When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lund 186 Tyee GL 2012 and the Lund Classic 1660 Tiller 2006 are modified vee designs with fiberglass 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 186 Tyee GL 2012 at 18,5 ft versus Lund Classic 1660 Tiller 2006 at 16,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lund Classic 1660 Tiller 2006 tips the scales at 785 lbs — 767 lbs less than the Lund 186 Tyee GL 2012 at 18 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 186 Tyee GL 2012 has a 115-hp advantage over the Lund Classic 1660 Tiller 2006'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 Classic 1660 Tiller 2006 carries 19 gallons versus 4 gallons in the Lund 186 Tyee GL 2012. 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 Classic 1660 Tiller 2006 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Lund 186 Tyee GL 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lund Classic 1660 Tiller 2006 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Lund Classic 1660 Tiller 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 6 passengers and at 16,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Lund 186 Tyee GL 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.