When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lund 170WPE 2005 and the Lund 197 Pro-V GL 2010 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 197 Pro-V GL 2010 at 19,6 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lund 170WPE 2005 tips the scales at 995 lbs — 974 lbs more than the Lund 197 Pro-V GL 2010 at 21 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 Lund 170WPE 2005 carries a rated maximum of 115 hp. Engine data for the Lund 197 Pro-V GL 2010 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Lund 197 Pro-V GL 2010 carries 6 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 197 Pro-V GL 2010 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 197 Pro-V GL 2010 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Lund 197 Pro-V GL 2010 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 5 passengers and at 19,6 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lund 170WPE 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.