A question for experienced boaters

[Kris_2020]

I`m am doing a bit of a research on boats because I want to upgrade my 1725 Lund Explorer next year. My main reason to upgrade is because I want the new Mercury 150 4 stroke that came out and I want to max out my next boat. Right now I have a 115 on my Lund which is not maxed out.

My question is I am looking at a few boats. Mainly a 1875 Lund Impact Sport and the 1825 Lund Explorer. Both would be maxed out with the 150.
So which would be better for big water and rougher conditions? The Impact is a longer but lighter boat and the Explorer is the shorter but heavier boat. I`m thinking the Lighter boat will be a faster boat but will the length be a better thing for choppy waters or is heavier better?

[Explorer]

You would only be getting 3 or 4 more inches with the impact. Correct me if I am wrong but I believe you get the IPS 2 hull with the Explorer and not with the Impact. I would take the better Hull and more weight.
Goodluck with your decision and enjoy the new boat.

[Phil T]

Isn't the bottom of the IPS2 hull shaped like the letter M? The other boat's bottom is more like a V? Guess which one is likely to trap water under the hull. That one may be faster because of that trapping (lifting) effect. The vee hull will ride smoother, but lower than the IPS2.

[ozarkeyes]

Sorry to be the one to break the news, but the word is, Explorers have been dropped from the 2013 lineup. So if you are still interested in the Explorer 1825 you might want to start looking for a 2012 model still on a dealers lot.

There is a big difference in the IPS hulls over the original V hull. The original IPS design over the traditional Lund V made the hull with a wider and longer center power strake, the V bow is wider, flatter not as sharp angle and put a 'bass boat style' pad in the aft center part of the hull. There was significant performance gains with the IPS hull over the Lund V hull. The IPS2 modified the IPS, with a slightly deeper V bow, and added more strakes, which "help drive down spray and create a smoother, drier ride with a flatter wake". It also helps the boat get on plane quicker.

The Impact has 5 inches in length, 18-9 vs 18-4; but the Explorer has 96" beam and stern width of 95" vs. Impact 94" beam and 91.5" stern.

[jeffbilodeau]

Speaking from experience....if you are concerned about rough water get an Explorer or ProV. It's not just the IPS2 but the extra weight that helps. The Explorer and ProV both have a little more deadrise (deeper V) towards the stern. (at least I think they do) Also both have IPS2 which gives you a power strake at the bow.
But.........word on the street is the Explorer is not in the lineup for 2013. Too bad! Having run my Impact for a while now I think the ultimate boat would be an Impact layout stuffed into a ProV hull. The Explorer was pretty close to it.

[REW]

Kris,
If you are serious about looking for a great boat for rough water - consider other boats besides Lund. Lund makes absolutely great boats.

But there are many other boat companies out there that also make great boats.

For example take a look at a Skeeter, a Yar Craft, a new Warrior or a Stratos.

Many of these boat can be purchased for comparable prices to the boats that you are looking at in the Lund line.

As with anything else - take each and every boat that you have any possible consideration for buying out on a test ride in various types of waters. i.e. glass smooth to 4 foot waves, at speeds from idle to wide open. Run downwind, upwind, and cross wind in both directions.

Then, you will be in a very good position to come to a good judgement on which particular boat is the best one for you to have in your garage and for you specific needs.

You might also consider other motors than the one that you mentioned. The Yamaha 150 4-stroke and the Suzuki 150 4-stroke have both been out for some time and both have excellent track records of excellent performance, and dependability.

Be safe
REW

[Kris_2020]

Thanks
I guess I will do a bit of research on this.

I will wait till next year and if the Explorer is dropped I`ll see if it will be replaced with anything else or if I should look for something else. I am also considering Alumacraft and Princecraft. Besides these 3 I don`t want anything else and as for fibreglass even though they are better and smoother rides that is also not an option for me since I go up north in canada quite often and there are a ton of rocks in the waters there and I don`t think fibreglass is a very good option for that. I go on shore a lot where I drive on top of rocks and have hit a few dead heads without any problems on the aluminum but I think fibreglass would be more of a problems if that happens.
The engine however I am pretty much decided on.
I`ll see what the lund has to offer next year though.

[jeffbilodeau]

From what I was told by my dealer the sales on Explorers has dropped to nearly nothing. I haven't heard of any new models but supposedly there will be a 20 foot Impact next year. The Crossover is a heavier boat than the Impact but is more of a fish and ski. If you get a chance to get in one ...do so. It just feels heavy duty. I also heard rumblings of a revamped Tyee.

[j77]

First of rumors are true that the explorer line will not be available for 2013. The will have a 1775,1875,
and a new 2010 impact models. In regards to ride the explorer has the ips2 Hull and will be smoother and dryer than the impact. My oponion... go with the explorer. Unless your gonna get a 2013. You wont have the explorer option. Than it would be an impact or a pro v.

[Red Rock]

I bought a brand new 03 1900 Pro V and fished Oahe, Big Mac, Lake Michigan etc over the last 9 yrs and it has been a good boat, that being said I Bought a Yar-Craft this year and after its first trip back from Oahe I can say it's not only a good boat , it may fall into the 'Great' catagory.

Give Yar-Craft a look

http://www.yarcraft.com/186TFX.html