Lund Boats vs. Lowe Boats: Which Brand Is the Best?
Lund Boats and Lowe Boats rule the domain of aluminum fishing boats. While they are both very capable aluminum boats, both brands have different purposes and target different segments of the market.
Lund Boats are high-quality boats, and that is reflected in the price. Lowe Boats are a lot more affordable but lack some of the features that come standard with the Lunds.
I will highlight the features of each model in detail, so you can make the right decision for your fishing boat needs.
It’s the battle of Lund boats vs Lowe boats! Here’s all you need to know about both brands, along with some helpful boat buying tips.
Lund Boats
When you first research buying fishing boats, one brand is going to crop up a lot – Lund Boats.
When it comes to Lund boats, there are lots of heated opinions on boating forums on whether the brand is worth investing in or not. In my opinion, the features Lund adds to each of their models make it worth the extra investment.
Every angler needs something different from their boat. If you keep your boat docked at your cottage, then you’re probably comfortable with re-supplying your boat throughout the day.
If you’re like me who trailers your boat to lakes hundreds of miles away, you want to have as much storage onboard as you can get.
Features of Lund Boats
When I think of Lund I think of storage for all my things. Lund has hands-down more storage options than any other boat brand.
Lund is built for anglers in mind. You aren’t going to find extra storage for all the kid’s water toys. When I mention the amount of storage, I’m mostly referring to fishing gear. Most people will be able to fit every Plano box they own inside the boat.
Rod Storage is another feature that Lund does better than ever. The liftable rod holders on some of their higher-end Pro-V models will hold up to 15 rods. That’s very convenient if you’re far from home and decide to change from Largemouth Fishing to Walleye fishing halfway through the day.
For the trolling anglers out there, how would you like to have console control for your trolling motor? This command center allows you full control over everything in your boat. If it has a wire, you can control it from here.
The Quality
Lund Boats is famous as a high-quality brand. Many buyers choose a fishing boat based on a combination of price and quality, but if you’re looking for the best of the best in quality, go for the Lund.
Lund Boats costs more than most of its competitors on the market, but the quality is unmatched. Lund has been crafting industry-leading aluminum boats since the 40s which is arguably longer and better than anyone else in the market. Since the brand’s early days, Lund has grown from a modest fishing boat manufacturer to a successful renowned brand in the industry offering a huge fleet of options.
Lund’s success is no accident. If you have the budget to spend on the best quality fishing boat, look no further than Lund for high-quality craftsmanship.
Lowe Boats
Crafted in America, Lowe boats are available in more than 100 different models, depending on your needs. The brand is proud to offer boat types for everyone, no matter what your passion is on the water.
The brand is also honored to be a national sponsor of professional anglers that compete at the highest level with a burning passion and respect for the sport and the environment.
While Lowe boats cannot compare to Lund boats in quality, the boats are crafted with state-of-the-art modern techniques learned from decades of experience.
Let’s check out some of the Lowe Boats’ best features.
Decent Quality for the Price
As mentioned, let’s make it clear that a Lowe boat can in no way compare to the quality of a Lund boat. However, the good news is you won’t have to pay anywhere near a Lund price.
While the quality of a Lowe boat is decent, what you’re essentially giving up for a more affordable boat is the fit and finish, ride quality, and resale value.
With a Lowe boat, you’ll discover that many of the qualities of the boat are made more cheaply than the top brands of boats, such as the Lund. This includes the lids, hardware (such as locks and handles), carpet, console plastic, seats, bases, storage, compartments, and more.
That means you can expect some issues in the time that you’ll own a Lowe boat. For example, buyers have reported trailer issues including fenders falling off while driving down the road. And generally, the fit and finish of the overall vehicle are of poorer quality than other big brands in the game.
If you’re happy to lose out on those qualities, Lowe offers a great boat for the price. Putting it simply, you’ll get a lot of boat for your dollar.
A good idea is to purchase a Lowe boat as one of your first boats, to eventually save up for a better-quality brand when you have the budget available.
Warranty
While Lowe doesn’t offer the best quality in the market if you do have issues the Lowe is good with fixing the issues under warranty.
Depending on the issue, Lowe promises a warranty of between one to ten years. The good news is that the brand has a positive reputation for honoring these warranties. Compared to similar companies, the warranty is pretty fair, especially for those that replace their boats every ten years or so.
Some Lowe boat purchasers have stated several issues that they experienced, which were fixed swiftly under warranty.
- A tab of carpet in the bow storage area needed to be re-glued
- A seatback cracked in half and needed to be replaced
- Replacing the bow light base screws with bolts and washers because it would pull loose
However, some issues needed fixing by the owner.
- Replacing the stern light base which included purchasing two screws and an inexpensive part
- Cleaning the ignition connections after some slight corrosion so the motor would start again
Lowe vs Lund Boats: Which Is Right for You?
Before you buy a Lowe or a Lund, you need to know exactly what you’re purchasing and what you’re getting into.
You don’t want to be stuck with a fishing boat that you’re not entirely happy with, or one that isn’t the type you wanted.
If this is your first boat, I would highly recommend getting the Lowe over the Lund. You don’t want to spend the extra money on the Lund until you have gotten a good idea of what your needs are.
Questions you should be asking are:
- How much storage do I need day-to-day?
- What length of boat do you need?
- How much horse power will I need? (Lund can generally go over 200HP+)
- Do I need a dedicated real mount trolling motor?
- What electronics are going to be on the boat? (Fish Finders, GPS, Power-Poles)
Understand that your dream boat is out there but be willing to compromise on quality or price depending on your needs. For many, purchasing a fishing boat like a Lowe or Lund is one of the best decisions they’ve ever made.
Take the time to find the boat that’s right for you.
Once you’ve found it, you’ll have endless hours of joy fishing with it.
This article may contain affiliate links which I earn a commision through when you purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Please read why I do this and my commitment to accurate and compelling content.