Need Lund Explorer 1700 SS advice!!

[Juan Grande]

Went to the boat show today and I was looking at a 2005 Lund Explorer 1700 SS with a 90 horse Johnson.

The base price was around $14,900. Crystal Pierz added on a couple packages that included a Minnkota PD55 Autopilot with universal sonar, Hummingbird Matrix 27 depth finder w/GPS, additional bow mount for sonar, pro seats, custom boat cover, deep cycle battery, single bank charger, quick release package, power tilt, CD player, and snap out carpet to birng the price up to $16,985.

Everyone I talked to there agreed that buying a new 2005 was the way to go vs. the 2006. Same exact boat, but supposedly $4000 cheaper.

Just wondering if anyone has any input on the Explorer 1700 SS and whether that seems to be a good price for a new 2005.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

John

[gtofast1]

I paid about the same price for my 2004,but got a 115 yamaha four stroke. 65# 24 volt with 60 in shaft--which you'll need. not sure if your getting a four stroke motor or 2...other options same on boat..just love mine... also check out on the trailer your getting. make sure your getting a heavy enough trailer.

[Northlander]

I run the 1700 Explorer SS and a 115 Yammy 4 stroke. Love it! Very fishable and can go on big lakes and small. Get at least a 65# troller on front and a 2 or 3 bank charger. 1 bank is foolish when you will be running at least 3 batteries and if your like me 4 at times.

Dont skimp on the trailer. Go at least 1 size bigger than they say. Go 4 stroke and I recomend the 115 Yammy and I have heard good things about the Suzuki.

Do it right the 1st time or you spend more in the long run getting what you wish you would have when you financed it.

Make sure you get at least 3 seats. If you have the extra cash the MR.Pike is also a super boat and the center rod storage is very nice.

With either boat I think you will be very happy. My only complaint on the Explorer is the control box takes up a lot of leg room on the right side. The little rod space you get from it isnt worth it in my mind. Im a big guy though. 6'6" and 270# so the average size guy is going to be ok I would guess. The gas tank is plenty big and the milage with the 4 stroke is great.

The gunnels are great for rod holders, I have 8 flush mounted Rams and 2 Mag 10 downriggers for when I hit the big lake. They came out with the track system rod mounts the year after I got my boat and Im going to put 2 of those up front ahead of the existing 2. The track system is very handy if you arent comfortable withdrilling holes for the flush mounts.

E-mail me if you need more questions answered. Have fun!

[whitewolf6647]

That's a pretty good price I also bought an '04 1700 SS from Crystal Pierz great dealer. I got 3 seats pro ride upgrade, cd player, cover, deep cycle battery, swing tounge trailer, and 4 of those little accessory brackets for the inside channel, with a 90 yamaha 4 stroke on the back and after tax license the whole works I paid some where around $14,700. So with all the extras that price is pretty good granted the motor is a 4 stroke. If what they're offering you is only a 2 stroke do some more haggling and get the 4.

Yeah get the longer trolling motor shaft and to be honest if I had to do it over again I would upgrade to a 115 and get a stonger trolling motor mine right now is the 55pd. Putting the 115 on in place of the 90 it ony would've uped the price of the whole unit about 800 I'll still kicking my self for not getting the bigger motor but that's a lesson learned. Trolling motor I wouldn't go less than 65pd I wish I would've know that when I bought but then again this was my first boat buying experience so the trial and error thing kicked in.

Just looking at it looks like the 06 and 05 are the exct saem as the 04 I would go with the 05 instead of the 06 one more year on a boat isn't anything and personal view is it's deffinently not worth 4 grand. But in the end it's all up to you. I love my boat it handles big water like a dream I had it out in 4-5 rollers and it was great smooth ride lots of storage and it's basic enough you can do almost anything you want to set it up just how you want it. I'm know you'll be happy with it when you get it.

[Juan Grande]

Guys,

Thank you so much for your advice. I knew FM would come through for me. Thanks again...

John

[Juan Grande]

One more question, am I wrong or is it true that the Lund packages only come with Mercury motors now? The salesman mentioned that in previous years you could pick the motor you wanted. Is a Yamaha a huge upgrade over a Mercury? Both of them being 4 stroke.

[JohnMickish]

To answer your questions, no, you do NOT have to get Mercury on your Lund for 2006. However, the cost of the up/downgrade of the engine swap will depend on your dealer and what he wants to sell. If your dealer is not willing to work with you Minnesota has lots of Lund dealers out there that will, and most have holdover Explorers too.

[Juan Grande]

Just curious as to why everyone suggests getting the 115 HP instead of the 90HP? Assuming that I'm not going to be pulling a lot of tubers or skiers and that I won't fish a lot of big water, do I really need the 115 HP?

[kjgmh]

The 90hp Johnson 4 stroke is a very good motor, by going to a 115 you would only gain 2-4 mph on top end. If that couple of miles an hour is not important to you I would go with the 90, you will still get very good perfomance.

[Doonbuggy]

Juan - I remember us discussing the closeout Crestliners last fall...anyways, I have the 90hp Johnson and it's a very nice motor and I too was told that you'll get just 2-4 miles per hour more w/ the 115.

Even if you hit Mille Lacs once a year that boat/motor will do just fine.

As for the price, that sounds pretty good. I got the same setup as what you're discussing on a 1750 Crestliner Fishhawk SC for a similar price.

DB