When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Lund Mr. Pike 17 2005 and the Lund SSV 16 2012 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 Mr. Pike 17 2005 at 17,0 ft versus Lund SSV 16 2012 at 16,2 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Lund Mr. Pike 17 2005 tips the scales at 1 285 lbs — 1 250 lbs more than the Lund SSV 16 2012 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 140 hp, the Lund Mr. Pike 17 2005 has a 100-hp advantage over the Lund SSV 16 2012'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 Mr. Pike 17 2005 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Lund SSV 16 2012 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Lund Mr. Pike 17 2005 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Lund SSV 16 2012 comes in at 1 lbs per hp versus 9 lbs per hp for the Lund Mr. Pike 17 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.