2024 Lowe Stinger 195

[The Baron]

Hi guys. First post, I’ve been combing the internet doing research and found this forum. I’m looking to upgrade to a 19ft. mod-v aluminum bass boat for this year. We have a 2002 Bass Tracker 165Pro that we love, but we’ve outgrown it.

I’ve been looking at used boats but a local dealer has a new 2024 Lowe Stinger 195 on clearance, making it an attractive option. Motor is a Merc 115 Pro XS. The layout is nice, front deck is huge.

So my questions are, does anyone own a later model Lowe Stinger, and how’s the build quality holding up? Any idea how a 195 will run with a 115hp (boat is rated to 150hp)? We fish small-medium lakes, and take it easy on the boat if running in a chop. I generally don’t fish if it’s rough, am not a tournament angler. We’ll occasionally fish Lake Ontario / the St. Lawrence River but only on perfect days and I don’t run far and stay close to shore. We mainly want a 19ft. for fishing comfort with 2-3 adults (my son and I are both about 6’3” 240# so our little 165 is shrinking. lol).

[tcesni]

Hi guys. First post, I’ve been combing the internet doing research and found this forum. I’m looking to upgrade to a 19ft. mod-v aluminum bass boat for this year. We have a 2002 Bass Tracker 165Pro that we love, but we’ve outgrown it.

I’ve been looking at used boats but a local dealer has a new 2024 Lowe Stinger 195 on clearance, making it an attractive option. Motor is a Merc 115 Pro XS. The layout is nice, front deck is huge.

So my questions are, does anyone own a later model Lowe Stinger, and how’s the build quality holding up? Any idea how a 195 will run with a 115hp (boat is rated to 150hp)? We fish small-medium lakes, and take it easy on the boat if running in a chop. I generally don’t fish if it’s rough, am not a tournament angler. We’ll occasionally fish Lake Ontario / the St. Lawrence River but only on perfect days and I don’t run far and stay close to shore. We mainly want a 19ft. for fishing comfort with 2-3 adults (my son and I are both about 6’3” 240# so our little 165 is shrinking. lol).

I own a cottage just north of you on Newboro Lake and fish lakes on the Rideau system during the summer months. The Lowe 195 Stinger is very close in dimensions, style, hull thickness and weight to a Ranger RT188. Compared to your 165 you will think the Stinger is a yacht! Definitely an upgrade. With two anglers you should be able to run 44-45 with the Merc ProXS 115. I've been fishing with the RT188 in the Rideau system since 2014 and I think it is a terrific boat for those waters. I've not taken it out onto Lake Ontario or the river but on calm days you will be fine. I"ve also fished three adults from my boat without issue and only a modest effect on performance. Feel free to PM if needed.

[PatriotAW4]

I would never buy that boat with a 115 on it. A boat that size needs the 150 for sure. It's on clearance because no one else wanted it with a 115 either. It won't perform well and will be hard to sell when you want to get rid of it.

[The Baron]

I would never buy that boat with a 115 on it. A boat that size needs the 150 for sure. It's on clearance because no one else wanted it with a 115 either. It won't perform well and will be hard to sell when you want to get rid of it.

Have you been in a 195 with a 115 Pro XS? I found a review on YouTube of the same boat/motor and the owner said about 42-43 mph. That’s plenty fast for me, if that’s accurate.

[PatriotAW4]

Have you been in a 195 with a 115 Pro XS? I found a review on YouTube of the same boat/motor and the owner said about 42-43 mph. That’s plenty fast for me, if that’s accurate.

That's horrible, even worse than what I thought. I bought an underpowered boat before not knowing any better and it was a terrible mistake. Just trying to keep anyone else from doing the same.

[Highcentered]

For what you seem to want out of your boat that 115 should be fine. Prop it right with a good stern lifting 4 blade and it will do what you need on smaller lakes.

[GeauxTide]

I think the 115 will be fine. If you have a 17" pitch prop, you should be over 40mph, as the 4 stroke motors have more bottom end.

[tcesni]

If the boat has the 115 with the Command Thrust lower unit it probably has a 21” Tempest Plus for a prop and will perform fine with it.

[Tim Kelly]

I've fished out of a Lund renegade 1875 with a 75 on it, not the 115 max, and it ran fine. As long as the outboard is the same sized block as the max rated outboard it will perform about the same, but lose a few MPH top end. A 115 on that hull will be fine too I'm sure, even though it's the smaller block

[catdude28]

If it is that blue boat at Boat Warehouse in Kingston, it is a very nice rig and well priced. Non currents save you money for sure. I also fish your area a lot, mostly Newboro and Rideau, and that rig is a good fit for those smaller lakes. As mentioned, prop it right and you will be good with a 115, as your hull weight is only around 1200 pounds. The Merc 4 blade Spitfire props work well with tin hulls and 115's.

[The Baron]

Yup, on clearance at The Boat Warehouse. The actual boat is red - I’d have preferred blue, but it’s still a pretty sharp looking rig.

I signed the paperwork today, made the decision to jump on the deal. Sales manager said after we’d shaken hands that their replacement costs were going up substantially and with the threat of 25% tariffs on top of our weak dollar they just had meetings earlier today getting a lot of pressure to put all prices up. I feel like we moved at the right time, now we’re excited and time to start looking at upgrading the trolling motor and adding electronics. :-)

[mabren2]

Congratulations! Getting a motor that is less than max HP for the hull can lead to a reduction in resell value, but as long as it serves all your purposes well, who cares! When I bought my Corvette, people used to say, “Drive it, don’t save it for the next guy,” because so many Vettes are garage queens. I feel the same about your situation. Enjoy your boat. Don’t option it for the next guy, get what works for you and your needs/budget. I hope you and your family get many years of enjoyment from it!

[Extremeboating]

Congratulations! Getting a motor that is less than max HP for the hull can lead to a reduction in resell value, but as long as it serves all your purposes well, who cares! When I bought my Corvette, people used to say, “Drive it, don’t save it for the next guy,” because so many Vettes are garage queens. I feel the same about your situation. Enjoy your boat. Don’t option it for the next guy, get what works for you and your needs/budget. I hope you and your family get many years of enjoyment from it!

Agreed. This right here. The rig is for you, not the next guy, and get it how you want it if it suits your needs.

I don't give a single damn about mileage or driving in the rain with my ZL1 Camaro because I bought it for me, I bought it to drive it and enjoy it. Not the next guy after me. Letting things sit in a garage only induces "lot rot" and brings a whole different set of issues within itself.

[The Baron]

Congratulations! Getting a motor that is less than max HP for the hull can lead to a reduction in resell value, but as long as it serves all your purposes well, who cares! When I bought my Corvette, people used to say, “Drive it, don’t save it for the next guy,” because so many Vettes are garage queens. I feel the same about your situation. Enjoy your boat. Don’t option it for the next guy, get what works for you and your needs/budget. I hope you and your family get many years of enjoyment from it!

Thank you, we're very excited. I bought this boat as a fishing platform, not for long runs at speed. There are days we launch and put the trolling motor down, might not even run the big motor until it’s time to head back in. And even then, we might just cruise at 15-20mph so we can talk. If we get 40mph with this new rig (all reviews and the dealer confirm more likely 42+) then I’ll be plenty happy. I appreciate the advise to get max HP and if I was doing a brand new boat build I would, but this was a last year model on clearance at a great price. I've now got a brand new boat with a lifetime hull warranty and room for guests to fish comfortably with us. My son and I are very excited about the coming season in our dream boat - we talked many times last year about how amazing it will be when we upgrade to a 19ft. … and we just did. Seeing my son and best fishing buddy sitting in his dream boat on the showroom floor, smiling and daydreaming. Well, life is good. :-)

[Goldstar225]

Congratulations on the boat. Hope it gives you years of good experiences and memories!

[tcesni]

Congratulations, I will look for your boat on the waters this summer.

[cmg]

not mention the 150 would have cost more

[Yakalong]

Now let's see some pictures of the fish being caught from your new boat

[tcesni]

Now let's see some pictures of the fish being caught from your new boat

We will have to wait before that new boat gets into the water, still very much the middle of winter in Ontario. Its 5 degrees at my cabin right now and not even the slightest hint of spring in the 14 day forecast. This year is going to be the opposite of 2024 when the ice went off by mid-March.

[The Baron]

Yeah… it’s darn cold right now. Still need to decide on electronics and maybe jump to a Garmin Force trolling motor. Hopefully… we’ll be able to boat some big Lake Ontario smallies in the early season (open now, closes May 10). Maybe late March if we get an early spring, but should be set in April.