When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lund 1800 Explorer Sport 2006 and the Lund SSV 16 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 1800 Explorer Sport 2006 at 18,0 ft versus Lund SSV 16 2011 at 16,2 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lund 1800 Explorer Sport 2006 tips the scales at 1 285 lbs — 1 250 lbs more than the Lund SSV 16 2011 at 35 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 150 hp, the Lund 1800 Explorer Sport 2006 has a 110-hp advantage over the Lund SSV 16 2011's 40-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Lund 1800 Explorer Sport 2006 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Lund SSV 16 2011 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 Explorer Sport 2006 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Lund SSV 16 2011 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 9 lbs per hp for the Lund 1800 Explorer Sport 2006. 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.