When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lund 170WPE 2005 and the Lund 1725 Explorer SS 2011 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 170WPE 2005 at 17,0 ft versus Lund 1725 Explorer SS 2011 at 17,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lund 170WPE 2005 tips the scales at 995 lbs — 872 lbs more than the Lund 1725 Explorer SS 2011 at 123 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 — 115 hp for the Lund 170WPE 2005 and 125 hp for the Lund 1725 Explorer SS 2011. 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 1725 Explorer SS 2011 carries 27 gallons versus 2 gallons in the Lund 170WPE 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 1725 Explorer SS 2011 is rated for 5 passengers, while the Lund 170WPE 2005 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lund 1725 Explorer SS 2011 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Lund 1725 Explorer SS 2011 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 9 lbs per hp for the Lund 170WPE 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.