2003 Lund 1900 ProV

Testers Notebook: 2003 Lund 1900 ProV Location: Rainy Lake, Ontario, Canada Test load: Light load: two adults, 1/2 tank fuel, no water or waste. Test day conditions: Calm water, winds light. Synopsis: The Lund 1900 Pro-V when teamed with the Honda 225 goes about its business quietly, safely and effectively.

By: Peter Wilson

     Dennis Barnard has been operating a fishing and guide service on Rainy Lake in Northern Ontario for over 30 years. His boat and motor have to be comfortable and dependable, rain or shine. Most importantly, they have to be functional, get Dennis and his clients to where the fish are, and then help them catch fish.
     Lund Boats, as part of boatbuilding giant Genmar, builds boats in both Steinbach, Man., and in Minnesota. Lund is as serious about building boats as professional guides and fishermen are about using them. The Lund 1900 Pro-V SE dual console that I tested in mid-September wasn’t a factory-fresh boat; it was Dennis’s own guide boat, professionally rigged by Pinewood Sports of Fort Frances, Ont.
     As I approached the 1900 Pro-V, I couldn’t get over how big the boat looked, and for good reason. The centerline length is 19’ 7”. If Lund want to call this a 19-footer that’s all right, but in fairness if you are comparing the 1900 Pro-V to other boats it will probably be what others call a 20-footer. Adding to the “big” look are the 1900’s very wide gunwhales that make stepping on and off the boat easy, and the high freeboard that translates to a deep, safe and secure cockpit. While the beam is 7’ 10”, average for boats of this size and style, it’s important to note that the beam on the 1900 Pro-V is the same forward as it is at the stern. As well, there is very little hull taper; the 7’ 10” inches at the gunwhale only narrows by 10 inches at the waterline.
     Serious fishermen want a well-equipped boat and they require plenty of room to store rods, tackle and gear. Yet with all this they demand plenty of room to move around. The Lund 1900 Pro-V SE comes from the factory ready to fish. The bow platform includes a baitwell and 12-gal. livewell; the aft platform has its own baitwell and large 31-gal. livewell. Both livewells can be controlled from the helm. Built into the bow platform is a well-designed rod locker with 10 rod tubes, four bulk storage compartments plus a drop-in tackle compartment. There is plenty more storage in the combing panels on either side of the cockpit Standard equipment includes four chairs with six bases, making it easy to configure a fishing layout to suit your needs.
     Satisfying the performance demands of fishermen means a lot more than top speed. While the 1900 Pro-V Honda 225 combination registered a respectable top speed of 52.6 mph, it was the solid feel at all speeds that was most impressive. One-foot chop and boat wakes were no match for this hull as there was not a rattle to be heard or a drop of water to be felt. Hard turns are totally uneventful; the hull tracks with authority and doesn’t bounce or lean excessively. Acceleration with the Honda is strong and smooth. We were on plane in less than five seconds, with the Honda making useable power from 2,500 rpm right up to the maximum 6,000 rpm. As impressive as the Honda is in delivering plenty of torque through a wide rpm range, most noteworthy is how quiet this big four-stroke is, especially at idle where it is virtually silent.

Specs:

For the dealer nearest you contact:

Lund Boat Company,
Genmar Boats Canada, Inc.
Steinbach, Man.
R0A 2A0
Tel.:(204) 326-4431
www.lundboats.com