1825 explorer sport vs 1725 explorer sport

[bluffhunter]

Looking at both of these boats, obviously difference in price but is there alot more room in the 18 ft. Looking at fishing lakes mostly 3,500 acre lakes and less with mostly 2 but sometimes 3 adults with 4-8 trips per year to big waters like LOTW and Superior. Have a 16ft console now with 90 hp and is tight space but not sure if can spend another $5k or more on 18ft. any comments from people who own both boats?

[Matt V]

Buy the 18'er now. If not you will be looking to trade up in a year or 2. It get's crowded in a 17' boat with 3 adult's and all of your gear.

[Anthony E]

I went through that same decision 6 years ago & went with a 1700 Fisherman over the 1800. There have been only a few times since then that I really needed the extra space when fishing with more than 3 guys. For a while I kind of regretted not going with the 18ft but I think that had more to do with want over need. I'm now glad I have the 1700 because I can handle it at the landings when fishing by myself. We all can get caught up in the bigger is better thing and if the extra $$$ for the bigger boat & motor are a financial stress I would go with the 1725. The 1725 Explorer is about the same hull size as my 1700 Fisherman. My 1700 fishes 3 comfortably & I have had 5 fishing out of it several times but that was very tight. I checked out the Explorers at the Lund web sight and they look like a really nice rig. Looks like they have really nice storage-good boat organization makes any boat better to fish out of. I've found the less stuff you have on the floor the better. I also saw the Explorer has front & rear livewells. I found I never used my front one so I converted that to lockable tackle storage-that eleminates at least one large tackle box on the floor. The 1700 handles big water well, I fish Mille Lacs alot & have been on Lake of the Woods. If the water's too rough for my 1700 it is also too rough for anything under 20 ft. The extra $$$ you would spend on the 1825 could be used to rig the 1725. People tend to forget that all of the extras like trolling motors, depth finders, etc will add about $5000 to $6000 to the cost of the new boat. Lund makes a really nice boat, enjoy whatever one you decide on.
Tony