First Take

With fishing being such an integral part of Lowe’s DNA, expectations were extremely high heading into our test of the SF 212 WT. This model has been redesigned for 2023 with new exterior fence, rails and an upgraded furniture package.

Kind Of A Big Deal

Starting in the bow there’s no mistaking that this is a great fishing model. Up front there are two fishing seats that can be upgraded to match the plush helm chair if desired, but what we really like is the vertical rod holder storage for up to four rods that is lockable. Directly across on the port side in the bow is another lockable storage compartment with this one being designed to hold tackle trays. Hidden below is a place to store a battery for a trolling motor and the half bow gate makes it really easy to upgrade and add one if you’d like. While these are all great fishing amenities, our favorite has to be the 23-gallon aerated livewell just forward of the helm which is easily within reach of both angler seats. Lowe truly provides everything but the fish with this floor plan.

Recognizing not every trip out will involve fishing, we like that the fishing features are all nicely contained in the bow and the rest of the boat is more focused on comfort. At the fiberglass reinforced acrylic helm is a dash console centered on analog gauges with a row of lighted toggle switches below. New this year, the standard sound system has been upgraded to the KICKER KMC 45 stereo that includes two 50-watt speakers and there is even a 12-volt and a USB outlet below with a phone holder located on the other side of the tilt steering wheel. If we’re being picky we’d like to see the outlets closer to where your phone is going to be stored, but as is it is, of course, still easily within reach to plug in.

We could all do better at using fenders when docking our boat, but with the optional dock fender buttons there’s no excuse not to use them on this Lowe. Other upgrades worth noting are the gray teak wood grain flooring, the Blackout package that includes black dock light shroud, black Lowe logo, black ladder, black rails, Bimini frame and deck trim, as well as a premium ski/tow bar.

Closer Look

The foundation of the boat is the two Wave Tamer pontoons with lifting strakes and up top the rail height varies from 27 inches tall for the majority of the boat to nearly 20 inches tall in the stern for a safe and family-friendly design.

Performance

Rated for up to 150hp, the test model from Lowe was powered by a Mercury 115hp Pro XS outboard for a top speed of 30 miles per hour. Since she is clearly designed as an entry-level fishing model, we were pleased at how well she handled and the optional hydraulic steering helped in the flat, yet surprisingly sharp turns.

Final Thoughts

With boat prices continuing to soar, this Lowe coming in as tested under $50K is just what our industry needs. You could add a third pontoon performance package and go for the maximum horsepower the boat is rated for if you’re looking to get a little more speed, but we like the package for the price and feel there is a lot of value to this specific fishing model with comfortable seating for up to 10 passengers.