When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lund 1700 Explorer 2005 and the Lund 186 Fisherman GL 2012 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 2005 at 17,0 ft versus Lund 186 Fisherman GL 2012 at 18,5 ft. At 108 lbs and 18 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 175 hp, the Lund 186 Fisherman GL 2012 has a 50-hp advantage over the Lund 1700 Explorer 2005's 125-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Lund 1700 Explorer 2005 carries 27 gallons versus 4 gallons in the Lund 186 Fisherman GL 2012. 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 1700 Explorer 2005 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Lund 186 Fisherman GL 2012 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 Explorer 2005 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Lund 1700 Explorer 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 17,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lund 186 Fisherman GL 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.