tiller versus console

[fishcast]

tiller versus console? whats your preference and why? particularly when it comes to boat control, why do you specifically prefer one over the other?

I'm looking into new boats and I definitely lean towards tiller, but I'm curious peoples thoughts... please state what size boat and outboard you have and what you fish for most often... it'll be interesting to see varied responses

thanks!

[Cheers]

When the weather is bad I sure like my big console . Wife and kids probably would not go most days if we didnt have consoles.

[Mistermojo]

I have a 16.5' Alumacraft with side console. I would NOT get a side console again. I think those boats tend to be narrower, so once you get a chair next to the console, you cannot get through to the front. Think if you are fishing with a young kid and need to get up there to unhook a fish or work the anchor, it's tough to move around.

If I was to do it over, I would either save up the extra pennies and go full walkthrough, or go tiller and have the whole floor of the boat wide open for stuff.

Could have used the full windshield yesterday on Leech. Got a soak on the way back to the launch!

[Northlander]

For me I like a console. My next boat will be a full windshield for early and late in the year and them long wet runs. I like the room of a tiller but hate the cold wet ride.

[loadmaster]

Tillers are nice if you NEED the floor space. Be a passenger in a side or tiller on a cold rainy day and your question will be answered. My G-3 has full windshield and comes with a small curtain you can put up below the walkthru to block all wind and rain. With kids full would be the way to go.

[Ballyhoo]

All depends on where and what you fish for. I fish LOW and would not be without a full windshield and top and side curtains when it is really crappy. The wife and kids really like the top. It is also nice for shade on a hot sunny day. That said, there are guys I know that went from a tiller to a Lund Tyee and want to go back to a tiller.

[FshBloodRiverMud]

I ran a tiller for 6 years. Have been using a windshield the last two months and am loving it!!

Worse boat control and storage FOR SURE.

So far, the only thing i REALLY miss, is the lack of storage. My tiller had TONS of room. I could pack the sink. I feel like my windshield boat, EVERYTHING is sitting out, and i now own several rubbermaid containers because of it.

I've added a bimini, and am enjoying the windshield + bimini more than i would be my tiller. Comfort!

[herm]

Started w 16-ft Lund Rebel side console & 40hp. After 5 years, upgraded to Skeeter 17 ft/80hp tiller. Best aspects of tiller are boat control, open floor plan and storage space. Worst aspect is you're at mercy of the elements. I'm almost 50. The next boat I buy will likely be full windshield simply because by that time I will be old enough that my desire for a dry ride and comfort will be top priority. (Hey, at least I'm honest.)

[guyonacouch]

I've got a full walk through windshield Lund Fisherman 1700 with a 115 4 stroke Yamaha . I fish mostly crappies and walleyes. I had trouble with boat control until I put an 80lb Terrova iPilot Link on it. Now I sit behind the windshield and run my remote and I can hold a spot or run structure pretty easily. I've fished in plenty of aluminum tillers and while there is more fishable space - in waves, they are typically a wet ride. I can fish 4 guys comfortably if I want and my top and sides have kept me fishing in wet conditions with fair-weather fishing partners many times. I'll never own a boat without a full windshield now that I've gotten used to it and when I can upgrade to a glass boat, I'll be looking for one with a windshield.

[tracker185]

i run a tracker 185 varga full wind shield, with bimini and sides,150 opti max,with 15 four stroke. been on many wet rides from garden island in october and that windshied is the cats meow. would not go back to a tiller. good fishing tracker 185

[20lbSloughShark]

I have a good sized, but light, 16' with a tiller 40 hp. I really like how simple it is. Tiller is great in smaller boats, as space is at an absolute premium. Space is always a big deal on a boat of any size, but it takes real planning to fish 3 guys in a little 14'. Where you fish also plays a big role. I fish smaller lakes, so huge rolling waves are not much of a problem. That and I don't mind getting splashed once in a while. My Ideal boat would be a big/deep V 16' with a completely flat floor from front to back. No benches, no consoles, just pedestal seats and multiple bases to change where you sit. My current boat is set up with the back 2/3 a flat floor, 3 bench seats (with a swivel seat on the back one) and a raised deck up front with a pedestal seat on the front deck. If you plan on fishing big lakes, or just don't like getting wet at all, a windshield would be better. Another issue is boat control. Steering wise they feel similar. Both are easy to steer. I feel throttle is easier on the tiller. Both because its a one hand operation and because you can shift/idle easier. A console boat with a motor that idles too high will not only troll to fast for a lot of people, it also often results in grinding into gear. When shifting into gears I like to shut the throttle all the way, snap into gear, then come back up to idle. You cant do that with a console boat. It shifts into gear at whatever speed it idles at. You can also make the argument that console boats often have tachometers and speedometers, as well as other gauges that tillers often lack. There are lots of little pros/cons to each, and it really just comes down to trying each and choosing. There are also lots of factors that come into play from power tilt to electric start.

[kerryd15]

Depends where you fish. Boat control can be good out off both. With a console, boat controll is best with a kicker and bowmount.. tiiller is designed for back trolling. With the newer 4 strokes, touch control. A button to change rpm by 10. It works excellent. All that said a windshield is very nice on those tough weather days. I like the control of a tiller. But I hate not being able to see when taking off and having multiple people in the boat, trying to see around them. Lots of blind spots.

[Old Dewjabber]

I have a 20.5 with 150 tiller. Love the room,storage, and ride. We dress for the weather. Only thing that sucks is if we have to pass something to another. No way I'd change a thing other than a bigger motor.

[CaptainMusky]

It really depends what you plan to do with your boat, if you have a family that spends considerable time on the water, fair weather fisherman etc etc.

I have a family of five, fish big water a good number of times and wanted the safety and dryness of a full windshield boat. It may give up some space with the windshield but that far outweighs the benefit of more space to me. I added a Bimini top to extend the season in harsher weather, its an added bonus on the sweltering days that give a place to hide for the little ones.

Tillers are nice if you are a jig fisherman because you can tend to hover over the fish more but now with bow mounts that will anchor you over the fish that gap is closing quickly.

I have a 19' full windshield boat with 150 Suzuki 4 stroke.

[JohnMickish]

Console. Much drier. With a bow mounted trolling motor you can do anything that a tiller can do and you get to keep both hands free. If you need to back troll use a vantage. The ride that a wheel boat/full windshield gives is deal.

[RuKiddingMe]

I run a 17.5' Full Windshield with a 115 Opti due to marital compromise and having a young family. While I hated the idea at first, with in my first couple trips out I was sold on having a full windshield boat. Deep/Safer for the kids, bimini top for the hot sunny days (I don't use it in the harsh weather just the sun), drier ride for me and all my passengers. I will run as early and late in the year as possible and that alone makes the windshield worth it.

Down side to me is the profile of the boat, like many Aluminum full windshield boats it sits pretty high in the water and add the height of the windshield and you have yourself a boat that wind can boss around pretty good. Having a higher thrust trolling motor is a must the co-pilot or iPilot really is an added bonus also.

[Dragonsm]

Never owned a tiller, however fished out of them many times (mostly walleye) where we were working shorelines. From that standpoint, the control of the tiller was way more than I'd probably ever be able to do with my current boat. Floor space was plentiful (storage also). However most of the lakes we fished were smaller/protected...largest being Ottertail.

As a passenger, I sure wouldn't want to do a long run in it.

I've owned a single console which I loved....floor space was nice and open for the most part, however my wife hated being unprotected when we'd head across ML.

Currently, I own a Crestliner Superhawk 1700 (17' 9") with a yamaha 115 FS. The boat has a bimini top, snap cover for the front casting deck to enclose, small piece to snap underneath the windshield if I want to close that off, side curtains and a rear curtain if I want to enclose it. Storage isn't bad (only have 1 live well) and it by far is the most comfortable boat for my wife and two kids. (even on longer runs) I can head out for a day of fishing and keep them out of the sun and still enjoy myself. Ideal fishing rig? Probably not, but for taking a family out...it's great...and the deeper sides ensures my son won't go over the sides without some work on his part. Being in SD now, a bit more windy, however I like being able to duck behind a full windshield when the weather gets nasty and it doesn't handle that bad with the wind. I'll add a few more things to make it more "fishable" for me, but all in all....plan on having this boat for a while.

On a side note, from what I saw with boats....used full windshield boats hardly come in on trade at dealers and seem to be sold ASAP. The boat we purchased was on the market for about a day before we pulled the trigger on it. Very few come up for sale and there is definitely a demand for them.

Whether this helps or not, I just like the story. LOL

Steve

[MattL]

I've had both and my current boat is a tiller. I'm a bigger guy and like to be able to sprawl out a bit versus being constrained behind a console.

I have a transom trolling motor and I pilot Terrova and find myself using the transom motor when jigging or rigging since it offers more control without the boat swaying or over running the spot when hovering.

Its not really any rougher or wetter ride than the past dual console I ran with a similar hull by the same manufacturer. With a tiller you will learn in a hurry how to handle the boat to stay drier!

The only real complaint I have with a tiller is that they suck if you fish in the winter. Gotta dress warm and take it slow - or duck behind your fishing buddies while running the boat.

All that being said, I can't say what my next rig will be. They both have their pros and cons.

[hamms-scooter]

Have a tiller have loved fishing from the back. Good control and lots of room even in my 14 ft lund. I can't see ever getting rid of it however I may add a full windshield style someday. When the family is with it would be nice . Also to just go for a boat ride in comfort. But long live the tiller!

[ClownColor]

Smaller boats tiller...larger boats console.

[magicstix]

I've had both. Have console without windshield now and still use a tiller at times. What I got works pretty good for fishing.

I will probably go back to a full windshield on next boat. Would like to also get bimimi top too.

Also had curtain for lower windshield on other boat and it was nice on real cool days, will get that again.

I don't mind the tiller if it's zero wind.

A 17.5'-18.5' with a 150hp is a nice all around size for family and fishing.

[Down Deep]

The first few boats I owned were smaller 14 and 16 foot boats like Lund S-14 and the smaller model Lund Explorer. I had tillers on those boats and they worked well for boat control. The downside was the exposure to the elements when running down lake in colder weather and getting blasted by the spray from the wake in rough water. The passenger in the front can gets a much rougher ride when the wind is pushing the waves.

The boats I buy now are larger in profile, wider, longer, more HP and I have a console. When fishing I still operate and control the boat from the back or front depending on what species I'm after. When running down lake I like the smoother ride and less exposure to the elements and spray from the wake. My passengers like it too. I also think that there is a degree of increased safety with a console because of of better visibility when running on plane.

About the only downside I see to a console is when I have a third fisherman and we are fishing bottom oriented presentations. The person in the middle is at a definite disadvantage for seating.

I think that for smaller boats a tiller fills the bill. The larger profile, longer and wider boat I think console to the way to go.

[Borch]

It comes down to personal preference and what your needs are for comfort. I've alway run tiller personally and have used them up to 21' in length. I've also occasionally have run console's. If I was primarily a great lakes salmon guy I've run a full windshield console. But I primarily fish walleye and panfish so the space and boat control of the tiller is what I prefer. Bigger boats with tillers really aren't an issue with todays technology. Steering assist or remote steering are options that take the weight and torque of the big motor out of the equation.

Ride varies a lot by hull design and materials in addition to console vs tiller. I've been in several consoles that pound everyone during rough conditions. But in general given the passengers riding location the console will be smoother.

Enjoy whatever you choose.

[hnd]

i purchased a boat just this summer. after immense research i settle on looking for an early prov. it had everything i wanted in a boat. next was just settling on whether i wanted a tiller or a console. i took 2 trips...one in a lund alaskan console and another in a lund predator tiller. after a week in each that involved short and long runs. i realized that i wanted a console. my children would also want to able to go tubing and what have you and this would just make it easier. found a 90 prov with a console at a steal of a price and haven't looked back.