2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

[JJS1]

I just purchased a leftover 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport with a 60HP Mercury 4-stroke. I know the boat is probably underpowered but it should be fine for the type of fishing (small lakes/ponds) I'll be using it for.

The boat in white, and has the wrap around walk-through windshield, full enclosure, and I also opted for the cockpit cover ($830.00). It has a Minn-Kota 55lb thrust trolling motor and I also bought a nice shock absorbing pedestal seat (Lund) for fishing.

It was an "electronics delete" boat so I have to purchase a fish finder that I'll have mounted up front. I also purchased a couple of "sport-trak" accessories such as a rod holder and a cup holder.

I was wondering if there were any other 1775 Classice owners out there and if so I'd like their opinions regarding these boats.


Thanks in advance,

-John

 

[ziemann]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

That Lund is rated for a 90 HP- so yeah, it is pretty under powered. It will plane, just not have the performance that you would have with a 75 or a 90 2 stroke. The good news is that it will troll down for you very nicely...

You will be amazed at what you end up doing with the Sport-trak- I have 3 on my boat for rod holders. 2 for cup holders- and 1 for a Ram Mount for a Humminbird 757. Yeah, I got carried away...

That boat has a great layout and will last a lifetime....

 

[FishOn123]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

I own a 2006 1660 Classic side console with a 60hp 4st Merc and love it! Same boat as a 1775 just 1 ft shorter. Great layout for fishing. With 3 people on board and gear it will top out at 34 to 35 mph on GPS with 14" pitch alum Merc prop. Trolls down to 2 to 2.5 mph depending on wind. With 5 people on board it is slow getting out of the hole. As far as Sport traks go I have 6, 4 for rods, 1 for tools and 1 cup holder. I had it out on Lake Huron in 5 footers and it took a pounding and held up. I did change all nuts to stainless steel lock nuts as some of the original nuts work loose after a pounding. Generally I fish smaller inland lakes and the Classic handles 2 ft chop with ease.

 

[JJS1]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

Thanks very much for the replies.
As I said, I know it's underpowered, but it was a leftover and already set up with this configuration.

 

[Fishing Junky]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

I think that dealers underpower boats on purpose. The buyer uses the boat and is not happy with performance and comes back to trade for a bigger motor and looses on the deal. BUT, if all you are fishing is smaller lakes, than just be happy that it is what it is. You can also "tweek" the motor to gain some performance. Raise the motor a hole or two, and go with a smaller pitch prop. Get those rpm's up there as close to max as possible with just you and gear in the boat. Also, arrange the weight in the boat that is favorable for the motor to get on plan. Even putting the starting battery towards the front will help. Just little things will help you out. One of the bonuses with the smaller motor is, you may just have the ultimate trolling boat/motor combination. Good luck and catch big. Junky......

 

[JJS1]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

I told my wife that I'm thinking of trading the motor for a 75HP ELPT. As I said to her, I think I'll regret not doing this at some point down the road and once I put the boat in the water it's a used motor. I had reservations about the 60 HP motor before I bought the boat since I know you should always try to get the max engine that the boat is rated for - she said "go for it," so that's what I'm going to do.

In this case the boat is rated for 90hp, but I'd rather have the 4-stroke and the highest Mercury under 90 is 75.

I called the dealership and left a voice mail asking them how much it'll cost to upgrade. I don't think this should cost more then $1500.00, but we'll see.

I'll let you know how it works out!

Again, thanks very much for all the replies.

-John

 

[Fishing Junky]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

Good luck to ya John. I hope you enjoy the boat as much as I do mine. Junky.....

 

[Expidia]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

You are making the right move. Got a great Wife there too!

I bought my rig new in 07 and took a 2006 30 hp 4 stroke EFI ELPT Merc that the dealer had to get rid of. He said it never was in the water.

One thing I learned is that boat dealers (just like used car dealers) will lie through their teeth to you for a sale.

I had the 30 on it 1 week and it took 100 yards to get it up on plane with only my Wife and myself on board, so I swapped it out for the 2007 Merc 4 stroke EFI ELPT. Found out that the 40 hp in 07 was 30 lbs lighter than the 30 hp 2006! I think I wound up paying about $500 more for the 40 than his bargain 2006 30 he was dumping on me.

If you kept the 60 hp and had a few passengers onboard plus your gear you would have to hold onto the steering wheel and walk forward to plane sometimes depending on the waves and wind. The 75 will pop you right up. The 90 is probably overkill for that rig anyway.

The Lunds bottom design needs those extra HP's. That's why Lund's feel and handle like bigger boats than their stated footage.

Let us know how she handles once you get the 75 on it!

 

[ziemann]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

I agree- you are making the right move.

John, Does your wife have a sister?

 

[JJS1]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

I stopped by the dealership this afternoon and spoke with the guy that sold me the boat. He said that although he didn't have a real quote for me, he said typically an upgrade from the 60 to the 75 was over $2k. He also said to move up to the 90, which he currently has in stock ('09) was only another $700 or so, bringing the upgrade to about $3K for the 90hp.

I told the wife he couldn't give me an exact cost since the owner of the dealership is out of town, but that I thought the 90 was the way to go and it would cost us roughly $3K to move up.

I got the go-anhead again so I guess we're going to max out the hp!

I'll keep you posted regarding how much this ends up costing me.

Thanks once again for all your advice/replies.

Oh yeah:

>I agree- you are making the right move.

>John, Does your wife have a sister?


Yes, she actually has a twin sister - but she's married too!Q

 

[Expidia]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

You might call around to a few other dealers. Your 60 is brand new so you could trade it in with anyone who carries Merc.

I think you might save at least $1000 by making a few calls. Even if you had to take an 08 it's the same motor I would guess.

Won't cost you anything to check around. My first guess is for 3k you are paying top dollar for that upgrade especially off season . . . but I'm just guessing.

 

[JJS1]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

I sent emails to a few other dealerships located within a reasonable distance and have gotten zero responses.

 

[Expidia]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

I sent emails to a few other dealerships located within a reasonable distance and have gotten zero responses.

No one responds to emails. You need to "call" and ask for a "sales person".

Start out from a radius from your house and keep callling further until you get someone who will give you a decent price.

If your dealer you bought your rig from is a Mercury dealer. He will still have to service it no matter where you buy it. You gave him a shot. Merc pays him for the service.

I would get 3 quotes and then go back to him to see if he will come close to your other quotes.

Don't be what the car industry used to call a "barefooted Pilgrim" who is the guy who walks in off the street and pays MSRP for stuff!

Just my opinion.

You can ask on some other boating sites too if others think 3k is a fair price for the upgrade. Just me, but off the top of my head I figure he's getting you for top dollar cause that's the way most of these dealers work.

 

[FishOn123]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

Get the 90hp and you will always be happy. The 75hp Merc is a giant outboard as the 75, 90 and 115 are all the same block.

 

[JJS1]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

The price he gave me on the 90 wasn't a quote, it was off the top of his head and that price was on the high side because as he said they have to
re-rig the boat for the new motor, etc.

I started taking my boat to them about 5 years ago becuase they were local and serviced Yamaha outboards. I was sick of dealing with the thieves (now out of business) at the dealership I bought my previous boat from (GIII) and decided to give these people a shot.

They've always treated me right (I think) and yes, they would be servicing my boat whether I bought it there or not.

I do feel committed to buy the motor from them. I don't know if I'd trust ANYONE to work on my engine after buying the boat from them and then going out and buying/trading an engine elsewhere. I'd have that in the back of my mind every time I dropped the boat off.

If they charge a couple of hundred more than a competitor it would be worth it just for the "peace of mind" down the road. Don't you think? Not that I think that's acceptable, of course.

 

[JJS1]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

I ended up getting the 90HP motor but it didn't happen without some sweating. I spoke to another marina about a possible trade, and this guy said "I have 2, 90HP engines being delivered this week, BUT, if your 60HP has already been registered with Mercury, it will be difficult to do since the warranty will have already been activated on that motor.

I then spoke with the people I purchased my boat from, and sure enough the 60HP motor was already registered with Mercury, and they too said it will appear as though that motor is "used" unless they can get it straightened out with Mercury.

The dealer had 1 90HP motor and it was on a 17' Lund that was setup for skiing. I was surprised he was willing to take the 90 off that boat and put my 60 on it, but that's what they're going to do.

I paid an additional $3100 and change for it this afternoon and I feel fortunate that I was able to do it for this price after what I heard about the warranty with Mercury. I know I'd be kicking myself (I kicked myself the last 2 days) down the road for buying this boat with just a 60HP motor on it.

I'll post pictures when I pick the boat up in about a month from now, but I just wanted to post an update here and thank everyone for your opinions and suggestions.

-John

 

[Expidia]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

Congrats. You will love it. Usually preseason they offer the 5 year warranty? If not you can buy one directly from merc.

Had to buy mine because when I swapped it from the 30 to the 40 I just missed the end of their free extra warranty.

Think I paid around $300 to bring it up to 5 years but now it can be serviced by any Merc dealer. How much do you think "one" repair is going to be on one of these?

When I was shopping around it was like $1000 extra for each 10 hp increment for a bigger motor. So your deal was in the ballpark for the extra $3100 going from 60 to 90.

I just suggested to price them with 3 other dealers out of your area because I know stuff is not moving so fast this year because of tight credit and the housing market correction which dried up home equity lines of credit.

I always go back to my local guy for his final bid for the business. But the next season my dealership was sold! So much for trying to give my local guy my business!

 

[JJS1]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

Yes, I too found the pricing to be about $1K per every 10 HP.

These guys (dealership) have taken care of me that last few years which is why I went through them for the upgrade. I know they're in for a hassle with Merc (because of what the other dealer told me), and when I went there this afternoon the 1st thing I asked was if they contacted Mercury and they hadn't. They were still putting everything away from this past weekends boat show.

I don't know how they'll ever sell the other boat with that 60 on it. It's set up as a fish/ski boat and they'll never be able to pull anyone with that motor on it in my opinion. I had a 40HP Yamaha 2-stroke and I know a 60 wouldn't pull someone on a ski.

It's also an '08 being put on an '09 boat - I'm sure they'll have to swap that with something else somewhere down the road.

I read your post about being unhappy with the 30HP when you 1st bought your boat. I read that post before I entered mine, and it reinforced what I already knew - that you should buy a motor as close to the max hp the boat is rated for, or as close to it as you can afford.

I've known that from my own experiences and I still bought the new Lund with the 60HP KNOWING that I'd be disappointed with the performance, but then again, to ask my wife to throw another $3K+ at an already expensive boat, I just didn't want to chance it at the time of the purchase.

I'm lucky she understood that I was disappointed it only had a 60 HP motor and let me go ahead and purchase the 90. She was with me when I was looking at other boats (Sylvan, Smokercraft) that were cheaper but had MUCH more HP, they just weren't Lund's.

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

I don't know how they'll ever sell the other boat with that 60 on it. It's set up as a fish/ski boat and they'll never be able to pull anyone with that motor on it in my opinion. I had a 40HP Yamaha 2-stroke and I know a 60 wouldn't pull someone on a ski.

I must be missing something, but why wouldn't you be able to ski behind a 60hp? I know some options can add a good amount of weight, but a Lund is still made of aluminum, no? I had a 15' Whaler w/ an old 55hp that we skied behind all the time and I'd have to assume it was heavier than a Lund 17'er. Just curious...

BOB

 

[JJS1]

Re: 2008 Lund 1775 Classic Sport

The boat has a MAX rating of 90HP so it's only at 66.6% of it's ratings capacity with the 60HP 4-Stroke motor on it. I just can't see that setup pulling a skier with 2-3 people on board. I might be wrong, but I don't see that thing getting on plane with that much weight. Just my opinion, of course. The boat was a 1725 Explorer (17', 4") but I don't know the total weight.