Lowe FM 1800 WT Review

Once upon a time, choices for boat buyers were extremely limited. You could buy a great fishing boat, or you could buy a great family boat. But trying to achieve both in a single package was just asking too much. Not so today, thanks to a slew of brilliant innovations that have come to market in recent years and allowed boat builders to present some of the most versatile designs ever. One of the newest and most innovative yet is the Lowe FM 1800 WT.

The Lowe FM 1800 WT has been one of the brand’s best sellers for years on the strength of its useful feature set and “just right” size. Completely refreshed for 2020, the all-new FM 1800 WT brings even more value with multitude small, but noticeable changes that just make the whole boat feel more comfortable and intuitive. They say it’s the little things, but collectively, they really add up.

Numerous refinements to the FM 1800 WT for 2020 include more seating options to give it greater family appeal.

The Lowe FM 1800 WT measures 17 feet, 10 inches in overall length and rides on a generous 95-inch beam. The all-welded hull maintains the 1800 WT’s proven Deep-V form with a healthy 15-degree deadrise at the transom, while incorporating a reverse-chine design for greater stability when cornering. Built from beefy 0.100 marine aluminum plate, the hull has a solid feel to it, in part thanks to the generous use of pressure-injected, marine-grade foam. Apart from providing full upright flotation for safety, the closed-cell foam yields considerable strength and rigidity, while helping to insulate the hull against noises that could spook wary fish.

Bow cushions convert the spacious front casting deck to comfy seating.

The overall layout will be at once familiar to serious fresh-water anglers, with raised bow and stern casting decks and a deep main cockpit. But look closer and you’ll see considerable attention to detail.

Safety rails are a welcome feature, providing additional security for passengers seated up front.

The raised front deck offers plenty of space for two anglers to fish side-by-side in comfort, while the boat’s beamy footprint ensures that below-deck spaces will remain large enough to provide useful storage space – including a 14-gallon aerated live well and a large locking rod locker right in the front deck. The rod locker accommodates 10 sticks in individual tubes – five to 6 feet 6 inches in length, and five to 7 feet even. Far forward, an elevated bow pad provides the ideal spot to install a bow-mount electric motor.

To make the most of the Lowe FM 1800 WT as a family boat, opt for the available bow cushion set and safety rails that convert this space to comfy seating.

Fishing features abound, including locking in-deck rod storage that protects rods in individual tubes.

Separating the front deck from the cockpit are large passenger and helm consoles topped with a sturdy walk-through windshield that provides much-appreciated protection when running to distant hot spots on cold or wet days early or late in the season. Cockpit depth is a substantial 24 inches, giving the boat a secure feel and a dry ride when running in heavy waves. In-gunnel storage on both the port and starboard sides accommodates a surprising amount of gear, including more rods in the starboard locker. In-deck storage gobbles up even more stuff, keeping the cockpit floor clear for serious fishing.

Look carefully and you’ll soon spot the four oversized cup holders, and the flip-up cleats that fold flat when not in use – ensuring they can’t snag fishing lines or stub any wayward toes. Plush 16-ounce marine carpet offers a good balance between comfort and durability, while a full vinyl floor is available as an optional upgrade for boats that will see heavy-duty use.

Fold-down stern seating converts to form a huge elevated aft casting surface.

The passenger console includes a large, locking glove box for securing valuables like wallets, cell phones, keys, cameras and anything else that should stay dry. The stylish helm console keeps the critical gauges – a speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge and trim gauge – right up top where they’re easily monitored – elegant chrome bezels are a nice touch. There’s also a neat row of rocker switches to control electrical accessories like the live wells, a courtesy light, the standard 500-gph bilge pump, a horn and the nav lights. The helm also includes a useful 12V dash receptacle. There’s plenty of space to mount the owner’s choice of electronics, including a range of Lowrance models available as factory options. Still more attention to detail can be seen in the helm seat, which features an automotive-style slider base to accommodate drivers of all heights.

The Lowe FM 1800 WT includes a pair of pedestal-mount fishing seats and six seat bases – four of them in the main cockpit, plus one each in the raised front and stern decks. The aft deck also includes a second, 21-gallon aerated live well.

Built to handle outboards to 150 horsepower, the FM 1800 WT comes in at a “just right” size being trim enough to easily tow yet big enough to accommodate the whole family.

Our review boat came with an added optional twist in the form of fold-down stern seating. In the raised position the stern deck is topped by twin forward-facing seats with a useful console in between. To revert to a rear casting deck, just fold down the seat backs and pull the entire affair forward till it folds flat on the floor, creating an oversized rear deck. It’s a simple but brilliant arrangement that lets the Lowe FM 1800 WT go from fishing mode to family cruising mode in about 1.1 seconds.

That’s a real key to the value that this boat represents. Let’s face it, most of us can’t justify having a fishing boat and a family boat – nor would we want that. Thankfully, with its innovative engineering and comfortable amenities, the Lowe FM 1800 WT does it all in a single, versatile and appealing package. Bravo!