Is Lowe SF212 Lucky Enough To Be Your Fishing Partner?

Lowe SF212 Review

• Reference price: from $29,671 (excluding trailer)
• Type: Pontoon boat
• Weight: 2,165 lbs
• Capacity: 10 people / 13 people

What we like about it: The complete space layout gives a comfortable ride.

What we don’t like about it: The price isn’t friendly to everyone.

Rating (4.7/5)

The Lowe SF212 is a branded fishing pontoon boat, complete with amenities that are great for those who love to fish or go out on the water. This medium-sized pontoon boat can accommodate up to 13 people at the same time, and the length of the deck reaches 20′ 10″, so even in the face of a large number of passengers it will not look so crowded. Of course, the high-quality sound system, Bimini top and USB/MP3 ports and other user-friendly facilities make the Lowe SF212 even more popular. It is an ideal option for a fun trip with a group of family and friends.

Here’s a comprehensive review of the Lowe SF212 in terms of driving experience, ride, specification features and other versions.

If you want to know more about boats or are looking for a suitable one, please feel free to follow us or contact us directly, we are happy to serve you.

Driving Experience

As graduation season is approaching, my friends and I are finishing up the last few years of school together and planning to go out and relax through a ship journey before getting into the real society. My best friend Anda has a Lowe SF212 fishing pontoon boat at home. He invited us to experience it together, and we happily agreed to go.

I couldn’t wait to get into the cockpit and once I sat in the soft seat I felt like I was sinking into cotton, which was so comfortable. The ergonomically-designed seat provided enough lumbar support to prevent me from back sore even if I had been sitting for a long time. The feature-rich driver’s console in front of me also caught my eye, from which I could easily learn about revs, fuel, speed and many other boat indicators. The most surprising and user-friendly design was the area on the right side of the steering wheel where I can put my cell phone, which is incredible for people like me who carry their cell phones with them.

Start-up Effects

I turned on the engine to start up the boat quickly. I tapped the throttle, getting faster and faster with the wind blowing past my ears. I steered towards the center of the lake, the 4:1 Anti-feedback steering system ensuring a smooth turn. My mood increased as I watched the snow-white waves crossing the stern of the boat amid the laughter of my friends on board.

Near the center of the lake, Anda took the phone as well as cable to connect to the USB socket on the console to charge the phone. Then he took out our pre-prepared drinks from the storage box under the console, and gave me the bottle on the drink holder in front of me. The sun was peeking out from behind the clouds and the sunlight was becoming more and more blinding. I opened the folded Bimini top which covered most of the cabin well to block out the strong sunlight.

Ride Experience

Once we reached our destination in the center of the lake, I turned off the engine and stopped the boat. Anda reminded me to turn on the sound system and connect my phone to Bluetooth, so I did. Suddenly, the high-quality sound came out through the four speakers located at the bow and stern of the boat, bringing the party to a climax.

I walked to the L-shaped sofa next to the cockpit. In front of the stowable table has been filled with a variety of food, drinks placed on the four corners of the table on the cup holder. This design ensured that occasional bump wouldn’t cause liquid spills.

After eating and drinking, I went to the fishing place at the stern of the boat, where Anda was already there. So we respectively sat left and right on the fishing chairs and placed our rods on the stand in front of us. The livewell at the stern of the boat was a good place to keep the trophy fresh.

Specification

Fishing System

This pontoon boat enjoys its complete facilities to ensure the experience of the fishing process. First of all, the two rotatable fishing chairs at the stern of the boat can change direction according to the angler’s needs.

Secondly, four vertical rod holders and two active use rod holders at the stern of the boat are also more conducive to anglers to catch fish from all directions. Finally, the fish station including the inflatable Live Well slant lures and fish rulers can give anglers a better fishing experience.

Cockpit

The cockpit of the Lowe SF212 is able to give the captain a comfortable driving experience, with a wealth of features on the console. The audio control system on the left side of the steering wheel is Bluetooth enabled, making it easy to connect to your devices and transmit the excellent sound quality through the four speakers at the front and rear of the cabin. Also, a USB/MP3 port below can power your devices.

In addition, the driver’s seat with folding armrest provides more comfort for long driving activities, and a place for a water glass on the right side of hand is very friendly to reach. The tachometer, speedometer, fuel gauge and trim gauge with chrome bezel are especially praiseworthy to ensure that the dials are clean, rust-free and aesthetically pleasing on the one hand, and that the captain can easily grasp information about the boat’s speed, fuel and speed on the dashboard on the other.

Detailed layout

First of all, the ship uses a luxurious vinyl flooring, with gray or tan color to choose from. Its vinyl material can resist strong UV rays, mold and water damage.

In addition to the flooring, the seat bases, also wrapped in vinyl, becomes advantageous in terms of boat cleaning and maintenance.

Secondly, the optional Trolling motor set at the bow position is quieter during the driving process. Especially for fishing boats, the silence can avoid scaring away the fish. On top of that, this kind of motor also helps to control the position of the boat and navigate the boat to the specific fishing spot with higher precision.

Finally, the Lowe SF212 makes the most of its storage space, with space under the L-shaped sofa seats and under the console being fully utilized to carry more personal items.

Other versions

In order to have a more comprehensive understanding of this series, we have also found this Lowe SF 212 WALK THROUGH. Hope it will help you.

Lowe SF 212 WALK THROUGH

There are some similarities in the layout of these two boats, yet differences exist. Unlike the Lowe SF 212, which has two swivel fishing chairs set at the stern, the Lowe SF 212WALK THROUGH has the fishing chairs arranged at the bow with the bow locking base technology.

In addition, the Lowe SF 212 WALK THROUGH boasts a Bow Aerated Livewell (23 gallon) and a Bow Fish Station w/livewell (23 gallon) in the bow, both set up to hold more fish. The capacity of the two 23 gallons is also much larger than the capacity of the Lowe SF 212 12 gallon.

Although the two boats are similar in size, horsepower and load capacity, the Lowe SF 212 WALK THROUGH has a more complete facility arrangement, making it slightly more expensive than the Lowe SF 212 by a few hundred dollars. Even the slightly lower-priced Lowe SF 212 starting at $29,671 is still not very friendly for customers on a budget.

This makes me recall my experience with the Bait & Drift SF-22 A Model. This boat has a similar layout and features to the previous two, both with a very comfortable ride, but at a price that is more attractive to people on a budget. Anyway, if you would like to know more about this, don’t hesitate to contact us.

What we like about it

• Bimini top can effectively block the direct sunlight.
• Tinted windshields greatly protect the operating table from wind and water.
• It supports optional trolling motor for precise control of the vessel’s position by electric drive.
• The tachometer, speedometer, fuel gauge and trim gauge with chrome plated bezel are beautiful with good finish and not easy to rust.
• The USB/MP3 port is very convenient for powering electronic devices.
• The L-shaped sofa and ample storage space under the console helps store personal items.
• The vinyl used is not only resistant to strong UV rays, mold and water damage, but also has advantages in cleaning and maintenance.

What we don’t like about it

• The price is a bit expensive and may not be suitable for users on a budget.
• The capacity of the Livewell system is only 12gallon, a bit difficult to guarantee the freshness of the fish.

FAQ

• How much does pontoon boat weigh?

The Lowe SF 212 can be custom-designed depending on your needs and preferences, so the weight of the boat will vary slightly. Generally speaking, the base weight of this boat is around 2165 pounds.

• How many people can fit on a pontoon boat?

As a mid-sized fishing pontoon boat, the Lowe SF 212 is 22′ in length and has a maximum capacity of 13 people, allowing for a large number of people to go out fishing or just relaxing. For larger families or friends, this boat will be a good choice.

• How to dock a pontoon boat?

The operation of a pontoon boat is somewhat similar to that of a car, but there are still some differences, one of the most significant features being that the boat does not have brakes. This requires that in the process of driving a pontoon boat to dock, you need to slow down in advance and slowly dock to avoid the boat scratching the shore. In the case of rapid current, you can turn the engine against the direction of the current to keep the boat docked as smoothly as possible.

Lowe SF212 SPECS

Standard

Fuel Capacity	24 gal / 30 gal TL
Max HP Capacity	115 HP/150 HP with TL
Max Weight Capacity	2,076 lb/2,455 with TL
Beam	8’6″
Deck Length	20′ 10″
Log Gauge	.080″
Pontoon Diameter	25″
Pontoon Log Length	20′ 6″
Overall Boat Length	22′
Boat Weight	2,165 lb/ 2,488 lb with TL

Optional

Mercury® FourStroke

Mercury 60 ELPT Command Thrust FourStroke

Mercury 90 ELPT Command Thrust FourStroke

Mercury 115 ELPT Command Thrust FourStroke

Mercury 150L FourStroke

Video

Comparison Table

Ships	Deck	Maximum horsepowerLimits	Maximum capacity limit
Crest Classic LX Stern Fish 200	19’2″	150 HP	10
Avalon Venture 85 Rear Fish 23FT	Full length 23′	175 HP	11
Bennington SXP20 Fishing	Overall length 20′ 11.5″	90 HP	9

Lowe SF212 vs Crest Classic LX Stern Fish 200

Both boats have some similarities in function settings and layout, but the Crest Classic LX Stern Fish 200’s structure is a bit more concise compared to the Lowe SF212.

First, the overall length of the Lowe SF212 is 22′ in size, while the length of the Crest Classic LX Stern Fish 200 is around 21.4′. This reduction in size has prompted concessions in certain space arrangements. The smaller size also represents fewer stowable tables and is not as many drink holders as the other boat, which can affect the ride experience to some extent.

As for the livewell at the stern, the Crest Classic LX Stern Fish 200 places it at the starboard side, unlike the Lowe SF212, which puts it in the center of the stern. On the one hand, this design can bring the two anglers closer together and thus make communication more convenient. On the other hand, for anglers who are far from the livewell side, it may not be as convenient to put the trophy in the livewell.

Of course, even the smaller size of the Crest Classic LX Stern Fish 200 is not affordable for everyone. It’s worth mentioning that for those who are on a budget, we have more boats of the same type with better price/performance ratio. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us.

Lowe SF212 vs Avalon Venture 85 Rear Fish 23FT

When you have sailed the Lowe SF212 and the Avalon Venture 85 Rear Fish 23FT respectively you will see that the differences are not particularly significant.

In terms of price, although the Avalon Venture 85 Rear Fish 23FT has a larger boat size, it still has a price advantage over the Lowe SF212, whose starting price is about two thousand dollars lower than the latter.

In addition, due to the space advantage of the Avalon Venture 85 Rear Fish 23FT, whose storage box is set on the rear side of the L-shaped sofa, its storage function is more powerful, making the boat more suitable for a larger number of families or friends outing. However, I still prefer the Lowe SF212 for the comfort of the seats and the non-slip performance of the floor.

Lowe SF212 vs Bennington SXP20 Fishing

The Bennington brand has always been known for its luxurious, high-quality pontoon boats, and the Bennington SXP20 Fishing is no exception. On the one hand, the blue and white color scheme gives a more refreshing feel that is eye-catching. On the other hand, the L-shaped couch at the front of the Bennington SXP20 Fishing is longer compared to the Lowe SF212. So if you have more partners who want to sit together and pull in distance, then this boat would be a good choice. Or when you feel a little tired during the ride, you can also lie down and rest on the sofa, which is long enough to relax your body.

All in all, both are good fishing pontoon boats, and you can choose according to the situation and needs.

Summary

If you’re looking for a pontoon boat for your family or group to go out fishing, this Lowe SF212 is certainly a great choice. It will not disappoint you or your passengers in terms of selection, performance or comfort. Especially for those groups with lots of children, the spacious design and thoughtful details are sure to keep them safe while enjoying much comfort.

Of course, if you are on a budget, you can also consider our handpicked alternative version of the Lowe SF212. Still, the aforementioned Bait & Drift SF-22 A Model is also a good choice, which enjoys friendly price and excellent performance. Of course, people feel free to contact us for more information on our boats. Thank you for your support!