When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lund 197 Pro-V GL 2009 and the Lund Mr. Pike 18 2005 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 197 Pro-V GL 2009 at 19,0 ft versus Lund Mr. Pike 18 2005 at 18,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lund Mr. Pike 18 2005 tips the scales at 133 lbs — 112 lbs less than the Lund 197 Pro-V GL 2009 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 Mr. Pike 18 2005 tops out at 150 hp. Engine specs for the Lund 197 Pro-V GL 2009 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Lund Mr. Pike 18 2005 carries 32 gallons versus 6 gallons in the Lund 197 Pro-V GL 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 Mr. Pike 18 2005 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Lund 197 Pro-V GL 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 Mr. Pike 18 2005 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Lund Mr. Pike 18 2005 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 197 Pro-V GL 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.