Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 vs Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 or the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002?

For trailering, the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 has the edge at 5 lbs dry weight versus 74 lbs for the Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 is rated to a maximum of 50 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 tops out at 40 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 is certified for 6. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 measures 86" wide, compared to 76" for the Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Are the Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 and Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 and the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 are built by Alumacraft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 vs Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002

Alumacraft

Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011

2011

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Alumacraft

Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002

2002

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 vs Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 vs Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 40 hp for the Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 and 50 hp for the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 0,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeAlumacraft

ModelLunker 165 CS

ModelV-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel

Model Year2011

Model Year2002

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam76 in. (1.93 m)

Beam86 in

Beam - Meters1.93

Beam - Meters2.18

Beam - Inches76

Beam - Inches86

Depth - Detail35 in. (0.89 m) To Floor: 22 in. (0.56 m)

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters88.9

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches35

Depth - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail740 lbs. (336 kg)

Weight - Detail500 lbs

Weight - kg335.66

Weight - kg226.8

Weight - lbs.74

Weight - lbs.5

Width [transom] - Detail73 in. (1.85 m)

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Height [transom]20 in. (0.51 m)

Height [transom]22 in

Length - Feet16.5

Length - Feetnot available

Length overall - Detail16 ft. 6 in. (5.0 m)

Length overall - Detail18 ft

Length overall - Meters5.03

Length overall - Meters5.49

Length overall - Inches198

Length overall - Inches216

Height - Detailnot available

Height - Detail25 in

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters0.64

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches25

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thicknessBottom: 0.080 in. (2 mm) Sides: 0.065 in. (1.65 mm)

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail8 gal. (30.3 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters30.28

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal8

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typenot available

Engine max40 hp (30 kW)

Engine max50 hp w/Tiller Steering; 75 hp w/Console Steering

Operational Info

StorageSide Livewell: 13 gal. (49 l)

Storagenot available

Maximum capacity1,235 lbs. (560 kg)

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people5

Maximum people6 persons

Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 vs Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 — Common Questions

Which is easier to trailer — the Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 or the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002?

For trailering, the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 has the edge at 5 lbs dry weight versus 74 lbs for the Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 is rated to a maximum of 50 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 tops out at 40 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 is certified for 6. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 measures 86" wide, compared to 76" for the Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Are the Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 and Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 and the Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 are built by Alumacraft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS 2011 full specs ← Alumacraft V-Bow 1860 AW Tunnel 2002 full specs