From Rich Line to Lund Adventure...

[DaubsNU1]

Tomorrow morning I will make the ~4 hour drive and lay down some hard earned cash for a new boat. 

 

I will be going from a 1960 Rich Line...

 

 

To a 2021 Lund Adventure...

 

 

I scored the old Rich Line while living in Northeast Missouri in the spring of 2000, just months before my first daughter was born. Paid a whopping $600 for boat, motor and trailer.  It ran pretty good, and leaked a little. I installed rod racks to hold 6 rods, laid a piece of plywood across the front and put in pedestal seats, and picked up a 40lb cable steer Minn Kota All Terrain. I was in heaven! This was a huge upgrade from the belly boat and my buddy's canoe. It wasn't fancy, but it did the job. 

 

 

And that 20hp 2-stroke Mercury ran well, pushing me 22-23 MPH. As kids got older, the boat sat more. It was in storage for years while the daughters played sports through high school. I contemplated selling the old boat...but held on, and paid the ~$220/year storage fees. I didn't fish much. We moved to the country in 2018, and the boat came home...lots of room in the shop. I started fishing again...

 

I have learned a lot owning this boat...replaced the impeller / water pump (only twice in 23 years), got the lower unit and carb re-built this spring. Aside from that, the old Merc has been extremely solid. Replaced a few parts in the trolling motor, and have been battling small leaks in the old tin boat since the day it came home with me. 

 

I have fished with my daughters, wife's boys, my brother, and my Dad in this boat. Lots of great memories. Some scary ones...Oldest daughter and had a white-knuckle ride across a lake in South Dakota one summer...she was too young to realize the situation...and liked the "cool big waves!" We made it safely back to shore. Did some major upgrades and renovation three years ago, replacing the transom wood, building framing and decking, upgrading electronics, installing bilge, running lights, USB ports and fuse box. It's small, light, maneuverable, and fishes well. 

 

My brother picked up a Lund Alaskan 1800 three years ago...and started taking me and Dad to bigger lakes. Each year we have done a trip to South Dakota to chase smallies and eyes. Great fun! 

 

Thought long and hard about the set up I wanted -- boat, motor, electronics, trailer, trolling motor, etc. I really liked how my brother set up his Alaskan. Looked at a bunch of different boats, sizes, layouts, etc. Knew I wanted 16-17' aluminum, single console, multi-species boat with a center rod-locker. Decided on the Adventure series and have been causally looking for about a year.

 

This summer brother loaned me his Alaskan, and I got the wife up to South Dakota for some camping and fishing. She LOVED it. Then a few weeks later we met old friends at a lake here in Nebraska, boated and fished and had a great time...again, wife LOVED it. I mentioned a new boat a few times...and pretty soon she was asking when I was going to pull the trigger. There were a few good boats on FB and craigslist, but prices were not what I was willing to pay...and the trolling motor and electronics were not what I was looking for. 

 

I found this 2021 Adventure 1775 at a dealership in Iowa...customer purchased new...it's got 64.5 hours on the 90hp 4 stroke and two years of warranty left. And the Lund warranty can transfer to me. His wife didn't like getting spray...so upgraded to a full windshield. So I had a blank slate to set up any way I liked. 

 

I'm mirroring my brother's Alaskan...Ulterra iPilot Link 80lb with MEGA DI/SI, a Helix 9" MEGA SI+ G4N on the bow, and another Helix 9" MEGA SI+ G4N on the console. They are networked together and have lake map chips. Comes with travel cover, auto bilge, stereo, tilt wheel, slider seat, ski pole base, load guides, and spare. I'm adding an extra seat, & Lund Bimini top. 

 

The wife even likes the color!

 

Now I'm sitting here, well past my normal bed time...stoked about tomorrow. Going to try and get some sleep...tomorrow is going to be a good day!

 

 

[A-Jay]

That's awesome.

NEW BOAT DAY IS THE BEST.

Enjoy your new rig.

Congratulations !

?

A-Jay

[Susky River Rat]

Awesome rig you’re getting! Going to be a big upgrade! You are going to enjoy it very much. I am slightly envious though. My new boat was due in around Labor Day. Now it’s pushed back till mid oct. That puts me right into prime fall smallie fishing. 
 

I hope you get her out on the water ASAP!

[DaubsNU1]

Thanks @A-Jay! I seriously considered Alumacraft, and looked at several others. Your threads and videos on your Pro-V Bass, & Minnkota / HBird helped influence my choice. Buying this boat sight-unseen. And have never sat in an Adventure, let alone seen one in person. But it's a Lund, and I have been so impressed with my Brother's Alaskan. With the 90hp and 4 blade prop, his boat gets up on plane impressively quick. It manages 36 MPH top speed....I'm thinking boat will press towards 40 MPH. Plenty fast enough for my needs. 

 

@Darnold335, the plan is to get this boat on the water shortly after picking it up. There are several lakes on the way home : ) 

[Susky River Rat]

@DaubsNU1 that’s awesome! It also great your wife was on board with it. That’s 80% of the battle most times! That boat will serve you well.  I think that style of boat are the workhorses of the boating/fishing world.  They do not do anything exceptional but, do almost everything well. Within reason of course. 

[DaubsNU1]

Agreed on both points @Darnold335! Gotta have the wife on board, for SURE! She's been supper supportive of all my crazy hobbies and interests (and has a few of her own!). 

 

I'm really excited about the Adventure, and agree...not the best on paper for any one thing...I'm going to ask it to fish for bass / crappie / gills here in NE, with a few pike sprinkled in. And take to SDakota for eyes & smallies. Should be enough boat to pull the kids (and future grand kids) on a tube. Wife is content under the Bimini top, reading a book and sipping an adult beverage. 

 

I cannot wait!!

[Susky River Rat]

@DaubsNU1 there is one thing that paper can’t tell you. It’s also the most important thing. How much fun you are going to have on it!

[DaubsNU1]

 

Roger THAT!!!

[Dwight Hottle]

Good luck with your new boat. I can feel your excitement. 

[GaryH]

Congrats. Good looking boat. Good luck and enjoy 

[Darth-Baiter]

Congrats!  
 

I do however believe that Glenn want you to put one of those fancy white Suzuki motors on the back. Do you can, “get there and back”.

[gim]

New boat day, that is a great feeling.  Many of us can relate.

 

We're gonna need some more photos though.  You can't only post one, says the Photo Police.

 

You're gonna have to change your call sign at the bottom of your posts too...

[volzfan59]

Congratulations on the new rig! Enjoy your trip, be safe.

[DaubsNU1]

Just got home, 13-hour day. Love it!

 

 

[airshot]

Congrats on the new toy!!  You will never forget the memories you had in the old boat, but get ready to make new memories in this boat !!

[Susky River Rat]

@DaubsNU1 that’s a sharp looking boat! 

[DaubsNU1]

Have to admit, I was a little nervous launching the Adventure this afternoon. All went well. It is going to take some getting used to. 

 

Boat popped up on plane quickly, and managed 39 MPH in some light chop. I fished for about 15 minutes, then put the rods away and motored around with a big, stupid grin on my face : ) 

 

Loading was pretty easy. Used spot-lock, and tied off with rope for added security. 

 

Tomorrow I will start organizing and getting everything in the boat. Fun times!!!

 

[Darth-Baiter]

i think that is gonna work!!!  congrats

[jbmaine]

Great looking boat. Welcome to the Lund club. 

[detroit1]

Notify me if you end up not liking it. 

[DaubsNU1]

Managed to squeeze her in to the third garage bay! Losy excellent!

 

The wife has named the boat.....Marge

 

?

[Born 2 fish]

On 8/11/2023 at 10:23 PM, DaubsNU1 said:

Have to admit, I was a little nervous launching the Adventure this afternoon. All went well. It is going to take some getting used to. 

 

Boat popped up on plane quickly, and managed 39 MPH in some light chop. I fished for about 15 minutes, then put the rods away and motored around with a big, stupid grin on my face : ) 

 

Loading was pretty easy. Used spot-lock, and tied off with rope for added security. 

 

Tomorrow I will start organizing and getting everything in the boat. Fun times!!!

 

Be carful with the rope and spot lock at the same time. The motor as a very good chance of swinging over the rope and getting tangled in the prop.

[Jig Man]

Congratulations.  You have the best overall aluminum boat on the market.

 

 I assume that you have the Ulterra with Ipilot link.  What Humminbirds do you have?  Are they linked up via Ethernet?

 

 

[DaubsNU1]

5 hours ago, Jig Man said:

Congratulations.  You have the best overall aluminum boat on the market.

 

 I assume that you have the Ulterra with Ipilot link.  What Humminbirds do you have?  Are they linked up via Ethernet?

 

 

Thanks @Jig Man!  I'm pretty happy!

 

I've bot the iPilot Link Ulterra, and the Helix 9" DI/SI+ G4N's...one on bow, one on console. Also have 5 port network hub...they talk.  

 

Still figuring things out...steep learning curve : ) 

[Jig Man]

Spend some time reading the manuals of the Ulterra and Helix.  They can do lots of things.  In the winter I use follow the contour a lot and most every trip spot lock jog comes into play.