I, like many of you, have a dream boat: the Lund Pro-V 2075. I am so enamored with this fishing machine that for years and years I’ve followed the gentlemen at Waconda Boats who routinely post boat walkthroughs to their YouTube page. Each year, I keep an eye out waiting for them to review the Pro-V lineup so I can see what changes were made.
I have to be honest. While many of the changes to the 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075 seem great, I’m not crazy about a few others. This article is going to look at the changes for 2023 and discuss what I like, and what I don’t. One should consider this article a supplement to the thoughts I have about the Pro-V lineup in general in my Lund Impact vs. Pro-V article.
The Waconda Boats’ Video
Given that I don’t actually own a 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075, I am basing my thoughts exclusively on this video by Waconda Boats. I suggest that you watch it real quick before continuing with this article as I’m going to make many references to it, and we should be on the same page.
Changes to the 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075 Sport
The following is a list of changes to the 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075 Sport. I’ve included two columns. Changes I like, and changes I hate. There is no in-between!
Changes I Like | Changes I HATE! |
-Custom trailer comes standard now. -Port and starboard storage drawers have a better design. -Slightly reduced width gunnels allow more room. -Center storage will accommodate 9′ rods. -Console redesign. -Glove box on both consoles. -Jig hook quick storage. -Starboard bow rod quick storage. -5 Bank battery charger. -Easy access to circuit breaker and fuses. | -There is no longer a stow-away rescue ladder. -I dislike the new jump seat style. -Aft seat bases has two off center standard. |
As you can see, I like MOST of the changes, and still feel this is one hell of a boat. The problem is, the three things I dislike, I really, truly, greatly dislike – nay, we’ll call it HATE. One of them in particular (the lack of a stow-away rescue ladder) makes my stomach churn.
The Changes to the 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075 That I LIKE
Let’s be optimists and talk about the changes that I like first, as there are many, and they are far more numerous than the changes I hate.
Custom Trailer Is Now Standard
It seems that the diamond plate custom trailer is now standard. I suppose this makes sense given this is a high-class item. You’ll still need to pay more to upgrade to a galvanized version, which honestly is probably a pretty good idea if you live near the ocean or even trailer it on roads that may have a lot of salt.
Redesigned storage drawers
From the video above, they made a change to the way the cockpit storage drawers open on the port and starboard side. Rather than pulling out they tilt out. This was done because those folks who kept a bimini top in the boat would sometimes have trouble pulling these drawers out without it catching. If you’re someone who used to curse the old design, you should be pleased with this change. Per the video, the overall storage size hasn’t changed – it is just accessed in a different way now.
Reduced Gunnel Width
Apparently the gunnels are slightly narrower in the cockpit, which allows passengers fishing behind the captain’s chair to have more arm and leg room. This should allow a more comfortable fishing experience from the seat. I could imagine jigging for lake trout here would be that much more enjoyable.
Larger Center Rod Box
Whereas the 2022 Lund Pro-V 2075 could only accommodate 8′ rods, the 2023 can handle 9′ rods in the center storage. This won’t matter too much to many fishermen, but for those of you who love to troll, you will really like this.
Console Redesign
The starboard console has been redesigned with the idea of making it flatter and easier to accommodate multiple large graphs. I suppose if you’re the sort of guy who has the cash for one of these boats, you’ve got the cash for multiple graphs as well.
Additional Glove Box
The starboard console now has a (small) glove box of its own. While there’s been a place to put a cell phone or such for a few years now, it’s been exposed to the elements. Being able to lock it away out of the sun and rain is a good thing, so I like this small touch.
Jig Hook Quick Storage
As you can see at 9:37 of the video above, the 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075 comes with a handy jig holder. Placed right behind your throttles, this is meant to be a place you can hook a spinnerbait or jig safely and out of the way when you aren’t using it. It’s a neat little option that would do wonders for me as I currently have half a dozen lures lying on my console for the same reason! While I would be concerned to use it with any lure with treble hooks, I do think it would work great for jigs and spinnerbaits and keep your boat tidy and organized.
Starboard On-the-Go Bow Rod Storage
If you forgo the bow bait well, you’ll notice that there’s an option now where a few rod tubes are in the starboard console up by the bow. This allows you to place a few rods securely up front while moving from one area to another. While I just do this by leaning them against the gunnel on my Impact, I do sometimes worry about this especially if it’s wavy out. Having dedicated rod tubes would eliminate this worry, so I think it’s a great idea. I also have never really seen the point of the bait well when you have a bow livewell sitting right next to it that can hold a bait bucket, but to each their own. The rod tubes should be a much more useful option for the way I fish.
5-Bank Charger
The 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075 comes factory rigged with the option for a 5-bank charger. In the past, you’d have to use two chargers (a 2-bank and 3-bank) which was two things you’d have to plug in. Having it all connected to one just simplifies things and is, in my opinion, a good idea.
Easy Access to Circuit Breakers and Fuses
Perhaps my favorite tweak is the simplest: Lund finally made it easy to access your circuit breakers and fuses. Trying to get to these on my Impact makes me feel like a contortionist. Simply having a door that opens up right to them in the starboard console is a “fantabulous” idea.
The Changes I HATE About the 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075
While there are relatively few changes to the 2023 Lund Pro-V 2075 that I hate compared to changes I like, they are doozies. In my opinion, one of them absolutely kills one of the coolest things about this boat and I think it’s just such a shame that Lund went the way they did.
The Stow-Away Rescue Ladder Is No More
Of all the changes that Lund made to their 2023 Pro-V lineup, the one that I hate more than anything is the removal of the stow-away rescue ladder. For years, there was a rescue ladder that would store inside the port gunnel on the stern. While the ladder itself was somewhat flimsy and reported as being fairly difficult for a hefty or elderly person to use, it allowed the Pro-V to be the absolutely most versatile multispecies boat on the planet.
The reason I make this claim is the rescue ladder used to allow one to have both a kicker motor and a Minn Kota talon or other shallow water anchor. This meant that the Pro-V was capable of being a boat that could do absolutely anything. You could troll for lakers with your kicker one hour and then lock onto a bass bed with your talon the next. You could have the safety and peace of mind of a second motor and the enhanced boat control of the Talon. There was no other boat on the market that I am aware of that allowed for this, and it made the Pro-V second to none.
Now, one has to choose. You cannot put both a talon and a kicker onto a 2023 Lund Pro-V. To me, that’s a kick in the gut. I have long had this fear of the number 23 and it just figures Lund would pull something like this in 2023! While I’m not aware of the rationale, I am disappointed for sure.
Double Aft Seat Bases are Standard
Another major disappointment is that it seems that the aft seat bases in the video above are standard. Meaning, there are two on the aft casting deck. One more to port, and one more to starboard. Now, some guys might absolutely love this. If you vertical jig frequently, this is probably an awesome way to do it with friends. But for me, this means that my father would have a tough time casting towards one side of the boat. He can’t fish standing any more so he has to sit. I would have much preferred if he was centered.
If I’m wrong and this is just an option, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll update the post. Near as I can tell from Lund’s boat builder, it is unfortunately standard. To me, it makes what I want to do with the boat more difficult, and adds another hole to plug. Note: if you do need to plug a seat base hole, this is a good option assuming it fits your model.
The Aft Jump Seats Have Changed, and Not Necessarily for the Better
In 2022 the Pro-V lineup still had flip up aft seating, and in fact it was a three part system. This was a versatile setup as you could leave a seat up on one side while having casting deck (or livewell access) on the other. Now, Lund has moved to the jump seat configuration they’ve had on the Impact XS 2025 for awhile now. While this isn’t the end of the world, I prefer the other set up as I enjoy having a flip up casting deck on my 2012 Lund Impact 1875. I personally like having a large casting deck to work with and the current configuration makes it smaller.
The Verdict? The Pro-V is Still the Best – But Not as Versatile As Before
Look, a lot of you are going to read this and think I’m nuts for having any complaints at all. There are a myriad of changes to the 2023 Lund Pro-V and many of them are clearly awesome. I do think they’ve made this boat more user-friendly and have addressed many issues that people have had with past models. You can’t argue with longer rod storage, better ergonomics, and thoughtful access to fuses. If you have the coin to drop on one of these, you’re going to like your purchase and will have arguable the greatest aluminum boat on the market.
Having said that, you simply can’t tell me that the 2023 Pro-V is more versatile than the 2022. It simply isn’t. No longer having the option of easily adding talons and a kicker is a big deal to a true multispecies experience. Lund has taken the only boat on the market that could do that, and turned it into just another one of hundreds that can’t. That’s a shame.
Likewise, I am not a fan of the entire aft setup in general. I dislike the jump seats and the flip up option on past Pro-V models was a huge selling point for me over the Impact XS 2025. Also, while I get the seat bases might be well liked by folks who jig often, it just doesn’t work for my setup.
Frankly, if Lund would create Pro-V version that had the stern of a 2022 and the cockpit and bow of a 2023, they’d have the perfect boat! Here’s to dreaming!
Thanks for reading,
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