and responsive despite high or low speeds more quickly. All in all, the Fishin’ Barge 22 DLX is also a very good choice, more suitable for users who will often need to party on the water in addition to going out fishing.

Lowe SF 234 vs Princecraft SPORTFISHER 21-4S 2023

Similar to the Lowe SF 234, the Princecraft SPORTFISHER 21-4S 2023 has fishing seats all around, which can be folded up when you’re not using them, so that the surface fabric doesn’t age from the sun.

Compared with the former livewell, this boat’s livewell is not so evenly-distributed. The livewell at the bow has a large capacity and can store a lot of fish, while the one at the stern is relatively much smaller. So if the angler sitting at the stern is lucky and catches enough fish, he will have to spend more time at the bow, which will be somewhat inconvenient.

The SPORTFISHER 21-4S 202 has plenty of free floor space and respectively a wide door on the left and right side of the boat, making it easier to get on and off the boat and swim in the water. But the more free floor space means it can hold fewer people. But when I think of its starting price is almost half of Lowe SF 234, I realize some people may not care so much about these small defects.

Lowe SF 234 vs Sylvan MIRAGE FISH 8522 PARTY FISH 4.0

Although the Sylvan MIRAGE FISH 8522 PARTY FISH 4.0 is similar to the Lowe SF 234 that contains four fishing seats, one inconvenience is that it has only one livewell, located at the stern. It has four rod holders in the bow, which may be an advantage for the crew who needs to go aft to drop off the “trophy”.

There is also a table with cup holders in the bow, but this design can be a bit inconvenient for the crew. Because the ship’s seats in addition to the bow of the two fishing seat is very close to the small table, the other positions to use the table may still be a little difficult.

However, the console used in this ship is all made of fiberglass, very beautiful. The ship is also unique in that it does not use an L-shaped sofa, but a long sofa with a large backrest lies in the middle section, and a double lounge sofa sits in front of the cockpit. But this design does make its middle area very spacious, enough to accommodate eleven people. But then maybe not everyone have a chair that belongs to him or her.

Summary

The Lowe SF 234 will be an awesome boat, whether you use it for fishing or partying. If you have a lot of money but are hesitant to buy it, then I still highly recommend it, because Lowe as an entry level brand generally won’t let you down.

Imagine fishing with your family or close friends in Clear Lake, California, or having a fun trip on the water at Lake Michigan. This boat can help you have a great time.

But if you don’t like it too much in some ways, or because you are on a budget, you can consider Fishful Moments potoon boat, the flat replacement version we have handpicked for you. If you want to know more, feel free to contact us at any time.