Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE – Your Great Companion for Fishing Outings!

Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE Review

Reference Price: From $18,045

Type: Pontoon boat

Weight: 1,629 lbs.

Size: 17’10”

Carrying capacity: 8 persons

What we like about it: The more complete feature set meets the needs of most people.

What we don’t like about it: The 15 gallon live well doesn’t dominate in terms of capacity.

Rating (4.65/5)

The Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE has the advantage of both quality and functionality for a wide range of water activities with ease, and the price of this boat is not too far out of your budget. As a pontoon boat for fishing, the Lowe can accommodate you to enjoy fishing, cruising, exploring, and all-round living with your family and friends.

If you happen to have a need to fish from a boat, then you may want to learn more about this boat. Below we will give an all-encompassing introduction to the boat in terms of how it feels to drive it, how it feels to fish it, and specification details.

Overall Impression

Fishing is an activity that my friends and I enjoy. Leo recently acquired a Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE after a very careful selection process. This boat, as the brand’s best-value fishing and cruising pontoon boat, naturally excels in terms of value for money.

The day we mentioned the new boat, Leo and a few of our regular fishing buddies agreed to try out the boat together and share the joy of the new arrival with us. Soon after, we drove the boat to the lake where we used to fish, because we would be more familiar with the water and would be more skillful and safer to operate the boat.

Carefully placing the Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE on the water, one by one we all eagerly stepped into the 17 foot or so vessel. My feet felt comfortable on the marine grade carpet, even with shoes on. Leo was in the driver’s seat fiddling with the controls and making all the preparations before we started the boat.

Cockpit Details

 I also showed a lot of interest in the boat, which I had never touched before, and Leo introduced me to the features and promised to let me steer it on the return trip. “The first thing that caught my attention was the cockpit seat, not only because of the simple white color, but also because the height of the seat can be adjusted up and down according to your height, or the armrests on the left and right sides of the seat can be raised or lowered depending on your mood.”

Leo starts the engine and moves on, “The console in front of me is very functional, with a gel coating that protects it from fading, cracking or yellowing. The black plastic steering wheel is simple in construction, free of any unnecessary ornamentation, and very smooth to operate. Look at the waves crossing the stern, that’s our boat steering.

The 4:1 anti-feedback steering system configuration ensures smooth steering. Of course, the raised footwells under the console are a nice touch to keep your feet comfortable while driving.” Leo described it to me in detail, as if he were a child who has just been rewarded with candy.

Fishing Experience

The Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE under Leo’s control quickly arrived in the same area we always visit. The bow racks and storage spaces were stocked with a variety of specialized rods and tackle, treasures that we had gone to great lengths to acquire.

With my skillful baiting and casting maneuvers, I was soon the first to start my fishing. Fishing itself is an activity that requires patience, and I sat on a foldable fishing chair at the bow of the boat, quietly waiting for the fish to take the bait.

Everyone was scattered around the cabin putting their rods out to fish, even though this boat has a bow with two fishing chairs that you can fish in all parts of the boat if you want to, it just might be a little far from the livewell in front of the console, inevitably you carrying your trophy across the cabin. After a couple hours the livewell was filling up fast.

The Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE’s sofa area at the stern of the boat was a great place to relax. I felt very comfortable laying on the bench seat and relaxing all over my body, which made my trip even more enjoyable. The cup holders under the sofa prevented my drinks from spilling or slipping. In the increasing sunlight, Leo opened the standard 9-foot Bimini top to reduce the direct sunlight to a certain extent and bring a rare piece of shade.

Specification

The Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE is a cost-effective fishing pontoon boat that is capable of handling basically every fishing activity.

The Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE still has a thoughtful cockpit setup, with a height and armrest angle adjustable driver’s seat that takes into account the comfort of the captain’s driving, and a raised foot pit under the console that is very friendly to the placement of the driver’s legs.

The fiberglass console is easy to clean and more convenient to observe. In addition, the anti-feedback steering system guarantees smooth steering of the boat. Various instrument clusters on the console display parameters such as speed, rpm and leveling during sailing, which further ensures safe driving.

The fishing facilities located at the bow are also very complete, the standard fishing stand, fishing gear storage space and live well system basically satisfy the needs of anglers. There are also optional trolling motor and fish finder to give anglers a more professional and high quality fishing service. The Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE’s long seat at the stern makes your voyage more enjoyable, and there is also plenty of storage space under the seat.

Other Versions

Leo told me that when he was shopping for the ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE, he also learned about other boats in the series, such as the Lowe ULTRA 182 FISH & CRUISE. But after comparing them, he chose the former.

Lowe ULTRA 182 FISH & CRUISE

Both of these boats are part of the Lowe ULTRA series, and there is a great deal of similarity in basic function, except that the 182 FISH & CRUISE will be better suited in capacity for more people to get out and relax together.

On the one hand, in terms of boat size, the 182 FISH & CRUISE has an overall length of around 19 feet 6 inches, a maximum carrying capacity of 9 people, and the maximum horsepower of the engine that has been increased to 75 HP. These parameters are up compared to the 162 FISH & CRUISE, which also results in the boat being more competitive in terms of performance.

On the other hand, there are some differences in the spatial layout of these two boats. Unlike the Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE’s aft L-shaped sofa setup, the 182’s boats are a bit more streamlined in terms of sofa design, with only one long sofa.

The extra space is set up with one more fishing chair located at the center boat ramp, and the total of three fishing chairs helps anglers stalk and catch your favorite species from multiple vantage points.

What do we like about it

• Reasonable space layout has won the favor of many fishing enthusiasts.
• The 9-foot Bimini top can provide a patch of shade on a hot day.
• The more spacious design provides ample storage locations for a variety of life-saving equipment and fishing gear.
• The LIVE WELL system in front of the console effectively guarantees the activity of the trophies.
• Featuring a multifunction console with a variety of gauges and controls, the fiberglass is not prone to fading, cracking or yellowing.
• Cup holders everywhere make it easy for passengers to reach their drinks and prevent them from spilling and slipping.

What don’t we like about it

• The 15gallon’s live well doesn’t hold an advantage in capacity, and likely won’t be enough to hold trophies for the highly skilled angler.
• The number of fishing chairs is set at only two, making it difficult for a larger number of anglers to meet the needs of all for a comfortable ride.
• The boat’s fuel tank capacity is only 6.6 gallons, hard to support a long range.

FAQ

1. Do pontoon boats have bathrooms?

For pontoon boats, they are generally without a roof. Even if equipped with a Bimini top, it is still an open space, basically not set up with a bathroom. Of course, if you have the need to change clothes and want to maintain a certain degree of privacy, some boats will be equipped with a simple folding locker room, saving space and improving convenience at the same time.

2. Is it hard to drive a pontoon boat?

Driving a pontoon boat is certainly not difficult. It is similar to driving a car on land, but not exactly the same. The boat is driven with the throttle held by the control stick, and it’s noteworthy that there are no “brakes” on the boat, so in order to stop the boat you need to pull the throttle back to neutral. Of course, you can also drive the boat in reverse to stop it faster.

3. How to rent a pontoon boat?

Renting an agreeable boat can also be a good option for those who only use pontoon boats for a short period of time or for less frequent use. This is where choosing a trustworthy rental company is very important, and you can talk to others by visiting official websites or looking up customer reviews, etc., in an effort to find a company that can meet your needs.

Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE Specs

Fuel Capacity	Portable
Max HP Capacity	50 hp
Max Weight Capacity	1640 lbs
Beam	8′
Deck Length	16′
Log Gauge	.080″
Pontoon Diameter	25″
Pontoon Log Length	16’3″
Overall Boat Length	17’10”
Boat Weight	1,629 lbs

Video

Comparison Table

Boats	Deck (of a boat etc)	Maximum Horsepowerlimit	Maximum capacity limit
Crestliner 180 Sprint Fish & Cruise	Overall length 19′ 6″	75 HP	8 persons
Starcraft EX 18 F	Overall length 19′	60 HP	8 persons
Sun Tracker Bass Buggy 16 DLX	16′	50 HP	7 persons

Crestliner 180 Sprint Fish & Cruise vs Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE

If you feel that the Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE is not roomy enough for you and want a larger sized boat, then the Crestliner 180 Sprint Fish & Cruise might be a better fit for you.

For the size of the boat, the Crestliner’s full length of 19′ 6″ is certainly more appealing. And for those who like to fish, the three fishing chairs add to the charm of the boat.

Accordingly, the extra fishing chairs in the Crestliner’s limited space will inevitably result in a reduced sofa area, which is not good news for those who want to rest more comfortably. In terms of comfort, I prefer Lowe’s high-density padding, which is softer and more flexible when it contacts the body.

Starcraft EX 18 F VS Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE

If you prefer a more powerful boat when fishing, take a look at the Starcraft EX 18 F. The Starcraft EX 18 F has a much better engine than the Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE that we’ve featured today.

60HP of maximum horsepower gives the boat plenty of drive and speed. The maximum horsepower of 60HP provides the boat with enough driving power, and the speed of the boat is increased accordingly. In addition, the Starcraft’s 21 gallon fuel capacity is a definite advantage, increasing the boat’s range and time.

There are only a few minor layout differences between the Starcraft and the Lowe. One is that the Starcraft has two less storage spaces in front of the bow chair, which is not as convenient as the other boat.

Secondly, in the aft sofa position, Starcraft adopts the setting of two split sofas, while Lowe arranges a whole L-shaped sofa. For those who want to have a close conversation after a long time, the latter space can bring people closer together.

In short, both are good pontoon boats, and shopping for them in conjunction with your actual needs is the way to go.

Sun Tracker Bass Buggy 16 DLX vs Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE

There is actually a great deal of similarity between the Sun Tracker Bass Buggy 16 DLX and the Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE, which are both very similar in terms of boat size and interior layout, with only a slight discrepancy in some details.

Even though they both have deck lengths of around 16 feet, Sun Tracker’s boat still enjoys a smaller maximum load of people, which may be influenced by the shorter length of its aft couch.

While the boat’s extra seat in front of the console doesn’t make up for its gap in capacity, there’s still more room for individuals to move around, not to mention that the LIVE WELL under the seat puts the idea of utilizing space wisely to good use. However, with only 9 gallons of live well capacity, this boat will not be able to accommodate more than a few people.

The Sun Tracker is also more streamlined in terms of console design, with only a tachometer on the simple surface of the console, making it difficult for the captain to have an all-round view of the parameters related to the vessel’s navigation.

However, the unique design of the illuminated dashboard is still very praiseworthy, and the RPM index is clearly displayed even in the darkness of the night.

Summary

The Lowe ULTRA 162 FISH & CRUISE is one of the brand’s more affordable boats, with a layout of features that will satisfy the needs of anglers, and a starting price of under $20,000 in the pontoon boat category.

Of course, if you’re looking for a boat with a more affordable price tag, why not contact us directly and we’ll be happy to recommend a cheap and suitable pontoon boat!