Lund 1625 Fury XL Review

Versatile 16-foot aluminum fishing boats like the Lund 1625 Fury XL have been top sellers across North America for generations.

Striking an optimal balance between frills and simplicity, being well-enough appointed to offer genuine creature comfort on the water, yet simple enough to be easy to clean and maintain, the Lund 1625 Fury XL is big enough to handle a bit of rough water when it needs to, yet compact enough to easily sneak into shallow back bays or up meandering river channels where other anglers in bigger boats just can’t go. While it’s easy to find bigger boats or rides that are more luxuriously appointed, when it comes to bang for the buck this type of do-it-all 16-footer still can’t be beat.

With its spacious bow casting deck, deep center cockpit and enough cool design elements to please anyone, the Lund 1625 Fury XL is one boat that’s sure to please not only serious anglers, but their families too with its added extra touches.

Thoughtful touches like a huge in-floor locking rod compartment, durable vinyl flooring and multiple bases allowing you to position the seats wherever they’re needed give the Fury XL tremendous adaptability.

Right up front there’s a big bow pad for mounting an electric motor, with more than enough extra room to add a second fish finder. The adjacent bow panel includes a 12-volt receptacle and an open storage compartment that makes the ideal spot to tuck the foot control for the electric motor when trailering to and from the lake.

The deck itself has a pair of large in-floor storage compartments, a battery storage compartment and a big 16-gallon aerated live well. The deck in our review boat was finished in a tough, non-slip vinyl, which wears like iron and dries faster than carpet. But for those who prefer the more traditional approach, marine carpet is also available.

The helm is simple yet sophisticated at the same time, with a beefy non-slip wheel and plenty of space to add electronics beside the gauge cluster, where the screens can be easily seen yet without obstructing the driver’s view.

The main cockpit floor of the Lund 1625 Fury XL hides a locking rod storage compartment that accommodates up to six rods in individual tubes. The boat comes standard with two pedestal seats, and there are six seat bases.

The 1625 Fury XL comes in a choice of dual console, single console and tiller versions. Dual console models get a walk-through windshield and a passenger console with a large locking glove box.

The helm console has plenty of space up top and to the right of the gauge cluster to accommodate aftermarket electronics. Positioning the screen to the side allows anglers to upgrade to a larger multi-function touch-screen display while not obscuring their view out front. There’s an integrated cup holder, a cell phone holder, and a row of lighted toggle switches for electrical accessories, including a master power switch, navigation lights, the live well aerator, a bilge pump and interior lights and accessories. There’s a 12-volt outlet as well for portable accessories.

The stern features a second raised casting deck which is hinged at the back, and raises easily to reveal the crank battery and the fuel tank. This can be upgraded to a convertible rear deck with two jump seats and a small carpeted console with a couple of integrated cup holders – fold it aft to reveal the seats, or fold it forward for use as a casting deck.

Now you see them, now you don’t! The available aft seat upgrade converts in seconds from comfortable family seating to a large raised casting deck.

Perhaps the greatest aspect of the Lund 1625 Fury XL is the fact you can buy this boat in a choice of three different configurations. The Sport model comes with dual consoles and a full walk-through windshield, features that will be definitely appreciated by buyers in northern regions where that additional protection on those cold mornings early or late in the season will be much appreciated. It also provides some valuable storage space in the passenger console, including a useful glove box for stowing valuables like cell phones, wallets and the truck keys.

The Lund 1625 Fury XL is about having it your way – in this case with available tiller steering and carpeted casting decks.

For those who still want a full console but perhaps with a bit more open floor space, the SS, or Side Steering, version is the answer. Although you give up the walk-through windshield and the passenger console, you gain a lot of space and perhaps a bit more flexibility when it comes to rigging the boat with rod holders and other gear. And being a Lund, the 1625 Fury XL also comes in a tiller steering version for those who prefer an open boat that they can control with one hand, leaving the other free to hold the rod and feel for delicate bites.

Of course all three Fury XL variants come with Lund’s DualTrac gunnel system that allows you to mount and relocate rod holders, drink holders, tool clips, downrigger brackets, cleats and all sorts of other things anywhere you like, and without having to drill holes in the boat.

Lund’s DualTrack extruded gunnel system makes it easy to position accessories like rod holders, drink holders or mounting brackets for a drift sock wherever they need to go, and without drilling any holes.

If that sounds like a lot of stuff in a 16-foot boat, well, you’re right – it is. But they’re all features that matter to avid anglers. Lund has long had a knack for including just the frills that make a difference, and leaving out those that don’t. The Lund 1625 Fury XL is a terrific example of this, making it little wonder that it’s one boat you’re almost certain to see on the water this year.