When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lund 1750 Outfitter Tiller 2009 and the Lund 1800 Explorer Tiller 2006 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 1750 Outfitter Tiller 2009 at 17,0 ft versus Lund 1800 Explorer Tiller 2006 at 18,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lund 1800 Explorer Tiller 2006 tips the scales at 1 185 lbs — 380 lbs less than the Lund 1750 Outfitter Tiller 2009 at 805 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 90 hp, the Lund 1800 Explorer Tiller 2006 has a 30-hp advantage over the Lund 1750 Outfitter Tiller 2009's 60-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Lund 1800 Explorer Tiller 2006 carries 32 gallons versus 19 gallons in the Lund 1750 Outfitter Tiller 2009. 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 1800 Explorer Tiller 2006 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Lund 1750 Outfitter Tiller 2009 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lund 1800 Explorer Tiller 2006 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Lund 1800 Explorer Tiller 2006 comes in at 13 lbs per hp versus 13 lbs per hp for the Lund 1750 Outfitter Tiller 2009. 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 1800 Explorer Tiller 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lund 1750 Outfitter Tiller 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.