Lund vs Crestliner comes down to hull construction, price and warranty. Crestliner calls all of its aluminum boats all-welded, while Lund describes double-riveted seams and sells an all-welded heavy-gauge series. In seven of the nine size-matched multi-species pairs below, Crestliner's published starting price is lower than Lund's.
| Size and type | Lund (starting at) | Crestliner (starting at) | Difference |
|---|
| 16 ft entry | 1650 Rebel XL: $25,633 | 1650 Kodiak: $23,390 | Crestliner $2,243 lower |
| 17 ft side-console | 1700 Explorer: $30,187 | 1750 Hawk: $32,873 | Crestliner $2,686 higher |
| 18 ft side-console | 1800 Explorer: $32,912 | 1850 Kodiak: $32,437 | Crestliner $475 lower |
| 18 ft tiller | 1875 Pro Guide: $50,164 | 1850 Pro Tiller: $45,065 | Crestliner $5,099 lower |
| 18 ft family multi-species | 1875 Impact XS: $55,103 | 1850 Fish Hawk: $50,458 | Crestliner $4,645 lower |
| 18 ft fish-and-ski | 1875 Crossover XS: $66,084 | 1850 Sportfish: $66,031 | Crestliner $53 lower |
| 20 ft family multi-species | 2075 Impact XS: $72,911 | 2050 Fish Hawk: $71,142 | Crestliner $1,769 lower |
| 20 ft big-water | 2075 Fisherman: $69,842 | 2050 Authority: $81,080 | Crestliner $11,238 higher |
| 22 ft big-water | 2275 Tyee: $121,007 | 2250 Authority: $93,202 | Crestliner $27,805 lower |
Prices are in US dollars and were read from each builder's US website on 22 October 2026. Lund's are "starting at" prices for a base boat, motor and trailer package, before dealer freight, prep, tariffs, fees, taxes and registration. Crestliner's are "starting at" prices for the base model package and do not include the prop, freight, prep or taxes. Neither builder's lineup pages say which motor or model year each starting price covers, so ask a dealer to quote both boats with the same engine.
Browse Lund, Crestliner and other fishing boats for sale on Searchshop.
Each Lund model was paired with the Crestliner model closest to it in length and purpose, using the prices and specifications each builder publishes. Every figure was read from Lund's and Crestliner's own websites on 22 October 2026, then checked a second time by a separate review. Nothing here comes from water tests or sea trials, and neither brand is called better overall.
The two builders publish slightly different details. Lund's lineup page gives length and, for most models, maximum horsepower and person capacity, but not the maximum horsepower for its Explorer and Rebel XL models. Crestliner's series pages give length, maximum horsepower, person capacity and beam for each model. Where only one builder publishes a figure, it is shown for that builder alone. Searchshop's dealer listings for both brands carried no asking prices when read, so no listing prices are included.
Both builders sell aluminum boats from small jon boats to big-water deep-Vs, but they group and name them differently. Lund describes its lineup as "Core Fishing, Bass & Crappie, Fishing & Sport, Fiberglass, Utility & Hunting and Heavy Gauge boats." Crestliner's website sorts its fishing boats into multi-species, fish-and-ski, big-water and bass-and-crappie pages, plus hunt and utility boats.
- Multi-species fishing: The Lund multi-species models compared here are the Rebel XL, Explorer, Impact XS and Pro Guide. Crestliner's multi-species page lists the Fish Hawk, Hawk, Pro Tiller, Kodiak and Discovery.
- Fish and ski: Lund sells the Crossover XS, Adventure, Impact XS and Tyee for families who fish and tow. Crestliner's fish-and-ski models include the Sportfish and Super Hawk.
- Big water: Lund's Pro-V, Tyee, Fisherman and heavy-gauge HG boats cover rough water. Crestliner's big-water models include the Authority and Commander.
- Where each began: Lund says Howard Lund built his first aluminum duck boat in 1948, and it builds in New York Mills, Minnesota. Crestliner says William Morse Sr. built his first aluminum boat in 1946 and that the Fish Hawk was introduced in 1995.
- Where to buy: Lund says its boats "can only be purchased through authorized Lund dealers," and Crestliner says its boats "are only sold through authorized dealers."
The main construction difference is that Crestliner welds its hulls while Lund describes double-riveted seams. Crestliner's home page describes "all welded aluminum boats" with "Interlocking hull construction with full-length keels and work-hardened sidewalls" and "Wood-free transoms." Its hull page says Crestliner "employs handcrafted, continuously welded seams," and its history page dates its first all-welded boat to 1964.
Lund's quality page says it uses "advanced robotic technology" to "install double-riveted seams," with close-spaced longitudinal supports and its own stringer system. Lund's heavy-gauge HG boats are the exception: Lund titles that page "All-Welded Heavy Gauge Aluminum Boats for All Waters." Lund also says its HDP composite transoms are "a rot proof alternative to marine plywood," and notes that composite transoms and wood-free construction are available on select models.
Each builder promotes its own deep-V hull design. Crestliner says many of its deep-Vs ride on its AP-X hull, launched in 2019, which it describes as a "recessed pad design" with "dual tracking edges." Lund's support page says IPS stands for "Integrated Power Strakes," strakes on the bottom of the hull that Lund says give a smoother, drier ride. Neither construction method nor hull design is shown here to be better, because no builder data compares the two directly. For more on hull materials, see aluminum vs fiberglass boats.
Both builders publish advertised starting prices and let the dealer set the final figure. Lund's footnote says its "Starting at" price "reflects either MAP or NAP price on a base boat with motor trailer package, optional equipment not included," and that "Dealer sets the final purchase price." Its support page adds that the online price "should only be used as an estimate."
Crestliner's price note says "Price does not include prop, freight, prep or taxes. Dealer set the final purchase price." It adds that prices are MAP except where an NAP package discount applies, and that the starting price "refers to the base model package, optional equipment not included." Lund says "All Lund boats are sold with Mercury Marine engines," and Crestliner's 1850 Fish Hawk configurator lists only Mercury engines. For either brand, get a written out-the-door quote that lists the engine, trailer, prop, freight, prep, taxes and fees.
Entry and value boats: 16 to 18 feet
In the three entry and value pairs, Crestliner starts lower in two, and every gap is under $2,700. Lund's 1650 Rebel XL is 16' 7" with an 85-inch beam and starts at $25,633; Lund describes it as available in "sport, ss, and tiller floorplans." Crestliner's 1650 Kodiak is 16' 4" with an 81-inch beam and a 60 hp rating, and starts at $23,390. A tiller 1650 Kodiak starts at $21,849.
At 17 feet, the pair runs the other way. Lund's 1700 Explorer, which Lund calls "a budget-friendly side console fishing boat," is 17 feet with a 93-inch beam and starts at $30,187. Crestliner's 1750 Hawk is 17' 6" with an 88-inch beam and a 115 hp rating, and starts at $32,873. One size up, Lund's 1800 Explorer starts at $32,912 and Crestliner's 1850 Kodiak, 18' 6" with a 115 hp rating, starts at $32,437.
For anglers who steer from the back with a tiller motor, Crestliner's 1850 Pro Tiller starts $5,099 below Lund's 1875 Pro Guide. Lund's 1875 Pro Guide, which Lund calls "a versatile backtrolling aluminum tiller fishing boat," is 18' 10" with a 90 hp rating and starts at $50,164. Crestliner's 1850 Pro Tiller is 18' 6" with a 94-inch beam and the same 90 hp rating, and starts at $45,065.
The ranges differ at each end. Crestliner also lists a 1650 Pro Tiller at $28,812, a 1750 Pro Tiller at $42,786, and Kodiak Tiller models from $21,849. Lund's lineup continues up to the 2075 Pro Guide, 20' 9" with a 250 hp rating, at $73,505.
In the family boats that mix fishing with towing and cruising, the two brands start within $4,645 of each other at 18 and 20 feet. Lund's 1875 Impact XS, which Lund calls "a favorite family fishing boat," is 18' 10" with a 150 hp rating and starts at $55,103. Crestliner's 1850 Fish Hawk is 18' 7" with a 96-inch beam and a 200 hp rating, and starts at $50,458. Crestliner lists 0.100-inch bottom and 0.090-inch side aluminum for the 1850 Fish Hawk, with a 32-gallon fuel tank.
At 20 feet, Lund's 2075 Impact XS is 20' 10" with a 225 hp rating at $72,911, while Crestliner's 2050 Fish Hawk is 20' 6" with a 300 hp rating at $71,142. For more dedicated fish-and-ski boats, Lund's 1875 Crossover XS (18' 9", 175 hp, $66,084) and Crestliner's 1850 Sportfish (18' 11", 200 hp, $66,031) are $53 apart. Crestliner's Super Hawk starts lower, at $52,051 for the 17' 9" 1750 Super Hawk.
In big-water boats, which brand starts lower depends on the Lund series you compare. Lund's 2075 Fisherman, which Lund calls "the perfect trolling fishing boat" for walleye, lake trout, salmon or striper "on big water," is 20' 10" with a 200 hp rating and starts at $69,842. Crestliner's 2050 Authority is 20' 10" with a 225 hp rating and starts at $81,080, which is $11,238 more. Lund's 2075 Tyee, which Lund calls "the premier family fish and ski boat," is 20' 8" with a 300 hp rating and starts higher, at $99,015.
At the top, Lund's 2275 Tyee, which Lund calls "the perfect big water fishing boat," is 22' 9" with a 425 hp rating and 12-person capacity, at $121,007. Crestliner's 2250 Authority is 22' 11" with a 400 hp rating and 10-person capacity, at $93,202, which is $27,805 less. Lund's tournament-focused Pro-V series runs from $75,899 for the 1875 Pro-V to $122,382 for the 21' 10" 2175 Pro-V, rated for 400 hp. Crestliner says its Commander series is "Built for big water and engineered to perform when conditions turn rough."
Both builders advertise lifetime limited warranties, and both let later owners take over coverage for a fee. Lund's value page describes "a lifetime warranty on double-riveted seams, transom and flooring" and "a three-year bow-to-stern coverage." Lund's support page says 2006 and newer models have "a transferable warranty for a fee," that later owners are eligible for "a 10-year prorated warranty that is based off of the boat's original date of sale," and that the transfer goes through a Lund dealer within 60 days of purchase.
Crestliner's warranty page is titled "Crestliner Limited Lifetime Warranty" and points to separate warranty documents for the full terms. It says boats "from model year 2010 and newer, have a warranty that may be transferred to subsequent owners," using a transfer form, a copy of the bill of sale or title and "a $250 warranty transfer fee." It adds that the warranty on Crestliner CR Jon boats may not be transferred. Ask the selling dealer for the current warranty document for the exact model and year before you buy.
Choose Crestliner if you want a builder that calls all its aluminum boats all-welded and lower starting prices in most of the pairs compared here; choose Lund for its riveted lineup, its all-welded HG option and its Fisherman, Tyee and Pro-V big-water lines.
- A 16-foot starter boat: the Crestliner 1650 Kodiak ($23,390) starts $2,243 below the Lund 1650 Rebel XL ($25,633).
- An 18-foot side-console value boat: the Lund 1800 Explorer and Crestliner 1850 Kodiak are $475 apart, so compare the motor each dealer quotes.
- A tiller boat for backtrolling: the Crestliner 1850 Pro Tiller starts $5,099 below the Lund 1875 Pro Guide, with the same 90 hp rating; Lund adds a 20-foot 2075 Pro Guide.
- A family fish-and-ski boat: the Lund 1875 Crossover XS and Crestliner 1850 Sportfish are $53 apart at their starting prices.
- A 20-foot big-water trolling boat: the Lund 2075 Fisherman starts $11,238 below the Crestliner 2050 Authority; at 22 feet, the Crestliner 2250 Authority starts $27,805 below the Lund 2275 Tyee.
- Welded construction: Crestliner says all its aluminum boats are all-welded; at Lund, look at the HG series.
- Buying used: a Lund from 2006 or newer can transfer for a fee as a 10-year prorated warranty; a Crestliner from 2010 or newer transfers for a $250 fee. Check the boat with the used boat inspection checklist.
Shop Lund, Crestliner and other aluminum fishing boats for sale on Searchshop, or read Tracker vs Lund, best aluminum fishing boats and the fishing boat buying guide.
Neither brand is better for every buyer; they differ most in construction and price. Crestliner says its aluminum boats are all-welded, and its starting prices were lower in seven of the nine size-matched pairs compared here, read on 22 October 2026. Lund describes double-riveted seams, sells an all-welded HG series and lists more series of big-water boats, including the Fisherman, Tyee and Pro-V.
Crestliner boats are welded, according to Crestliner. Its home page describes "all welded aluminum boats," and its hull page says it uses "handcrafted, continuously welded seams." Crestliner dates its first all-welded boat to 1964. Lund, by contrast, describes double-riveted seams on its boats and calls its heavy-gauge HG series all-welded.
Crestliner's published starting prices were lower than Lund's in seven of the nine size-matched pairs compared here. Crestliner's savings ranged from $53 for 18-foot fish-and-ski boats to $27,805 for 22-foot big-water boats, while Lund's 1700 Explorer and 2075 Fisherman started below the Crestliner 1750 Hawk and 2050 Authority. Starting prices exclude freight, prep and taxes, and dealers set the final price.
Both builders allow warranty transfers for a fee. Lund says 2006 and newer models can transfer, giving later owners a 10-year prorated warranty based on the original sale date, arranged through a Lund dealer within 60 days of purchase. Crestliner says 2010 and newer models can transfer with a form, a bill of sale or title and a $250 fee, except CR Jon boats.
