Both the Lund 1700 Explorer 2005 and the Lund 197 Pro-V GL 2011 are modified-V designs, the first built in aluminium and the second in fibreglass, 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 2005 at 17,0 ft versus Lund 197 Pro-V GL 2011 at 19,6 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lund 197 Pro-V GL 2011 tips the scales at 2 100 lbs - 1 020 lbs less than the Lund 1700 Explorer 2005 at 1 080 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 225 hp, the Lund 197 Pro-V GL 2011 has a 100-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 197 Pro-V GL 2011 carries 60 gallons versus 27 gallons in the Lund 1700 Explorer 2005. 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 197 Pro-V GL 2011 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 197 Pro-V GL 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.