The Lund 170SE 2004 vs Lund 186 Tyee GL 2009 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 175 hp, the Lund 186 Tyee GL 2009 has a 105-hp advantage over the Lund 170SE 2004's 70-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lund 186 Tyee GL 2009 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Lund 170SE 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 186 Tyee GL 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Lund 186 Tyee GL 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lund 170SE 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.