When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lund 170WPE 2005 and the Lund 1800 Pro-V IFS / SE 2008 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 1800 Pro-V IFS / SE 2008 at 18,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lund 170WPE 2005 tips the scales at 995 lbs — 833 lbs more than the Lund 1800 Pro-V IFS / SE 2008 at 162 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 175 hp, the Lund 1800 Pro-V IFS / SE 2008 has a 60-hp advantage over the Lund 170WPE 2005's 115-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 2 gal and 4 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lund 1800 Pro-V IFS / SE 2008 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 1800 Pro-V IFS / SE 2008 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Lund 1800 Pro-V IFS / SE 2008 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.