Lund ProV 1775 w/115 Yam4strk

[Newboat]

Here is my situation. Due to a growing family, I need to move up to a bigger boat, but since I normally only take 3-4 trips/year to big water (most of my fishing done in lakes under 2000 acres), I don't want/need/can't afford a huge boat. I am trying to keep costs down. I am looking at a Lund ProV 1775 SE rigged with a 115 Yamaha 4 Stroke, 74lbs transom electric and 65lbs bow electric. Trying to get away from having to get a kicker. Also trying to avoid older motor technology for future resale reasons when I can afford an even bigger boat :)!. I pull cranks or spinners 40% of the time, live-bait rig 40% of the time, and jig 20% of the time. I enjoy being able to back-troll in heavy seas (I have a tiller boat now). But am also comfortable running my bow-mount to rig/jig/spinners in calm to moderate chop.

I'd like comments from those who run a Lund ProV 1775. Does it handle big water (3-4 footers)? Can 3-4 people fish out of it comfortably? If rigged with a 115HP 4-stroke Yamaha, how fast is it at WOT? What is expected forward trolling speed (w/o a sock)? Can you back-troll in heavy wind with the big motor and then steer with the transom electric using an extension handle on the transom electric from the console position? I appreciate any info.

[czy42strokes]

I have a 1999 lund Pro V 1775 SC with a 2000 Evinrude FICHT 115, older bow mount Minnkota 812 with 42 pounds of thrust. 12 volt system that I have hooked up to two deep cycle batteries for extra reserve when fishing in canada. The bow mount meets my needs so the thrust you are looking at should work well, three fishing out of a boat this size is okay, with four proper boat control and watching your lines becomes a must. Even more so with kids.:) Dad's end up being bait boy, net boy, untangle the lines. LOL.. My 115 with a stainless will run around 45-48 gps depending on the load. It will troll down for northerns, and with a drift sock works for walleyes. I can back troll but with out splash shields you will take on water in heavy wave action. I have fished Leech Lake in 3-4 waves and for me that is the strongest storm action I care to see..I won't comment on you wanting to keep cost down, cuz it sounds like you are loading this boat up, I wouldn't want your wife to know there are cheaper ways to go. LOL.. have fun.

[Bert]

I have basically that same setup. 2000 1775 SE DC with F115, bow mount (only) trolling motor. Fishes 2-3 people great. If you want to fish 4, they need to stay in their spots or you are tripping over gear, net, each other.

It's fairly dry, although 4+ footers on a windy day and you will swear you've been swimming. (But basically the same as you would be in any other 17 footer without a walk-thru windshield.)

The F115 trolls down real slow, put on a 17" prop and you are talking less than 1.5 mph on the GPS (without a drift sock). I don't backtroll so your guess is as good as mine. (No w-wackers and I have no desire to bring half the lake in over that low transom.) Can't say enough about that motor.

Put on a 19" prop and you should get 44-48 depending on your livewells, people, gas.

Have fun and good luck.

[Todd]

I have a 1997 1775 with a 74lb Maxxum bowmount and a kicker. I do backtroll a lot with the kicker, so I have no experience steering with the transom mount. I can say that you'll probably have to position yourself near the back to backtroll, as opposed to trying to steer out of the console seat. It's a long reach back to the transom (even with an extension) and it's difficult to span with width of the boat to get your line in the water.