Both the Lund 170SEE 2005 and the Lund SSV 14 2013 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 170SEE 2005 at 17,0 ft versus Lund SSV 14 2013 at 14,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lund 170SEE 2005 tips the scales at 650 lbs - 355 lbs more than the Lund SSV 14 2013 at 295 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 - 50 hp for the Lund 170SEE 2005 and 35 hp for the Lund SSV 14 2013. 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lund 170SEE 2005 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Lund SSV 14 2013 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lund 170SEE 2005 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Lund SSV 14 2013 comes in at 8 lbs per hp versus 13 lbs per hp for the Lund 170SEE 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.
Bottom line: Choose the Lund 170SEE 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 5 passengers and at 17,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lund SSV 14 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.