Lund vs Crestliner…

I am looking at Tiller boats that max out at 90horse and was driving through New York Mills (which I knew was the home of Lund Boats…) but was surprised that Crestliner was also made there. I stopped in for a quick visit and picked up some catalogs for both those boats. Lund has the Pro Guide 1875 Tiller and Crestliner has the 1850 Pro Tiller. Very simple question: Is there a quality difference between the two? I mean heck they are both made under the same roof…RR

They have been built under the same roof for a number of years now. I can’t comment on the comparison of quality. I don’t think I have even sat in a new C-Liner in 10 years. The only new Lund I have been in was Glass.

FDR

Lund has a hull with rivets and Crestliner has a all welded hull.

I think the quality will be similar since they both are made under the same roof but I believe the Lunds will still have a better dryer ride with their hull vs Cliner. I happen to have the 1825 ProGuide with a 90hp Yamaha and absolutely love the boat.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Lund has a hull with rivets and Crestliner has a all welded hull.

HHMM…Which hull type is considered ‘better’? Boat will mostly be used on small 400 acre lake with the occasional Leech n Winni trip…

IMO Lund has a better re-sale value. More interest usually shown to used Lunds on classified adds, around my area.

Get 10 plus years on those rivets and you might have little water in the boat, or replace loose one here or there after many years or alot of pounding. But nothing that should shy you away from lund. Lund has better hull design IMO.

Also if you have a motor preference…. very tough and very expensive to get dealers to rig anything other than a MERCURY on the back of lunds..

Both would be great for smaller lakes like you describe.

My Lund dealer here in Iowa sells both Merc and Yamaha and will rig with your choice. I went with the Yamaha.

Crestliner ? I thought they were called Wetliner ?

trumar wrote:

Crestliner ? I thought they were called Wetliner ?

Guess I’ll get the Lund! (I do like the Crestliner though. I’ll just have to take em’ for a ride and price em’ out…)

sktrwx2200 wrote:

IMO Lund has a better re-sale value. More interest usually shown to used Lunds on classified adds, around my area.

Get 10 plus years on those rivets and you might have little water in the boat, or replace loose one here or there after many years or alot of pounding. But nothing that should shy you away from lund. Lund has better hull design IMO.

Also if you have a motor preference…. very tough and very expensive to get dealers to rig anything other than a MERCURY on the back of lunds..

Both would be great for smaller lakes like you describe.

When I purchased my 1825 there was no difference in price from Yamaha to Merc. Wheel boats present more of a cost to change out the rigging but tillers not so much.

Wasn’t comparing motor pricing, Was just referring the “partnership” between merc and lund. Yamaha’s hanging on LUNDS are hard to find.
Just like seeing a Skeeter with a Merc……… hardly ever.

roosterrouster wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>trumar wrote:</div>
Crestliner ? I thought they were called Wetliner ?

Guess I’ll get the Lund! (I do like the Crestliner though. I’ll just have to take em’ for a ride and price em’ out…)

Great idea ,since you are the one buying it !

Don’t forget to check out the 185 Competitor tiller. Imo the best layout of the three boats.

riverrat56 wrote:

Don’t forget to check out the 185 Competitor tiller. Imo the best layout of the three boats.

What he said. Owned a “wetliner”, sold and bought alumacraft dominator. And as long as I’m buying an aluminum boat it will be an Alumacraft!!! For money and quality craftsmanship you’d be a fool not to look at these boats before you sell yourself on a Lund. Not knocking Lunds either they are also a sold choice. Just saying.

mallardmayhem wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>riverrat56 wrote:</div>
Don’t forget to check out the 185 Competitor tiller. Imo the best layout of the three boats.

What he said. Owned a “wetliner”, sold and bought alumacraft dominator. And as long as I’m buying an aluminum boat it will be an Alumacraft!!! For money and quality craftsmanship you’d be a fool not to look at these boats before you sell yourself on a Lund. Not knocking Lunds either they are also a sold choice. Just saying.

I have had an Alumacraft Magnum 165CS since 97′. Everyone has different experiences with boat brands and mine with Alumacraft has not been a positive one. I have had problems with the boat leaking and the counsel itself has major cracking issues and Alumacraft said I ran the boat too hard and would not cover it (after only 2 years…) so that is a brand that I won’t buy. Like I said I am sure they are a fine boat but I have not had a good experience so will be moving to a different brand…RR

Personally, after owning a couple Lunds and 3 Crestliners, I will say that Lunds are simply much better made. I had to do so much work on the Crestliner, it was ridiculous. The way they made the front deck was horrendous. Whomever designed it in the tournament series should have gotten fired. Now it’s rock solid thanks to a couple simple modifications that they could have easily done themselves. Now I run a 2025 Pro V, and it’s very solid. Without even bringing in the riveted vs welded argument (I think either is fine, I’ve had em both and never had a problem), Lunds just seem better built.

Oh, and per above entries, I’ve owned an Alumacraft before as well, and I would not hesitate to own another one. Another great boat that was definitely dryer than the Crestliner.

@roosterrouster

What did you end up with RR?

Well, I did go with the Crestliner 1850 Big Tiller. Reasons: Prices between Lund n’ Crestliner were virtually the same (Mpls boat show…). I sat in the Crestliner for an hour getting the ‘low down’ on this boat from the Crestliner rep. I then sat in the Lund (my wife was along to give her opinion…) for a half hour getting the same ‘low down’ on the Lund and when I walked away my wife said I really like the Crestliner better than the Lund. I too walked away with the same feeling as my bride. I just felt that the Crestliner had a ‘designed by a fisherman’ feel and I loved how it was set up. I am fishing out of an Alumacraft now (for the last 17 years…) and I had buyers remorse when I bought it but did nothing about it until now. Goodness I know that Lund and Alumacraft are fine boats but for me the Crestliner fit my eye and my needs. Is it May yet!?

Congrats!!
It’s your checkbook so it doesn’t matter what anybody else thinks, and if the wife is on-board thats all the better.

Have fun and enjoy.