2010 Lund 1825 Rebel XL Sport

By Mike Milne

The Lund 1825 Rebel doesn’t really live up to its model name through unconventional design or performance. Its black paint jobs may be somewhat menacing, but hardly rebellious. In fact, combined with the boat’s gray vinyl floors and two-tone upholstery, it’s quite stylish.

The test boat’s 90-hp two-stroke outboard, however, definitely runs counter to the prevalent culture in marine power. Conventional two-stroke engines are almost extinct, partly because exhaust emission rules mean they can’t be sold in California. Mercury will likely stop selling them after using up the remaining stock, probably by next year. In the meantime, the ones still on the market are a good reminder why two-strokes made such good marine engines.

On the 18-foot, 3-inch riveted aluminum Lund fishing boat, the Mercury performs very well and doesn’t smoke or leave any exhaust sheen on the water. It also weighs 96 pounds less than an equivalent four-stroke 90 and costs about $1,700 less. On a well-equipped $20,000 boat, that’s a considerable advantage.

In the performance department, the 90 works just fine, starting easily (on a very cold fall morning) and running smoothly once warmed up. Top speed, at 5200 rpm, is just shy of 40 mph, with the Bimini top in place. The boat is on plane at 20.6 mph at 3000 rpm and cruises comfortably between 25 and 27 mph. It turns with confidence and feels solid in both calm and choppy water.

The layout is ideal for fishing. The roomy carpeted forward casting platform has a bow-mounted electric trolling motor, a seat-mount, two storage compartments forward and a livewell/bait bucket combo mounted athwartships. The carpeted rear casting platform also has a seat mount. Full-length coaming lockers are carpeted and the one to port locks for secure rod and tackle storage. The cockpit floor itself is covered in vinyl for easy cleanups.

The 1825 also makes an ideal cottage gear and people mover. The aft casting platform folds back to form two comfortable jump seats and there’s room to mount two additional swivelling seats on spare mounts in the cockpit.

Even powered by a four-stroke or Mercury’s two-stroke, direct fuel-injection OptiMax instead of the conventional two-stroke, the Rebel still represents great value for a durable and good-looking 18 footer. Delivering good value in style seems to be this Rebel’s cause.

TEST BOAT ENGINE
Mercury 90 two-stroke, 84.6 ci / 1.39 L, inline three-cylinder, oil-injected outboard with carburetors producing 90 hp, driving an aluminum propeller.

ACCELERATION (mph/sec)
0-20 / 3.53 ; 0-30 / 5.19 ; 0-35 / 8.68

TOP SPEED (rpm/mph)
5200 / 39.1

CRUISING SPEED (rpm/mph)
3000 / 20.6 ; 3500 / 26.8 ; 4000 / 31.6 ; 4500 / 34.6

SOUND LEVEL AT CRUISE (4000 rpm)
Helm – 79 dbA ; Aft cockpit – 84 dbA

SOUND LEVEL AT TOP SPEED
Helm – 86 dbA ; Aft cockpit – 91 dbA