The Lund 1600 Alaskan SS 2008 vs Lund 1700 Explorer SS 2004 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 — 75 hp for the Lund 1600 Alaskan SS 2008 and 90 hp for the Lund 1700 Explorer SS 2004. 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Lund 1700 Explorer SS 2004 carries 27 gallons versus 19 gallons in the Lund 1600 Alaskan SS 2008. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lund 1600 Alaskan SS 2008 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Lund 1700 Explorer SS 2004 caps at 2. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lund 1600 Alaskan SS 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Lund 1600 Alaskan SS 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 16,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lund 1700 Explorer SS 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 2 that costs less to run day-to-day.