Tiller Guys?

[PerchJerker]

I don't lob, I fire my casts out there with speed and pinpoint accuracy

[Browning83]

I personally like tillers more than console boats. Consoles take up a lot of room it seems for me. The main reason I like tillers is because I back troll a lot. I have a lot more control coming from the back. Put some wave whackers on there and back troll in a nice chop is perfect for me. I like sitting in an open seat and see my electronics in the open instead of fighting a steering wheel the whole time. As regards of rough water....I've never had too much trouble and I've been on Mille Lacs with some big waves. My favorite days are the ones with a 2 foot chop and back troll with the big motor with a drift sock. Of course a guy I know of the PWT says...."boats are meant to go forward" and thats why he doesnt back troll as much. Oh and I got a 16 foot Crestliner with a 50 4 stroke.

[waskawood]

I have had both styles of boats. The last two have been tiller boats. I now own a 17 foot glass tiller with a 90hp 4-stroke. My arm does not get the least bit tired as I have the Merten's power steer. As is life, all of us have different needs. Just because it meets my needs doesn't necessarily make it the perfect boat for the next guy. The main thing is that we are all out doing what we love, in the boat we like.

[Ray Esboldt]

Guys,

It warms my heart knowing that there are so many of us still around.

Hey PerchJerker! Didn't you swear off flashers as well in another post. What's wrong with you, boy?

[Skeets]

I like my Pro Angler 16 tiller boat as well. Match it with a F60 Yamaha, and you have the perfect tiller rig in my opinion. Not too big and bulky, but still good sized and plenty of room.

[cold one sd]

I have a 14 foot tiller for the smaller waters and an 18' 6" dual console for the big waters. I have a definate reason for owning each of them. In small rocky lakes I can do a lot less damage to a small tiller boat. While fishing reservoirs I need a lot bigger boat.

[benelli_dude2002]

I dont own a boat but I've used tillers most of the time. My dad has three 17 ft alumarines all equipped with Yahama 40 4-strokes. One thing I like about a tiller is on rough water other than getting wet is you dont get pounded back there like you would if you were to sit in the front part of the boat. I fished out of my friends Warrior yesterday and that was a tiller. I want to say it was a 18 1/2 ft with a 125 Saltwater Mercury ( tiller of course ) and that has hydraulic steer on it. Not sure what pitch he runs or what he did different but with 3 guys we could get about 39 mph of out it. I dont really care for the seats in the boat ( my buddy's Warrior ) cuz now my back is a little stiff today, there was like a little hump in the middle of the seat that would get to you after while and make me sit off to the side and there was hardly any wind so I know it wasnt the ride. But whenever I can afford a boat ( gotta pay for other toys first ) I am still not sure what I would get as far what brand and if it would be a tiller or console. Be safe on the water.

[cold one sd]

I found out a long time ago that if you don't pound the h*ll out of the boat, you don't get pounded either. I can't believe that people that aren't sponsored and fishing tournaments would pound a boat when it is rough. I don't care how long it takes to get somewhere, I don't pound my boat. Just my .02.

[Mille Lacs Guy]

I am a die hard tiller guy. Right now I am running an 1890 Warrior Eagle BT with a 90 Evinrude Etec on it. I have the Warrior Pro tiller hydrulic steering which makes handling the motor a breeze. The next boat I will be getting will either be a Yar Craft 2095 BT tiller with a 150 Suzuki or a Warrior 2090 with a 150 or larger tiller on it. These large tiller motors along with the Minnkota Vantage allows you to backtroll into any condtions. Right now with my 90 Etec I can back troll at less than 1 mph without wind or anything to slow me down further. The larger tillers will back troll around 1.7 to 1.8 from what I have seen.

If folks haven't seen the Mertens Power tiller steering assist for tiller boats they should check it out. You can contol any size motor with 2 fingers on the tiller handle. It is an amazing system. Some type of steering assist is generally required for 18 foot boats that have over a 90 HP motor on them and 20 foot boats that have something larger than a 125.

[archer59]

My previous boat was a console. I sold that and was looking for a larger console when I got a deal on a 94 1775 Pro-v with a 75 tiller. Best thing I ever did. I fish Muskie most of the time so the extra rooom is great. I fish Leech, Vermilion, LOTW, Mantrap, and a few others. Once you trim the motor, you can control it with ease. The wet windy rides are not a problem for me and I fish into November. All those years of duck hunting have conditioned me for it. Anyway... tiller for me.

Nick

[marbleye]

I'm also run tiller. 17'Lund Pro Angler. Boat control is a key for me. In rough water you can't beat a tiller for back trolling. Two things that I have a problem with in a console. First, keeping the front trolling motor in the water in rough water. Second, when running a kicker motor being able to get comfortable when sitting in back with no pedestal seat. Also hard to see your electronics! Just my .02 cents worth.

[Duffman]

Just picked up my first boat last night. Alumacraft Navigator 165 tiller with a Suzuki 60hp 4-stroke. Never even considered anything but a tiller, love the open space in it. Just big enough to have some confidence on larger water, yet small enough to fit in the garage and handle by myself when fishing solo. Got some candy on it(Maxxum 70-Lowrance 25C), more to come when I find some funds. Can't wait to get her wet!

[eyes']

I run a Ranger 618 tiller with a 90 4 stroke Johnson and absolutly love it!!! There is so much room in it and with the glass boat a guy actually stays fairly dry!!! The boat fits my needs to a "T" and will never go away from a tiller...

[marbleye]

Hey EYES', how can I get in touch with you? I would like to talk to you about your 618T. That will be my next boat....I work in Mankato.....

[barnyard]

I've had my tiller for 10 years now. My motor has friction fittings and with proper trim, there is absolutely no steering torque. I would not recommend it, but you can take your hand off the tiller and the motor does not move.

I use my boat for fishing and I have also taken our kids tubing and skiing. I prefer it for tubing/skiing as the spotter is sitting in front of me and as soon as someone goes down, I know it.

My boat has all the latest 70's technology. I am a die hard flasher guy, so I have one on the bow and stern. Plus hand controlled trolling motors. No power drive or auto pilots to break down.

I've always said that I would never trade up, but if Crestliner is making an 1850 fishhawk tiller, that might change things....

Tom B

[Ray Esboldt]

Tom,

Those were my exact same words - I'll buy a new boat when Crestliner makes an 1850 Fish Hawk tiller.

If you want to check it out in person and you're serious about getting one, let me know.

[barnyard]

Thanks for the offer. I started racing motorcycles again last year, so I'll probably keep my 1750.

Tom B

[Nova]

I also am a tiller guy. Had 2 consoles and am on my second tiller. Can't see any reason to change back. I fish Mille Lacs amost exclusively and there are not many days you can run wide open anyway. That is the ONLY advantage of a wheel boat in my opinion, speed. I can get 43mph out of my Warrior with a 115ph on it and that's fast enough for me, plus I don't care who you are you can't control a wheel boat as good as a tiller in high winds even if it has 12 motors on it. just my humble opinion.

[FullTilt]

1750 Fish Hawk with an 8 hp Yamaha Tiller as the primary motor. 115 Johnson side console as the secondary. I'm tiller guy all the way and wouldn't even consider fishing from a wheel. But the 115 behind the wheel gets me to where I'm going and the tiller does all the fishing.

I have a question for you big motor tiller guys. Can you efectively back troll with a 90 hp+ tiller? What's your min speed on a glass calm day? I understand the love affair with tillers and control but a large tiller doesn't seem to be the best for slow trolling. Convince me otherwise.

[archer59]

Quote:

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1750 Fish Hawk with an 8 hp Yamaha Tiller as the primary motor. 115 Johnson side console as the secondary. I'm tiller guy all the way and wouldn't even consider fishing from a wheel. But the 115 behind the wheel gets me to where I'm going and the tiller does all the fishing.

I have a question for you big motor tiller guys. Can you efectively back troll with a 90 hp+ tiller? What's your min speed on a glass calm day? I understand the love affair with tillers and control but a large tiller doesn't seem to be the best for slow trolling. Convince me otherwise.

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I was really supprised last summer when I was able to troll down to 2/3 mph with my 75 Merc. This was moving forward, and using a GPS as a speedometer. This was while I was trolling in the fall. Wonders never cease.

Nick

[eyes']

marbleye,

Email me at dkz_75 at yahoo.com

[TommyJ33]

1650 lund Scout with 40HP merc Tiller

Tillers are just plain more fun to drive.

[Guest]

Skeeter 1790T, Yamaha F75.

Not a better way of fishing walleyes than backtrolling.

[Ray Esboldt]

I can get my 90 Optimax down to 1.4 mph backtrolling on glass water.

[Redline]

I think both types of boats have their purpose, but I have been in many conditions up in the Sioux Narrows area in Canada where I wouldn't step foot in a tiller. It can get really nasty.