When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lund 170WPE 2005 and the Lund 2000 Alaskan SS 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Lund 170WPE 2005 measures 17,0 feet overall (2005), giving it roughly 15,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Lund 2000 Alaskan SS 2008 at 2,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lund 170WPE 2005 tips the scales at 995 lbs — 983 lbs more than the Lund 2000 Alaskan SS 2008 at 12 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 2000 Alaskan SS 2008. 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 2000 Alaskan SS 2008 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 2000 Alaskan SS 2008 is rated for 6 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 2000 Alaskan SS 2008 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Lund 2000 Alaskan SS 2008 comes in at 0 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.
Bottom line: Choose the Lund 2000 Alaskan SS 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 2,0 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.