Legend Boats vs Lund: Which Boat Remains a Legend?
It’s been a long winter. Spring has finally arrived, and it’s time to get out on the water.
You might be thinking about a new boat for this season. Maybe your old rig isn’t up to speed anymore, or perhaps you’re buying for the first time.
Two names come up a lot when you look into fishing boats that are affordable and offer quality: Legend Boats and Lund. You’ll find passionate supporters of both brands out there. Both makes provide a similar range of products for relatively similar prices -that’s why they get compared so often on discussion boards.
How do you know which boat is truly legendary?
Before you run out and search for Lund Boats For Sale or Legend, we’ve scoured a range of online forums, reviews, and dealer websites to give you our take on the Legend Boats vs Lund smackdown.
History
When you think about buying any vehicle, it’s always good to know a bit about the manufacturer. When it comes to Legend Boats and Lund, both have a history of boat-making that goes back decades.
Legend Boats was founded by two friends and has been in the boat building business since 1986. Their top priority starting was affordability, and that is still reflected in their slightly lower base prices.
Lund’s history goes back a little further, to 1948. In that year, Howard Lund built his first aluminum duck boat with a focus on quality and attention to detail. It was so good he was soon asked to build fifty more…and that led to the creation of Lund boats. That history also continues to be reflected by Lund’s consistent, high-quality boats.
Pricing
How much is it going to cost?
One of the first things you are going to look at when buying a new boat is the price. You want a boat you can afford.
This is where Legend Boats often seems like the obvious choice. Their base packages are usually lower than what you will pay for a similar sized Lund boat.
But when you factor in the upgrades needed to achieve the same power and quality of accessories, the playing field quickly levels.
Legend Boats XTR vs. Lund Rebel
Compare two similar models, the Legend Boats 2017 18 XTR with the 2017 Lund Rebel XS 1650 Sport. Both are mid-range aluminum fishing boats with enough comfort features to make cruising enjoyable for the whole family.
The Lund base package goes for $31,550.00. Legend Boat prices theirs a bit lower, at 29,999.00 with premium package.
That sounds like a better deal. Cheaper, and the premium package.
When you look at the details, it’s not such a great bargain.
For one thing, the Legend Boats model only comes with a Mercury 50 hp motor. If you want any more power, you’re going to have to hand over a minimum of $1900.00 more to move up to the 60 hp Mercury.
The 2017 Lund Rebel XS 1605 already comes outfitted with a 90 hp four-stroke engine. To get that same amount of power with the Legend Boats XTR, you’ll have to add on another $3800.00, bringing the total price up to $33, 799.99 -higher than the comparable Lund boat!
Financing for quality
Just because you have a specific budget in mind doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality; many financing options are available to help you buy the right boat at the right time.
You can also use a boat loan calculator to help you find and figure out a boat that is in your budget.
A boat for every price range
You may be looking at the example above and thinking -that’s all good, but way above (or below) my price range. Lund boats come in a wide variety of styles, from the simple aluminum fishing boat to a higher-end cruiser.
The Lund 1600 Rebel was Boat US magazine’s top pick for 2016 under $15,000 (USD).
What the hull?
Rivets or welded?
When you look through online forums, there is a lot of discussion about which is the better choice for fishing boats. This is one factor on which Legend Boats and Lund differ.
Legend Boats specializes in welded hulls, which are supposed to be leakproof. This is one factor that attracts many people to buying Legend Boats.
Lund boats are made from riveted high-grade aluminum. Lund is famous for being sturdy and durable on rough waters like those found on the Great Lakes.
Which is better? Welded sounds like it might leak less. But think about this: airplanes are made of riveted aluminum -so maybe rivets are the stronger option.
The bottom line is that both welds and rivets can fail in rough conditions. If you choose high-quality construction like that offered by Lund, you are in for a safer and more durable ride on the water.
Maneuverability
How does the boat handle when you’re out on the water?
This is another factor to take into account when comparing the design of these two makes. The best option is to take the boat out for a test drive. If that’s not possible, consider watching some boat test videos.
Lund is recognized as a great maker of easy to manoeuvre boats.
Storage wars
Whether you’re planning to use your boat exclusively for fishing or want to also take your friends and family out for other fun activities on the lake, you are going to need storage solutions that work for you.
First, think about what your needs are.? If you’re never going to tie up anywhere but your dock, lockable compartments might not be important. If you plan to stop at the marina for several hours, you may want a secure place to stow your expensive fishing gear.
If you’re only going basic, you can expect to get little in terms of storage. The basic models like the 2017 Legend Boats 14 UltraLite or the 2017 Lund SSV 16 don’t have any built-in storage.
As you move up in range, the options grow. Legend Boats had models with storage for lives bait, drink holders, built-in coolers, and rod boxes.
Lund boats tend to have even better storage design; many models also offer drink holders and storage compartments, including dedicated battery storage, aerated bait compartments, and Lockable In-Floor Center Rod Storage.
Comfort
If you’re going to be out on the water for hours at a time, it’s a lot less fun if you don’t have a nice place to sit. Also, if you often bringing guests with you on fishing expeditions, comfortable seating is an excellent way to show you appreciate their company.
Legend Boats includes comfortable moulded bow cushions with their premium packages.
Lund boats can get as luxurious as you could want; in addition to padded passenger and pedestal seating, Lund boats can come with fold-down jump seats -to save space for use only when needed.
Other features to consider
If you’re choosing between similar Legend Boats and Lund models you may want to consider whether they have:
- Console lighting
- Side console/protection for the pilot
- Bow backrests
- Sunroof/protections
Resale value
You may want to think long-term. Do you plan to upgrade to a larger boat down the road? Then you might want to consider the resale value of your boat before you make a new purchase.
Lund boats generally re-sell at a higher price than Legend Boats. That’s not surprising given the superior workmanship and robust construction you find with Lund.
If you already have a boat also factor in that you may be able to do a trade-in to lower the cost on your new boat.
Customer satisfaction
When you’re making a significant investment like this, it’s essential to know you have a dealer and manufacturer who will respond to any concerns that come up.
At the time of buying a new boat, you should make sure your dealer has great customer service and a reliable supply of parts for repair.
You also need to make sure you know what is and isn’t included in the warranty.
Both Legend and Lund are well-established manufacturers and provide warranties for their products.
If you have to choose one, you might want to go with the company which won a customer satisfaction award – that would be Lund.
Legend Boats vs Lund – need to know more?
We’ve outlined some of the features which made us choose to carry Lund boats over Legend Boats, but don’t just take our word for it. Get out there on some fishing forums and see what other people are saying.
Here are some comments we’ve noticed:
“The Lunds are definitely a good boat, EVERYONE in my family has one.” (www.myfishfinder.com)
“Many folks think all-welded is better, but Lund boats are riveted, and I think they are as good a boat as any on the market.” (www.crappie.com)
What do you think?
Have you ever owned a Lund or a Legend Boat? Bet you have some great memories and stories to share.
We’d love to hear about your experiences with these brands. What did you like about them? What didn’t work so well for you?
Who do you think is the winner of the smackdown? For us, the choice is clear.
Please get in touch by leaving a comment or contact us.