Lund Angler 1700 SS vs. Alumacraft Magnum 175 CS

All,
I’ve narrowed my search for a new boat this spring down to either a Lund Angler 1700 SS or a Alumacraft Magnum 175 CS. I’m looking for any advice to help make my final selection. I’d appeciate any comments for the following 3 areas.
1. Pros and cons of these 2 boats for those who have owned or fished out of either one.
2. What size of 4 stroke outboard, 90 or 115 EFI, would you recommend?(mercury with the lund or yamaha with the alumacraft)
3. I’m probably putting a 74# bow mount Minn Kota Maxxum on it. What length shaft would you recommend, 52 inch or 62 inch? I’d hate to pay for the extra length, never use it, and have it in the way.

Thanks in advance for any advice
Randy

Hi Randy, I cant comment too much on the Alumacraft but I can say the IPS on the Angler gives it a great ride. I would try to get the biggest motor rated for the boat. Yamaha has been great for me in the past. You will kick yourself if you don’t get a 62 inch shaft. Another 10 inches isn’t bad for storage but you cant use when you need it if you don’t have it.
If your not totally set on these boats, I would also suggest checking out the Explorer 1800 SS.

Randy,
Last year I purchased a Lund Angler SS 1700 with a 115 4-stroke Yammy on back and love it. Its a great boat for both bass and walleye fishing due to the raised deck (no jumping up and down a foot or so between decks) and top access rod lockers. Didn’t look at the Alumnacraft so no comment there, knew I wanted a Lund or Ranger. No problems with the boat or the rigging, there is a recall on the fuel sender and that is being taken care of. The only cons is Lund contracted with Eagle trailers and although the trailer is well built, I’ve had to replace the carpet on the bunks (cost picked up by Eagle) also the storage lockers are not totally water proof. The 115 has great hole shot performance and trolls down below 2 mph according to the GPS, built-in speedo, and depthfinder. It’s also whisper quiet. I think Yamaha makes all but the powerhead on the Merc 4-strokes “I think”. Yammy only carries a 3-year warranty and Merc may be better. I installed a 24-volt 65#-54″ shaft Minkota Maxxum with universal sonar on a quick release bracket. The quick release was nice for when the cover needed to be put on. I’ve fished 2′-3′ rollers on Whitefish and Mille Lacs and had no problems with the 54″ shaft coming out of the water for reduced control. There is a picture of the boat down in the photo section. Good Luck with your selection! Send me an PM or email if you have any other questions!

Randy,
I have a ’01 Angler SS with a Merc 90 and 54″ 55AP.

Although the 90 runs well and top end is 35 -37, if I were to do it over again, I would go with a larger motor. Didn’t they up them to 135 hp? At least a 115 is called for on that boat.
The trolling motor works well and mine hasn’t come out of the water while using it…and I use it A LOT to troll with. The 55ap 12v is a little small and again, if I could do it over again (which I will up grade…someday) a 65 or larger is the way to go.
As with Mo above, the compartments aren’t totally water proof. I have Wallmart containers in there to keep things dry.
I bought the shorelander trailer with mine…rollers and no bunks. No issues.

The only thing that I can think of that I don’t care for is when you have a wind coming from the right, it likes to spray you with water…alot!
Oh yeah, my wife is sitting out in the wind (single council). Not that her sitting in the wind bothers me so much…it’s what I have to put up with afterwards. I shouldn’t say that, she almost had me talked in to a 19″ Pro V with the full windsheild. Good wife!

Good Luck in boat hunting!
Post a picture when you get it!

B

You sure its not condensation your getting in your rod compartments? Ive never had water in my rod lockers unless its really humid out.

Almost forgot the most important piece (to me). I had the livewell timer go out 2 seasons ago. I was getting ready to go to Winni. I called up there (to Lund) at 4 pm on a Friday.

The lady said she would have someone call me back…5:10 I had a fellow (can’t forget his last name LUND) work with me to ensure it was the timer. At one point we didn’t know if it was the switch or the timer but he said he would have one express mailed overnight to me, if that was the problem.

He helped me find the loose wire….then

he called me back a couple hours later to ensure everything was put back together and working.

I was impressed!

Derek, I get it in my forward compartments, but it does have to be raining pretty hard.

Derek,
Same as with Brian, it has to be raining hard and for an extended period of time. Randy…Also forgot to point out that the 115 will top out at around 45 mph with a standard aluminum prop. Wish I would of went with the stainless….it is rated for a 140 hp and I don’t feel like I would need it but if you can max it out, the extra hp is alway nice. The paint on the Eagle chips easily and have seen some bubbling but not enough to warrant a call to the manufacture. Running new wiring for lights and 12v. adaptors have been easy. ….the wife shakes her head every time she sees me looking at it in the garage!

Randy,

1. I’m a biased Lund fan. Great boats! Great service!

2. The 62″ shaft is only $10 more than the 52″ shaft. After spending thousands on the boat, you’ll never miss the ten bucks. Get the extra length for those rough water days.

Good luck and have fun with the new rig when you get it.

Randy,
I agree with Wade, I am a Lund man all the way.

Go with the 62″ shaft you won’t be sorry and the 74# thrust is a good choice.

As for the Motor that’s personal preference, personally I would go with the Yamaha but which ever one you chose go with the max size that the boat is rated for.

Paul,

I purchased the same boat last year and love it. What is this recall you talked about? I wasn’t aware of it? Is this something I need to take care of right away. Randy, I would suggest going with the larger engine. Like Paul said you will get anywhere from 42-45 with the aluminum prop. The layout space is incredible and the shallower deck makes jigging very comfortable. In my opinion, for the money you spend, you get a very similar boat to a 1700 ProV without a lot of the extra cost. I have also had the rod lockers become damp or slightly wet in a rain event. You may want to consider the Pro V or Alumacraft if you plan on having small children in the boat a lot. The shallow layout is ideal for fishing, but can also tempt a child into taking a swim. As far as handling the water, I got caught on Mille Lacs last year in honest 3-4 footers, and although I took a little water and was a bit nervous, she got me back to the docks in one piece, and quite easily I might add. One last recommendation. If you do a lot of trolling, buy the T8 kicker. Yes, the 115 will troll down close to 2 mph in current, there are many times on a lake or even in a river trolling with the current that 1.5-2.0 may be the magical speed and you won’t be able to accomplish it with the big motor. Add everything you can up front, it’s easier to deal with a slightly higher monthly payment, then having to shell out 2-3k in a year. Good luck with your purchase.

So, doesn’t anyone own a Magnum 175 CS?

Bigeyes,
Regarding the recall on the fuel sender unit, look up my post under “Heated garage to under a cover” in the General Discussion forum….the recall was explained and what you should look for to determine if your boat is leaking fuel. I’d check it out just for safety’s sake. As with you, the boat for me was hard to beat.

My brother in law has a Magnum 175 tiller. He should have returned it under the lemon law. It hasn’t been very good to him. Not really the boats fault I guess, he’s just snake bit with the darn thing. first a leak, then cracked livewell pump, then mice chewed up some stuff……the list goes on.
I have a tourney pro 175 tiller which is basically the same boat with a little different layout and a few more features. I love it. It’s been a great, problem free boat for me. I have a 75 tiller that pushes it just fine.

I own a Allumacraft Navigator 165 CS. I went with the shorter shaft on my Maxxum 74 bow mount. On very choppy water it will come out. I also have the problem with spray hitting my passenger. I have looked at Lund and rode in them and feel they are a better built boat. I recomend the Lund with the biggest motor you can afford, Maxxum 74 with 62 inch shaft,and a roller trailer (I let the dealer talk me into bunks again). I just bought a Garmin GPS 72 hand held last Fall, because the mounted sonar was too expensive. I found this one in my Spring Cabela’s last night. Eagle Cuda™ 240 Sonar/GPS Plotter $199.99

Looked at the Lund and Alumicraft side by side 2 yrs ago, wife picked the Lund, so I decided to keep her . Love my 1700SS, dry boat, great to fish out of,single console(keeps my wife’s mouth shut)Love My Lund . Merc 115 w/SS prop tops out at 45mph with 1 person ,gear,gas. Fishing partner bought Alumicraft w/50 Honda, in 2 1/2 mos boat started leaking water, had to strip boat and take to the factory so they could rebuild hull. Factory guys told him they had been fixing a boat a day with the same problem. Love my Lund.

Good Luck !

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single console(keeps my wife’s mouth shut)

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Never thought of that!

I will never own a full windshield boat again!

Jim ,I,m curious as to why you like the roller trailers better, my last boat was bought at starks and the only reason I’m not going back there to get my new one is because the rollers are all they carry, I found it hard to unload by myself( you had to leave it hooked until it was in the water,and hard to load because it would roll off after you drove it on when I walked forward to hook the saftey chain. mabey I didn’t have it set up right?

RandyK
Lund is a great boat and company to deal with, I own a 1775 and love it. Do not nickle and dime yourself just to save a little $. You will regrete it in the long haul. Stay with max. hp and the 74# with the long shaft should be a great combo. I have the 52in and wish I got the extra reach. Have fun

Hi, I own a 2001 175 magnum with a Merc 90 four stroke. It is great but I would go with the 115. I get all the performance I need. Pops right out on plane. The only thing is that the 90 is a caburated motor and the 115 is fuel injected I believe. I have had some exaceperating problems with the Merc that did not cost anything to remedy just didn’t get the right info for pumping the gas bulb. Now as far as the boat goes you could not get me to switch to the Lund compairison. I like the way the double hull takes the waves and I have people coment about that when they go out with me. Also I like the deeper floor in the Aluma Craft. I would buy another one at the drop of a hat over the Lund. I bought my rig at S&M Salvage and Marine in Oronoco and they are great! Just my thoughts and I respect the people who have Lunds as they are fine boats but for me I’ll take the 175 Mag anyday. I also think that the No Feed Back Steering is super on my Mag 175

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Jim ,I,m curious as to why you like the roller trailers better?

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….I wanted to get a roller but the dealer in Savanah talked me out of it for the same reasons you said. But I still think it would be easier loading when the water is shallow. I guess when I’m alone I have it tied to the dock too. Just wanted to try something diferent.

I also prefer the bunk trailer over the roller. It does depend on what the ramps are like where you launch and load. If the waters are very shallow, with the ramp not getting into enough water, then the rollers are very helpful. But, if the ramps are sufficient and especially when you’re by yourself, the bunks are nice.

All,
Thanks for all the excellent advice so far. Keep it coming in!!! I hadn’t thought of the bunk vs roller question, but it is a good one. I’d always had bunks. The ramps I use are all decent. I also do some long distance trailering and was once told that the larger surface area of bunks spread out the weight better. I had heard that rollers occasionally make shallow dents in the bottom of the boat, if they happen to fall in between rivet lines (support beams inside hull).
While looking in the alumacraft website, I see they have a new model for 2004, a Navigator 175CS. Looks very, very close to the Lund 1700 Angler SS, they even changed the bow (where the trolling motor mounts) to look like a Lund. Hmmmm?
There is a Outdoor/boat show in my area next weekend and I hope to compare the above boats side by side and make a decision. By the way, I currently own a Lund 1600 bass angler with a 60 merc and have always been happy. But my kids are getting bigger and need more room and power (at least that is what I’ve told my wife). And yes, definitely NOT a full winshield. thanks again. Randy