When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lund 1700 Explorer Tiller 2006 and the Lund Classic 1660 Sport 2006 are modified vee designs with aluminum construction — 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 Tiller 2006 at 17,0 ft versus Lund Classic 1660 Sport 2006 at 16,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lund 1700 Explorer Tiller 2006 tips the scales at 1 035 lbs — 1 026 lbs more than the Lund Classic 1660 Sport 2006 at 9 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 75 hp for the Lund 1700 Explorer Tiller 2006 and 75 hp for the Lund Classic 1660 Sport 2006. 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 Tiller 2006 carries 27 gallons versus 19 gallons in the Lund Classic 1660 Sport 2006. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

Both boats are rated for 6 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Lund Classic 1660 Sport 2006 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 14 lbs per hp for the Lund 1700 Explorer Tiller 2006. 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.