Super User FryDog62 Posted January 22, 2016 Super User Posted January 22, 2016 A test ride is always better but this time of year with several inches of ice, the best you can do in Minnesota is a walk around. That being said I was very interested in what I saw of the new Lund Pro V Bass XS at the Mpls Boat Show. IMO it did not disappoint. Great layout for the multi-species fisherman, solid boat, proven Pro V hull, well matched motors, etc. Stripped down base show price with a Mercury 150 4 stroke is: $32,384. First the motor selection. Okay, I’ve never been a Mercury guy and I should add I’ll never be an Opti/Pro XS owner, but word was at the show if you want an ultra-fast boat go with the Pro XS 200 hp. A couple comments from the Lund folks was that the 200 might be a bit overkill once broken in, pushing low-mid 60’s. Most people would probably be very happy with the 150 4 stroke that comes out on the Dyno at 178 hp and still does well into the 50’s mph range. Plenty good enough for this non-tournament fisherman. I like best the boat’s rod organization. I’m a multi-species guy so I pick up and lay down a half dozen rods throughout the day. Going in and out of a rod locker all day is a pain for me. This does have a center locker which I think is more convenient than a side tank, but the layout is conducive to strapping down multiple rods on the deck for easy/quick access (ala true bass boat). Front deck is long enough to get 7-8 foot rods down each side, and the guy in the rear has the port side to get 3 rods strapped in place and ready to go. This is the XS or “Northern Style” with pedestal seats versus the 3 person bench seat like a traditional bass boat. Have to admit the pedestals are quite short though, not like the tall pedestals in the traditional Pro V. This is a multi-species rig, but could you jig for walleyes all day from a pedestal like this? I’d say yes it would work for the occasional walleye fisherman, but not for a regular. You can get away with it much more than any traditional bass boat, but meat hunters (especially taller guys) probably wouldn’t want this as a primary boat. Still the Pro V hull should track/troll as well or better than most aluminum boats. I do like the flip up seats in the back, saves cockpit room over two more pedestal seats. I personally would take the passenger pedestal seat out for most of the fishing I do and just use the flip ups for passengers if on several shorter stops up the channel or from bay to bay. A long drive on Lake of the Woods… Yeah, then absolutely stick with the pedestal arrangement. One nit, the passenger pedestal seat is fixed to the floor. I’d want to move it in and out for flexibility on cockpit space so that’s a problem for me. The Lund rep and I decided we’d both change the fixed pedestal to a snap out version after market. Can’t believe the storage in this boat. Blows any bass boat out of the water and is on par with just about any aluminum boat option. I was envisioning doing away with my magnum sized Cabelas tackle bag with eight 3700 tackles trays. They go right into one of the bow storage areas, freeing up more cockpit space. There are 2 large storage areas on the back deck for your partners tackle bag/boxes and rain gear/boat bag. Also the port side has an easy access storage area for a fold up net, and there is an integrated small cooler inside the step to the front deck. You can tell I like a picked up floor/deck space without a lot of clutter laying around… This boat allows you to do this really well. It might sound like I’m sold and ready to buy one. Answer is still “maybe.” A couple things, I’m always hesitant to buy a first year model of anything, even though the basic Pro V hull and Mercury 150 4 stroke are proven…still I’d like to hear from guys that will actually fish from it and see if Lund tweaks anything for year 2 or 3. Second, I’m hesitant to go back to tin after having glass for my last 2 boats. How does it handle rougher seas? I need a test ride. Ideally I would test this boat out against fiberglass options. The only 2 real options I see that would compare with the Lund is either the Tuffy X-190 or the Recon 985. Unfortunately neither of these boats are ever at a Minneapolis area boat show and I don’t know anyone/dealer locally that has them to see or test drive. On paper they compare well anyway IMO. Sorry Skeeter fans, been out in the 1825 MX twice and its a multi-species option but a non-starter for me. I’m most likely a year away from buying but will keep watching the boards for feeback on the Lund. Who knows maybe order new next year, or look for a year old demo depending on price, motor option, electronics, etc. Over and out, -Captain FryDog 3 Quote
Brent Christian Posted January 22, 2016 Posted January 22, 2016 This is probably one of the best reviews on a product i have ever seen.. Nice post! Quote
68camaro Posted January 22, 2016 Posted January 22, 2016 50 minutes ago, Brent Christian said: This is probably one of the best reviews on a product i have ever seen.. Nice post! Agreed very nice thanks. Quote
Super User Further North Posted January 23, 2016 Super User Posted January 23, 2016 Great review of a promising boat - thanks! I have an '05 Crestliner CMV 1850 and this new Lund looks like the evolution of my boat - similar layout (I'd go with the bench seating) even more storage and some other improvements. I'm not in the market, but I keep an eye on things just in case. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted January 23, 2016 Super User Posted January 23, 2016 I'm hoping to get a look at one next weekend at a local show. 1 Quote
Super User slonezp Posted January 23, 2016 Super User Posted January 23, 2016 The Recon is a nice boat but the layout is more conducive of a multi species than a bass boat like the ProV. I crawled around a 2185 at last years show and would consider this boat over both the 985 and 785 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 23, 2016 Super User Posted January 23, 2016 First of the year, I spent a couple of days down at the Ultimate Outdoor show just outside of Detroit. Good amount of it involved crawling all over & into the new Lund 1875 Pro V bass. Got to see both the standard "Bass Boat" model & the XS model the OP so eloquently reviewed above. Went specifically to see this newest Lund. There wasn't anything I didn't like. Plan is to order one from the dealer up nearest me and I'm leaning towards the standard (non XS) version. I like the larger back deck it provides as well as the storage under the 3 bench seating. Other solid selling points for me include the all aluminum decking and water control system that channels water from storage compartments. The fit & finish on the boats I saw was very nice. There were some good deals to be had at the show including very attractive base model pricing as well as "Free" electronic package offers. I've been waiting a long time for the right boat for me, my area & my style of fishing. Any new boat built of a new model has concerns but I'm going to bank on the Lund reputation and go for this one. Pretty stoked. A-Jay 4 Quote
Super User Further North Posted January 23, 2016 Super User Posted January 23, 2016 A-Jay, I think you're on the right path and await your experiences with the new Lund. I love the layout and utility of my CMV, and what you're getting looks to be nothing but an improvement. 1 Quote
Super User slonezp Posted January 23, 2016 Super User Posted January 23, 2016 25 minutes ago, A-Jay said: First of the year, I spent a couple of days down at the Ultimate Outdoor show just outside of Detroit. Good amount of it involved crawling all over & into the new Lund 1875 Pro V bass. Got to see both the standard "Bass Boat" model & the XS model the OP so eloquently reviewed above. Went specifically to see this newest Lund. There wasn't anything I didn't like. Plan is to order one from the dealer up nearest me and I'm leaning towards the standard (non XS) version. I like the larger back deck it provides as well as the storage under the 3 bench seating. Other solid selling points for me include the all aluminum decking and water control system that channels water from storage compartments. The fit & finish on the boats I saw was very nice. There were some good deals to be had at the show including very attractive base model pricing as well as "Free" electronic package offers. I've been waiting a long time for the right boat for me, my area & my style of fishing. Any new boat built of a new model has concerns but I'm going to bank on the Lund reputation and got for this one. Pretty stoked. A-Jay What color? May I suggest not black. 2 reasons, but one more than the other. Black looks good when it's clean, not so much when it's dirty. But more importantly, the gunwales get HOT in the summer sun. I really like the way the white looks but again, when it gets dirty..... Could always go with Lund red. 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 23, 2016 Super User Posted January 23, 2016 9 hours ago, slonezp said: What color? May I suggest not black. 2 reasons, but one more than the other. Black looks good when it's clean, not so much when it's dirty. But more importantly, the gunwales get HOT in the summer sun. I really like the way the white looks but again, when it gets dirty..... Could always go with Lund red. The final color decision has yet to be made believe it or not. Thank you for your input, as always I do appreciate it. I am a fan of black. My last three trucks, including the current one were/are black. And I know all to well the challenges that come with it. Still, I do like the red too and since I'm selling the Red GTO to help with the Lund Project Funding, I could justify it that way. Still, I am leaning Back to Black. Maybe I could get a Bass Resource Wrap on it. A-Jay Quote
Super User FryDog62 Posted January 23, 2016 Author Super User Posted January 23, 2016 Guys FWIW, I'm partial to white. I think it not only looks sharp but easiest to keep clean and no pesky water spots. -Fry Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 23, 2016 Super User Posted January 23, 2016 9 minutes ago, FryDog62 said: Guys FWIW, I'm partial to white. I think it not only looks sharp but easiest to keep clean and no pesky water spots. -Fry I drove white boats for a Long Time, although the colored stripe was cool, It ended there for me. Of course, didn't really matter if I like it or not. Wish they had a real tree camo option . . . . . A-Jay 3 Quote
Super User slonezp Posted January 23, 2016 Super User Posted January 23, 2016 9 minutes ago, FryDog62 said: Guys FWIW, I'm partial to white. I think it not only looks sharp but easiest to keep clean and no pesky water spots. -Fry This particular hull design looks sharp in black, especially with the premium graphics. If it had more freeboard like the Tyee, I'd say definitely white, but the low freeboard gives it a more stealthier look. I think it looks classy in white and had I bought a white boat I'd have paired it with tan carpet and it would never come off the trailer LOL. The green doesn't look half bad in pictures but I've never seen it in person and I don't care for the blue.. Then there's always classic red. My Predator is black with carbon fiber accents on the dash and the Mercury. I don't think the black with grey carpet causes the fishing platform to be any hotter, but if I rest my arm on the gunwale or step on it with bare feet during the heat of the day, it's a bit of a wake up. 1 Quote
Super User slonezp Posted January 23, 2016 Super User Posted January 23, 2016 11 minutes ago, A-Jay said: I drove white boats for a Long Time, although the colored stripe was cool, It ended there for me. Of course, didn't really matter if I like it or not. Wish they had a real tree camo option . . . . . A-Jay I would bet you could get it wrapped 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 23, 2016 Super User Posted January 23, 2016 Just now, slonezp said: I would bet you could get it wrapped Yup - btw - I've never been a barefoot fishing kind of guy ~ more of a camo Keen Sandal wearing type dude. Plus it doesn't usually get super hot here. A-Jay 1 Quote
Junk Fisherman Posted January 23, 2016 Posted January 23, 2016 Great Review! Like Slone, I hope to see this boat next weekend at a local show but I am probably ordering an X-190. Went to see one last week and it is perfect for my type of fishing. I love the jump seats on the XS model. 1 Quote
Super User FryDog62 Posted January 24, 2016 Author Super User Posted January 24, 2016 2 hours ago, Junk Fisherman said: Great Review! Like Slone, I hope to see this boat next weekend at a local show but I am probably ordering an X-190. Went to see one last week and it is perfect for my type of fishing. I love the jump seats on the XS model. 2 hours ago, Junk Fisherman said: Great Review! Like Slone, I hope to see this boat next weekend at a local show but I am probably ordering an X-190. Went to see one last week and it is perfect for my type of fishing. I love the jump seats on the XS model. I hear that Tuffy is toying with making the rear Esox casting deck insert - with a flip up seat option. Worth asking any way -- that might be the cat's .... Quote
Super User Further North Posted January 24, 2016 Super User Posted January 24, 2016 9 hours ago, A-Jay said: Yup - btw - I've never been a barefoot fishing kind of guy ~ more of a camo Keen Sandal wearing type dude. Plus it doesn't usually get super hot here. A-Jay Dude...another thing we have in common...I have Keen striped feet starting about mid June.... I don't wear the camo ones though...I wear what ever is on sale at Mason Shoes, or Sierra Trading Post. 1 Quote
Junk Fisherman Posted January 24, 2016 Posted January 24, 2016 12 hours ago, FryDog62 said: I hear that Tuffy is toying with making the rear Esox casting deck insert - with a flip up seat option. Worth asking any way -- that might be the cat's .... I fully expect that to become available some time after I buy. I also expect a Merc 200 4-stroke (Non-Verado) to become available mid summer. But I'm not waiting any longer!! The Essox casting deck is easy to remove and there is a base underneath. And you can also just put a seat on back base without the post in a pinch. The majority of the time I am fishing alone so it won't matter. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted January 29, 2016 Super User Posted January 29, 2016 Just got confirmation the boat is at the show I will be attending this weekend 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 29, 2016 Super User Posted January 29, 2016 1 hour ago, slonezp said: Just got confirmation the boat is at the show I will be attending this weekend I'll be interested to hear your impressions. A-Jay Quote
Super User tcbass Posted January 29, 2016 Super User Posted January 29, 2016 Does this boat sit higher in the water than most bass boats? I thought a benefit of bass boats was that they sit low, thus not being affected as much by wind. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted January 29, 2016 Super User Posted January 29, 2016 8 hours ago, tcbass said: Does this boat sit higher in the water than most bass boats? I thought a benefit of bass boats was that they sit low, thus not being affected as much by wind. This is a different class of boat. Its desogned for big water. I have a similar boat that Lund no longer makes. It is affected by wind when I'm on the trolling motor but it's not as bad as you would think. These Lunds are heavy. The pro v bass dry weight is 1475lbs. Ad 500 for the motor, 250lbs in fuel, batteries gear and fisherman and you're pushing 3000lbs. Quote
Bass newb Posted January 29, 2016 Posted January 29, 2016 Why exactly are you not an opti max guy? Quote
Super User slonezp Posted January 31, 2016 Super User Posted January 31, 2016 On 1/29/2016 at 9:46 PM, A-Jay said: I'll be interested to hear your impressions. A-Jay Nice boat. My first impression was the boat is a good bit smaller than the Predator. I saw the bass model single console with 3 across seating, 200 ProXS, 24v Motorguide cable steer, dual axle trailer. Show special priced at $39k. They did not have the XS model. Let me start with what I didn't like. I was not a fan of the nose panel for the flush mount graph installation. I think it took away almost a linear foot of potential deck space that could be used for fishing. The starting battery and remote oil tank were at the starboard stern,. I think for weight distribution, it would be better to put them on the port side. The Predator has them located in the floor along the keel. The XS model may as well but as I said before there was not one at the show. Fuel fill was located at the port transom. It's located at the port console on the Predator. I can usually fill up both the truck and boat, at dual pumps, without moving the truck to fill the boat. I can't see being able to fill up both the tow vehicle and this boat without jockeying around. What I did like. The front deck is wide. It's wider but shorter than the Predator. I'd bet it fishes bigger because of the raised deck. The port and starboard bow storage is also smaller than the Predator but that's not a bad thing. There is more than enough room for gear. The forward most lockers are lockable. They are not on the Predator. Center rod box is almost identical to the Predator except that it fits longer rods. It appears there is room for 3 trolling motor batteries under the rod storage. I like the deck step that opens up to fit a cooler. I like the helm. Room for a big flush mounted graph and still room just inside the gunwale for a second and even third graph if one desires. There is also room to install a hotfoot. Passenger side had, what I will call a traditional storage area inside the gunwale. It's an open space, no door. Room for the anchor light, a push pole, and maybe shove a couple pfd's in there. The rear deck has more storage than an apartment and the livewell is wide and deep. The boat probably has more storage than one could ever use. Fit and finish was great and I liked the graphics. Overall rating, I'd give it a 9+ I think they have a hit. 1 Quote
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