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Posts: 109
Location: Wisconsin River | Im thinking before restoring my e mag that I might like to remove the side console and install a center console. Have noticed very few CC boats are used on inland waters and wondering if there was any reason for this. Seems like even on a small boat like mine the ability to run the perimiter of the boat would be like having a tiller and still have the added HP of a console. Just cant think of any neg. results from making this change. |
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Posts: 750
Location: Minneapolis, MN | Less useable space compared to a side console? What I mean by that is that is now instead of having say 30 inches of open floor space to the left of the console, enough room to for a large tackle box or deck box, you now only have 15 inches of floor space on either side, meaning less items will fit there. Just a thought off the top of my head.
Edited by dami0101 11/22/2013 12:10 PM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i ran center consoles for about 10 years and on one hand they are great while on the other hand not so much. to echo the statement above, unless you are in a big boat with a big beam, the center console gets in the way. key to center consoles to me is on big water taking on the really big rollers. you can run rougher water with more confidence on a big center console boat and vision is really good (stand-up center).
i've had an esox mag too and the best feature is the enormous decking and space … putting a console in the center to me would not be desirable. that said, i believe the factory provided one at one time … or maybe it was a dream. i'm sure when steve comes out of the woods he can comment on that. |
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Posts: 109
Location: Wisconsin River | Just wondering why the guys down south seem to like them so much but you rarely see one in the north. Is flats fishing that much diffrent than fishing here on the river. |
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Posts: 2097
| Pete mainas looks very fishable. |
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Posts: 177
Location: ON | I looked at them hard before getting a tiller. What I found was...
Seating is limited, at least on a tiller you can sit on the rod lockers and usually have 2-3 bases on the floor of the boat + the front deck.
Other wise you are sitting 2 guys side by side on a single bench seat, might not be the worst thing in the world, but more than 2 and now you have a guy infront of the console on a cooler, which I would ditch right away and make that a huge lure storage area.
Storage is limited, no rod lockers (although most have rod storage under gunnels, not covered), many don't have livewells (just baitwells) not that I use those anyways..
A lot of them don't have rear casting decks, just a storage area to stand on, which are rather small.
They can be great boats, but from what I saw only the big CC "bay boats" offered the type of room, storage, casting decks you would be happy with. And you would need to spend a good buck to be happy with them.
Many in the 20-22' range have great deck layouts, but again now you're in for a good chunk of $. If you have that, buy one.
Also a lot of them have a very shallow V or tunnel design. Might be great for small lakes, but definately not for everyone.
Now I would love an Alaksan 20 CC or something similar like that, & I would totally convert a side console to a CC, but
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Posts: 383
| ...one more thing to think about: A center console (even without a T Top) often stands much taller than a side or full console boat, which might be a garage consideration. When I bought mine I measured to make sure it fit in the garage both length and width wise. But when I brought it home, backed it up the driveway, and discovered the rig sat 6" too high for the garage door, well, if there were a hall of fame for eye-rolling, my wife would have definitely landed a place of honor.
Like Sled, I've also had an Emag console...I'm not sure I'd mess with that sweet lay-out too much...
Edited by hooked 11/22/2013 7:29 PM
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Posts: 109
Location: Wisconsin River | Thanks for the feedback! Didnt realy hear any significant negatives here. Even with a standup console overall height is not a problem due to the low height of the e mag on the trailer but I think I would stick with a low sit down console. The ability to go around either side of the console and run the side tanks with hooked or following fish seems to be very attractive, simular to to having a tiller layout. The current side console creates a significant "road block" particually when fishing 3 people out of the small boat. Seating would not be impacted other than centering the helm seat. Access to the rod storage compartment would be improved. Short of removing the console and reducing HP capacity by 50% I don't see any real negatives. If I could get away with just putting a tiller handle on the 115 HP, that would be great. |
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Posts: 1279
Location: Walker, MN | I love my center console. With a self bailing cockpit and stand up steering I can take on some really big water. With 3 people I can fish from the middle of the boat with ease. My rear casting deck is plenty big and I have convertible seating behind the main bench so I have seating for 4 out of the wind (6 total). I have a 40" livewell and baitwell. There are many different manufacturers and layouts to choose from. If you buy one in the southern half of the country they are very inexpensive compared to mid west glass boats. Another bonus is that I can get away with one depth/gps combo as it is easily seen from anywhere in the boat and is closer to eye level.
The only negative I see is that I only have the 6 vertical rod holders on the console. |
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Posts: 750
Location: Minneapolis, MN | Big Rock - 11/26/2013 8:46 AM
Thanks for the feedback! Didnt realy hear any significant negatives here. Even with a standup console overall height is not a problem due to the low height of the e mag on the trailer but I think I would stick with a low sit down console. The ability to go around either side of the console and run the side tanks with hooked or following fish seems to be very attractive, simular to to having a tiller layout. The current side console creates a significant "road block" particually when fishing 3 people out of the small boat. Seating would not be impacted other than centering the helm seat. Access to the rod storage compartment would be improved. Short of removing the console and reducing HP capacity by 50% I don't see any real negatives. If I could get away with just putting a tiller handle on the 115 HP, that would be great.
I'm not seeing how a center console makes it easier to fish with 3 guys than a side console. If anything I'd think it would interfere more with the guy fishing in the middle. |
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Posts: 109
Location: Wisconsin River | dami0101 - 11/26/2013 9:17 AM
I'm not seeing how a center console makes it easier to fish with 3 guys than a side console. If anything I'd think it would interfere more with the guy fishing in the middle.
Moving to the bow to deploy the trolling motor, net a fish or lead a following or hooked fish past fellow anglers (clients) can create issues. With a side console there is only one path often clutterd with equipment. I most often fish from the back of the boat unless I'm alone. When fishing alone I take all the seats out and this is the best small boat platform I have ever fished from, bar none.
Edited by Big Rock 11/26/2013 9:54 AM
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Posts: 19
| I have a 22' shearwater and the cockpit area is great for handling hooked fish and the ease moving around during a battle or figure 8 ,the low gunwales make it nice to lean over the side and unhook fish in the net. You learn quickly not to leave 9' rods in the center console rod holder while casting (destroy one on a back cast once) and I've found and couple of bridges and a tube I couldn't get under because of the windshield. I have long legs so setting up higher and having better view is a plus for me. The front casting deck is huge and this winter will get 2 ' longer with adding justencase lure storage ,the rear deck features double seat post one on each corner great for figure 8 without getting off the butt seat. It sets about 4"-6" above the water line more than most bass boats but still lower than say ranger 620. This past September at the angle inlet on LOW it gets real choppy on windy days and in the mornings heading out to the main lake there would be couple of aluminum guide boat boats running in my wake to keep from getting beat up. It also has 52" arerated live well and lockable rod storage for 10 9' rods I have a trolling mast for big planner board and have been out on Lake Michigan and st clair 3' to 4' footers when only the big charter boats are out. I will say the trim tabs and the 8" jack plate are wonderful for tuning the spank out of that pesky chop, no more butt busting rides like you get with the aluminum boats. These boats aren't cheep either but no worse then high end bass and walleye boats , if I could afford it I would have a 24' yellowfin or young custom built. The other issue is you need about 35' feet of garage space and stout tow vehicle for these type of boats ,I also fish in the Keys every year for 2 weeks so yes this type of boat serves my needs quite well. I looked at used skeeter, ranger, and pathfinder bay boats and it came down to fit and finish, we could continue this ford verses chevy debate all day. I fish for many species in lots of differnt conditions so having one boat for all my needs is tuff, my advice to you is to modify and customize your boat for the challenges you face each each week, my boat is alway a work in progress.
Edited by Paschml 11/27/2013 1:01 PM
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Posts: 109
Location: Wisconsin River | Im measuring up my E mag thinking a small console in the center will work very well. now just considering height. 25 or 32". a wind shield would be nice on a cold day but would probubly get hit just like the one on the side console. cracked and removed. The E mag is not that much diffrent than a flats boat as far as rough water capabilities. The beam is simular and you dont have to walk the gunwales.
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | As was said, on a smaller boat a cc can take up space. Some day when I'm done moving every few years and I may start to fish smaller water, my dream would be to have a smaller boat to go with my boat I have now. And that smaller boat would be a cc or stand up tiller flats boat. I do typically fish alone, so space isn't at quite as much of a premium for me, but there's still plenty of room in a well-laid out flats boat. If you're doing your own build, then you could have some fun making a small console like you mentioned and still maximize your space. I'd love to see pics when you're done. |
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Posts: 16
| We've had a 21' center counsel for 5 years now. We love to fish out of it and the only negatives are seating could be more comfortable and they are very hard to sell in MN. |
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