Don't know about current Lowe Tunnels but I had a little experience with one on th Agulukpak R. in 1992 and was negatively impressed. With that older model, the hull was thin, the tunnel reduced floatation in the rear. If the boat was loaded it took a long time to get out of the hole and didn't plane well with a medium to heavy load. The tunnel edges tended to catch rocks that a flat hull would have slid over - we even punched a hole on a relatively smooth rock and it was hard to get patched. I'd talk to more folks or take a few rides before I put money on one. I like the V bow 18 foot Lowe with flat bottom or even on older 18 foot Lund with the flat bottom rear. Like the first responder said, you get what you pay for and that older Lowe seemed tinny and poorly designed. Like Mark said it soulc also depend on how and where you using it. For fast rocky rivers with tight turns I'd be wary.