Both the Lund 1700 Explorer Sport 2007 and the Lund 1700 Pro Sport OB 2005 are modified-V designs, both built in aluminium, so the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Lund 1700 Explorer Sport 2007 at 17,0 ft versus Lund 1700 Pro Sport OB 2005 at 16,0 ft. At 1 150 lbs and 1 200 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class - either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 125 hp for the Lund 1700 Explorer Sport 2007 and 115 hp for the Lund 1700 Pro Sport OB 2005. 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads - 27 gal and 24 gal - so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lund 1700 Pro Sport OB 2005 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Lund 1700 Explorer Sport 2007 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lund 1700 Pro Sport OB 2005 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Lund 1700 Explorer Sport 2007 comes in at 9 lbs per hp versus 10 lbs per hp for the Lund 1700 Pro Sport OB 2005. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration - meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.