New Lund 2010 Guide Series

[Mille Lacs Guy]

The issue with the 2010 Pro Guide and the choice of motor between Merc and Honda boils down to the Mertens Power Tiller System. This is the system that hydrulically (sp) steers the boats when you steer the tiller handle. The engine manufacturer has to sign off to allow the Mertens system be installed on their motors. As far as I now Honda has not endorsed this system to be pre-rigged at the factory on the 2010 Pro Guide. As the Mertens system gains in popularity as it has over the past 2 years more motor manufacturers will probably allow it to be installed on their motors. Mercury has a very close working relationship with Mertens and there is even speculating that Mercury will buy out Mertens and only make the system available for installation on Mercury outboards.

Another point relevant to this post is what motor you can hand off the back of a Lund. As stated earlier, Mercury and Lund are both owned by Brunswick which is the reason Lund is moving towards all Merc's on the Lund Boats. Lund has an existing contract with Honda that states Lunds can come pre rigged with Honda's, thus the reason that it says you can get a Honda on a Lund for 2007. It is my understanding that this contracts ends after the 2007 model year. After this it will be all Merc's unless someone is willing to pay a much higher price to order a Lund/Merc package and then take a credit for the Merc motor that is much less than the motor is worth and put their motor of choice on for whatever a Yamaha, Evinrude, Suzuki, etc costs. I don't see many people doing that, they will either just get a Lund with a Merc or they will buy a different brand boat in order to get the motor they want.

[SXViper]

Northlander,

As for the motors it was both Yamahas, and Evinrudes choice to no longer hang their motors on Lund boats. It was not Lunds choice. As for changing I can pretty much guarantee it wont change because neither Yamaha or Evinrude will sell any prerig parts or motors to Lunds. Also crestliner is owned by Brunswick so they have no motor options that Lund does not have. I really hope you and your thousands of friends fall in love with Mercury motors so you can keep running your Lunds

[Timber]

Northland, Crestliner is also now owned by Brunswick and the same "Merc only" applies. But I'm with you, I'm very upset with the present Lund "packaged" boats. Most I've talked to feel the same. Some dealers were able to sell a few 07 Lunds with Yamahas or other motors to reduce their non-Merc motors inventory-----but that's it. After those sales I would bet the sale of Lund/Mercs will go down. I will not buy another Lund with those conditions, and I own three of them now----and have always owned them.

[Timber]

SXViper, Yamaha and Evinrude's decision to not sell motors to Lund was in response to Brunswick's purchase of Lund. It was a forgone conclusion that Brunswick would only allow Mercs on Lund and Crestliner boats. There really was no choice. It was definitly a Brunswick decision.

[deepportage01]

I think you will see this as comon thing in the future with boat company's, as they all buy out and sell out to try to gain more sales and make more $$$

I think boat will be more like cars and trucks in the future,if you buy a ford you get the ford motor,and the same with chev, when it come rite down to it it's about more $$$ for the company and the costomer get shut out of the whole thing IMO...

[cold one sd]

In April of 2007 Lund will be offering a glass boat and in 2008 I believe they will have about 8 models of glass boats. I can understand some of the feelings that I read on here, but I can't understand why it is wrong for Brunswick to do the same thing with Lunds what Yamaha is doing with G3s. I think all the new outboards are good quality units and I wouldn't have a problem with owning any of them. I do have to agree that if I didn't care for Mercs, I would buy a brand of boat that I could hang anything on. I own two Lund boats and three Mercury outboards and don't have a problem with it. I live in South Dakota and don't have a lot of choice of brands unless I drive a couple hundred miles. Four hours one way to have work done is out of the question. Just my .o2.

[Northlander]

sxviper I seriously doubt Yamaha or Evinrude said they wouldnt want their motors on Lunds. That would be a very very costly and foolish bussiness move. One I doubt they would make. Im thinking it was more like Lund made it too expensive and cumbersome of a deal for them to do it.

Cold one I love my Yamaha but still wont buy a G3. They have a lot of work to do before I buy a G3 and I gave them a real hard look when I was boat shopping. If Yamaha can get G3 to where they have their motors I would go G3 though.

[MuskyBug85]

as far as chris and other guys that guide i agree that the floor plan for the pro guide is hard to beat. the motor option doesnt really matter to me, but the 5 seat bases is a huge plus. that is a floor lay out i think we will see alot more of in other makers in the coming years.

[iffwalleyes]

I don't understand people that won't buy a Lund because of a Merc motor. Mercs are great motor so what is the deal. So are Yammaha but if they are not on a Lund so what get what they have. I would rather have a Lund with what ever motor. All of todays 4 strokes are good motors. I must just be missing something. I am sure Chrestliner will have the same deal a Lund since both are owned by the same company as Merc. But we will see.

[AQUAJOE]

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Ya Lund lost a lot of credibility with me when they did this Mercury or "pay a price" B.S.! If this doesnt get taken care of in the next few years I and several thousand others will no longer be buying Lunds Im sure. I hate when companies pre rig and then charge a person to vary away from it. Right Tracker?

Looks like Alumacraft and Chrestliner sales will be going up soon. Maybe Ill buy some stock in them.

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I thought the Crestliner dealers were already pre-rigging Mercs?

I am an Evinrude guy and would not have a boat with a Merc on it(unless it was for free) I think they are to big and to loud and most that I have driven shift in and out hard and idle poorly. (Sorry Merc guys Personal opinion)

PS. I am willing to be taken out by you Merc guys and provin wrong on these points.(need to see in person)

[cold one sd]

Ya might want to try a Verado. Electronic throttle and shifting, very quiet and they idle like a car.

[Scoot]

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Don't know what boats you've priced. Lund has the only 20ft aluminum tiller I have found. So their price @ $30k for a package is much cheaper than $40k for a Ranger, Triton, Yar-Craft, or Warrior.

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I'd have to say that's not a fair comparison at all. You're talking about glass vs aluminum, which is obviously apples and oranges. The extra 10K is attributed to that difference, not simply a difference in brand names. So yes, 10K is a lot of money and you'd have to pay it to get one of the boats you mentioned. However, you'd also have a lot better riding boat (IMO).

Also, IFF- a lot of people would agree with you. However, a lot of people would disagree with you too. I know a ton of people who have owned Mercs and won't ever, and I mean EVER, get another one. Also, I think people generally react negatively to being told what options they can and can not have on a very expensive toy they're going to buy. Honestly, I don't blame them. For some people who had planned on buying a Merc, if you told them their only option was to get a Merc, they'd throw a hissy fit.

But, if I am going to spend 30K+ on a boat/motor, it's dang well going to be the exact combo I want, not something close because the dealer/boat manufacturer said I can't have it a certain way.

So... I think some people hate Mercs, some people hate being limited in their options, and some people hate both.

[marine_man]

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I think some people hate Mercs, some people hate being limited in their options, and some people hate both.

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I personally don't have anything against the more expensive mercs - optimax, verado, but in regard to your comment on Merc's I've heard the following:

Some people swear by them, the rest swear at them

marine_man