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Posts: 16
| i'm sure this has been discussed at some point... but i'm takin a look into new boat possibilities... in most situations I see myself sticking to a tiller but I've mostly just run tiny boats and am curious what people have to say...
But tiller or console....? What do you prefer and WHY? And while you are at it, what boat and outboard are you running? |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | Much would depend on the water you fish, how you fish and the length of the boat. 16 feet and under small water tiller. Bigger boat, bigger water mostly casting single side console lots of room. Big water trolling especially Nov. & Dec full windshield stand up top. Propane heater heaven. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | The problem with a tiller unless your a guide who fishes from the back of the boat is every time you stop to cast you must move from one end of the boat to the other around your guest or partner. The smaller the boat the bigger the issue but not so much in a large tiller. |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Tiller all the way. So much more room in a tiller. You don't have the clunky console sucking up a bunch of space.
Most fishing boats aren't much bigger than 22-23 feet long. So that long walk to the front of the boat will never be more than 23 or so feet. I know the average angler isn't a model example for physical fitness, but if you can't make a 23 foot walk.... (unless you have a physical handicap, which would then be understandable).
In seriousness, there are pros and cons to each type. Try and get out and run a few of each type and see what you like best.
Edited by Pointerpride102 9/29/2014 8:26 AM
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Posts: 688
Location: Northern IL | A boat is a tool designed to do a specific job, so ask yourself what is the job your trying to accomplish? Do you cast, troll or do both?Every boat whether it be a console or a tiller has built in limitations. The bigger console will allow you to run greater distances and keep you drier. If you spend the greater part of your fishing on big waters and or trolling flatter structures such as on Lsc. or areas of Green Bay and the like then a wheel may be for you.
However if you split your time between casting and trolling on all types of waters big or small then the tiller may be the right tool. The tiller offers greater maneuverable. If you fish a lot of lakes with defined weedlines or breaklines then the tiller will allow you to be much more exact in your presentation of lures on the troll vs the wheel.
I personally fish a lot of new lakes and will often hold the rod in one hand until the bottom makeup is learned, again not possibly with a wheel. There are a lot of nice tillers built today and many are fairly deep which helps in keeping you dry. I currently run a deep (33") Lowe with a 50hp tiller Honda and its ok for now but... And I haven't looked lately but If I was looking Alumicraft has a nice layout but the rod lockers could be much taller or deeper. The live wells are huge a real plus when catching walleyes. I have cans now but a big, bigger the better built in belly tank would be a must.
Good luck.
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I'm currently running tiller rigs, one a demo boat, the other my personal rig. More room, run big water fine. |
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Posts: 409
Location: Almond, WI | I prefer a tiller. More floor space. I fish alone a lot, I pop out the other seat, and because there is less for the net to catch on when I need to grab it, that is a definite advantage too. Now the bigger the boat, the more I would consider a console. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | You won't see many tillers on the Larry in November. Different water and fishing styles require different boats. When I win the lottery I will have a 14 foot jon 25 hp.or maybe a jet, a 16.5 foot side console 90 4 stroke, and a 21 foot Lund Barron with full top 250 hp 20 hp kicker. Oh ya I will still need my canoe but I think I'm to old to sit in a kayak very long. |
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Posts: 410
Location: With my son on the water | All good points but it certainly depends what you do. Granted tillers have more open space but keep in mind you are driving the boat from the back end so your passneger is sitting in-front. If you want to run the TM in the front that person has to move.
In my case that other person was my wife who liked to joy ride but I had to make her move every time we got to a spot. What a PITA. I also have a fair number of new bees fish with me that can not run the TM the way it should be. With todays high tech routes, waypoints, etc on a TM it takes some knowledge.
I also fish some bigger waters and sitting in the middle of a boat behind a wind shield versus in the very back without a wind shield tends to be a drier ride for me.
I fish muskie 90% of the time and bass the rest so I like to be on the TM so I made the switch from a tiller to console 20+ years ago and love it.
But if I fished Walleyes I would probably run a tiller.
As always, have a good day.  |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | My preference is tillers, but I agree that it depends on your fishing style and lake type. Most of my time is spent on 800-5,000 acre lakes in WI. The biggest local lake is the 15,000 acre Chippewa Flowage. I fished LOTW this year for the first time and didn't really feel hindered by my 16 foot Navigator and 50 hp tiller. There were times scooting to another spot at 50 MPH would have been nice but I didn't get that urge too much.
I mostly fish muskies once that season opens, but also fish walleyes and panfish in the spring. I don't troll a ton, but when I do I like the tiller for that. I love the room it offers - uncluttered and the ability to lay rods down on both sides of the boat. Everyone has to stand up to fish after the boat comes off plane so I don't have an issue with us walking back and forth.
Most of the time, on most of the lakes I fish, giving up 20 mph by driving a tiller really doesn't take away much fishing time, and the space and manueverability is nice.
Personally, I feel like I would prefer a tiller boat until I get into the 20 foot range, and then maybe the boat size would be so big that a console wouldn't hinder much space. Then again, the space in a 20 foot tiller...
The only reason for ME to get a console would be for more speed, and that's really not something I usually feel like I need. Plus more speed = more gas burned. |
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Posts: 258
Location: Mayville, WI | As others have stated, it all depends on the waters you fish and what you are comfortable with. If bigger water is your game, go with the wheel for added protection, especially in rough water. If your family likes to ski/tube sometimes as well, go with the wheel there too and remember, they will be much better/comfortable driving that style if they need too.
Tillers offer great space, especially when under 18' and I currently run a tiller & will get another for my next boat.
btfish - 9/29/2014 11:18 AM
If you want to run the TM in the front that person has to move.
As you stated, TMs have advance quite a bit & you can easily control it from the back w/ wireless foot peddles, hand remotes, track memories, contour lock... Unless I'm fishing alone, I run mine from the back all the time without any issues.
Edited by scmuskies 9/29/2014 12:29 PM
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Posts: 791
Location: WI | I have a few buddy's who have 16 foot tillers that love them. More room in a smaller rig. I personally have a 18' single console and have been debating getting a windshield for my next boat. My three bodies of water are quite large though ( smallest 5000 acres) so I would like a bit of protection from the elements.
I look for versatility in my boats. I am sett up to cast or troll effectively. I know some guys like tillers for trolling but I feel like especially in rough water that limits the pilot to sitting and steering the boat. I have my kicker linked to the big motor and can leave it to hold a line if need be. |
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Posts: 2097
| I prefer a single console. A dual console takes up to much room. I feel there is more flexibility of a single console over a tiller. |
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Posts: 1276
| I've been a tiller guy from the beginning. I don't do any recreational activities like skiing or tubing. Started out as a walleye angler. First boat was a 1988 Lund Pro V 1770 tiller. Next boat was a 1998 Pro V 1775. It was toward the end of having that boat, that I got the muskie disease. Thought about different kinds of boats when I was getting the next boat, but loved it so much that the next boat was a 2008 Pro Guide 1825, with a 90 horse Merc. Does everything I want, and can go just about anywhere I want, from small water to big water. Even got a couple cheap downriggers and mounted them on the sport track, and fish for salmon in Green Bay. Worked just fine. 90 percent of the time I am muskie fishing by myself on local lakes, but have tons of room for guests, and steer the bowmount with a remote from the back. Between the three boats over the years, I have been in some pretty big water with them, and I felt safer with the tiller. Instant steering and throttle in one hand. The thing that would make the biggest difference in high seas, is the size of the boat. Couple of times I wished I was in one of those big salmon boats. Mostly, I just love having a wide open boat, and it's pretty rare that I would have a run of more than 20 minutes or more, at 40 mph, so I don't spend much time "driving" the boat. As others have said, it's a tool. Try to get the right tool to do the job you want it to do. |
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Posts: 455
| Yea if you drive from spot to spot casting a side console is the way to go. If you troll flat waters with gear like planer boards full windshield is the way to go. If you troll contours as I do tiller is the only boat to have. The 20" tiller Ranger is the same hull as the double console so it will handle the same water only you can`t add the heater. I just got back from the 1000 islands and really liked the manuverabilty of my tiller over the mega guide boats. If I lived there I would just get a pleasure boat to troll in November and December. You could get one for half price of a big fishing boat and all your doing is trolling anyway. The rest of the time give me the tiller. |
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Posts: 67
| I bought my 1st uffy esox mag a few months ago and LOVE it (tiller model of course). I can believe a 16-9 boat could be so big! I sold my 1875 Lund and man I don't miss the Lund......until my wife is along and its cool out....lol.
The only time a counsel is better is when you're moving......as soon as I stop, I want a tiller. So, I had to fifure if I spend more time getting to where Im going, or sitting still fishing.......easy one in my book. |
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Posts: 437
| Tillers are great if all you think about if fishing and YOURSELF. If you have family they are not an enjoyable ride for them at all.
On the nastiest of days I can be on the water with my full windshield and not a soul gets wet. On the high sun days I can put up the top so the little kids and avoid the blasting sun and take a nap while I fish.
You take a ride across Mille Lacs the end of October with a tiller and then with a full windshield boat, both loaded with buddies and gear and you tell me which was a more enjoyable ride for ALL.
It really depends on how you plan to use it. If those are scenarios you wont be in, or you dont have family then a tiller is right for you. |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Sue loves the tiller 170. She doesn't get wet, and isn't interested in sitting under a bimini top, or we'd have one. The grandkids love the tiller as well, more room for them to fish, and they don't get wet riding the boat either. They don't nap much in the boat, though, they are old enough so if they are out there, they are fishing
I've had single, dual and walk through models over the last few years.
Sure, if you are on big water and fish alot in bad weather, the consoles are nice to hide behind. My family likes the tiller boat just fine, and if a friend complains about the wind while under power, I don't listen anyway.... |
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Posts: 437
| sworrall - 10/6/2014 9:51 AM
if a friend complains about the wind while under power, I don't listen anyway.... I cant hear you over the sound of my engine! LOL |
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Posts: 1516
| I seem to get a lot wetter when driving my tiller Pro V 1800 then when I ride in a boat with a console |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Our tiller has been great for the family. We are able to set up the pack and play for the little one so he doesn't get into the tackle box. I don't anticipate taking the family out on big water when the gales of November come calling. That wouldn't be enjoyable even if I had a cabin cruiser! |
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Location: Green Bay, WI | I'd like to talk to someone who has been running a bigger till on Green Bay in the fall. It would be interesting to hear their take...especially if they did more trolling.
TB |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | tcbetka - 10/6/2014 11:57 AM
I'd like to talk to someone who has been running a bigger till on Green Bay in the fall. It would be interesting to hear their take...especially if they did more trolling.
TB
Are you extending an invitation to your house? Haha |
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Location: Green Bay, WI | If they bring their boat...OK!
TB |
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| if all you have is a delete button, everything looks like an argument.
EDIT: this post probably wasn't substantive anyway.
Edited by M Winther 10/9/2014 12:34 PM
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Posts: 94
| I have a ranger 618T and I love it. While I have not been to Green Bay yet, I have done some trolling on Mille Lacs. I don't get wet at all in my boat, trolling sitting still or running the lake. If I know it's going to be a little more windy than usuall I will top off the tank and fill my front live well. That adds some weight up front and centered over the boat. I looked at all the tiller boats. Skeeter, Tuffy, Ranger, Warrior they are all set up great. You won't go as fast but the lay out exceedes the speed. Plus the amount of fuel you save is worth it. Also check out the rod lockers I can fit 6 nine foot rods. Great storage in these boats. I just wish they had that new self deploying terrova last year. I would never leave the back of the boat. |
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Location: Green Bay, WI | How do the tillers handle the big waves? Growing up all I ever had to drive around in were light aluminum boats, so the box was pretty light. With any sort of waves bigger than 1-2 feet you got beat up pretty bad, and it was harder to control the boat. But I bet the bigger glass tillers are MUCH better these days. I'd love to drive one...
TB |
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Posts: 455
| Well the farther back you sit the better the ride So a tiller is great. Everybody likes to talk about the worst day on Mill lacs or LSC. Unless you are on an expensive vacation most often you don`t want to go fishing in 20mph winds or rain because it`s no fun. I bought a boat I will enjoy under the conditions I fish most. Nice weather. I don`t want a full windshield and top in my way when I don`t even like fishing fowl weather. Then people sell you the line you can only get big fish under horrible conditions in November. Heard that line about the St. Lawrence. Well we and plenty of other people caught fish and big ones under bluebird skies with almost zero wind in September. Pretty sure you can get fish on Mill Lacs or Green Bay without fishing 20mph winds and four foot waves. I would guess most guys are taking the family out in the summer not October on Mill Lacs. |
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Location: Green Bay, WI | What I meant was how do the heavier tillers handle (weight-wise) than the lighter aluminum tillers, when it comes to heavier seas?
As for fishing in nice vs not-so-nice weather, I've fished in both...and everywhere in-between. Often times on Green Bay, a 10mph wind from the wrong direction will result in 3+ foot waves. Wind blowing across 30-40 miles of open surface can really move some water. So the weather may be perfectly fine to fish, but the waves are pretty big. But if the fish are concentrated in a certain area during a certain time of the year, and you want to fish for them...you go fishing. Otherwise, you spend some additional time trying to locate them in the 1500+ square miles of Green Bay.
TB |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I see a growing number of big tiller rigs on the Cabela's National Walleye Tour. They do just fine in the really mean stuff. |
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Location: Green Bay, WI | I would imagine so, yes. By now the design of the bigger boats has been so refined that I would imagine that running a 200-hp Verado on a big Ranger 620T (or Warrior, etc) would be smooth as butter. There were a number of times out of Green Bay where I wondered how much easier it would have to be driving a tiller? There isn't a huge need to structure troll on the south end of the bay in the fall, but there are other areas in the bay where structure trolling is much more important--and a tiller would indeed be the ticket there, I think.
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Posts: 555
Location: Tennessee | Tiller all the way for unmatched boat control! |
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Location: Green Bay, WI | The other thing is that for your passenger's comfort, I would do what the salt-water guys do: Bean-bags. Get a bean-bag chair for them to sit on while underway. Take the seat out of the pedestal, put the bean-bag on the floor right at the end of the front casting deck, and let them sit on it. They get a better ride, and they are lower in the boat, and more out of the wind. Check out YouTube videos on how the offshore guys do that, as some have told me it's the only way to ride on the way out to the fishing grounds. These guys routinely run 30-40+ miles out to their trolling grounds, so speed is paramount in getting out there. Where there's a will, there is a way...
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Posts: 7038
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Idea: console with a remote steer kicker. Have one, love it for trolling. You do have to learn your boat, how it steers, how was you have to be on the turns when following contours. But it's the only way I WOULD go. But, I like going fast, I like having the console in front of me (everyone else still gets wet on occasion. Too bad, buy your own boat.) and I make sure to find ways to be able to store everything not being used that day so i can maximize space that is taken up by the console. |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | I've hunted a few miles out on Lake Michigan in November, in some less than stellar conditions. Handles the big water fine. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | I own a Tuffy tiller and a Ranger... use to run a Lund tiller.. both styles have their pros/cons... try em both and pick the one you like best... personally for bigger water I prefer a console... |
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | When comparing tiller vs. console in really rough stuff, at the size of boats we're generally talking about (<21'), it's my opinion that is more about the captain and less about the boat. Skills are a better option than configuration.
s. |
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| Like the room in tillers but the ones I have seen have very small or no rear decks. Are there tiller models that have larger rear casting decks? I have looked at a SC Fish Hawk in both 16 and 17 foot models with the conversion deck and both have a lot of space. Any tillers with something like that? |
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Posts: 409
Location: Almond, WI | North of 8 - 10/8/2014 11:17 AM
Like the room in tillers but the ones I have seen have very small or no rear decks. Are there tiller models that have larger rear casting decks? I have looked at a SC Fish Hawk in both 16 and 17 foot models with the conversion deck and both have a lot of space. Any tillers with something like that?
Tuffy Esox models (or you can buy the deck extension on its own for your Tuffy); the new Larsons appear to have a good sized rear deck; or get a custom extension by building it yourself or order from Just Encase. |
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| I could build a custom rear deck, have the skills and tools to do so, but are the tiller handles long enough to reach over a rear deck? I would think that would be a limiting factor, but maybe not? |
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Posts: 409
Location: Almond, WI | Get a big tiller extension. You can get them for most manufacturers. It would be a limiting factor to an extent, yes, but you can probably add a foot to 18" depending on your arm length and your seating arrangement. The Tuffy design can fold up, I'd try to build something like that (if I had the skill). |
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Posts: 258
Location: Mayville, WI | North of 8 - 10/8/2014 1:12 PM
I could build a custom rear deck, have the skills and tools to do so, but are the tiller handles long enough to reach over a rear deck? I would think that would be a limiting factor, but maybe not?
I don't see the concern for having it reach over the deck unless you move your seat forward of said deck. As long as it's mounted in the same spot, you won't need to get a new handle for it. Anyways, most bigger tillers (75hp+) should already come w/ the big tiller handle. My Yamaha did.
Anyways, same situation as you, didn't like the smallish rear deck so I added my own. Didn't need a new handle & seat stayed in the same spot - see picture. Alumacraft Navigator, btw.
sc
Edited by scmuskies 10/8/2014 2:12 PM
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Posts: 944
| I have owned both. I would never own a console again. My last 5 Tuffys have all been tillers.
I now run a 2012 Tuffy 1890GT. Handles ruff water great. Has more fishing room in it than any other boat I have fished from. Have room for big net and never have to move it, step on it or trip over it unless I'm netting a fish. Have fished 4 guys many times. Front deck is huge and I can stick 9' rods in my rod locker. Runs 35-40mph depending on how many guys I have in it. 90 Merc 4 stroke trolls great even at slow speeds..The way I troll I can do a better job with a tiller. I will be ordering same boat for 2015 when I sell mine this winter.
Jeff Hanson
madisonmuskyguide.com
Edited by Jeff Hanson 10/8/2014 2:27 PM
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| Thanks for the suggestions and the photo. |
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Posts: 455
| The safety is going to be about the same even if the hull size isn`t exact on the 20' Ranger compared to console. It really is all about comforts. I mean I`m a Tiller guy but understand console is better for running or trolling big flat water in bad weather. |
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Posts: 3867
| I have this center console set up and the boat spins on a dime trolling, it is amazing easy to stay right where I want to be. Standing at the wheel is so fine, both slow trolling and booking across the lake. The console contains a cooler, no space wasted. Best of all worlds, sez me. |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | This thread has really got me thinking. I had always thought I was a counsel guy. That is always what my dad had when I was growing up.
It sounds like (general consensus) the tiller is much nicer for fishing out of though. At least for what I would do. I will mostly fish smaller lakes. The two closest lakes to my house are around 250 acres. A "big" lake that I would fish would be 3000-5000 acres. I do live up near Ashland though, and will probably be spending some time out on the Chequamegon Bay in May. |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | It comes down to how you fish. My last boat was a SC Crestliner nice boat. Then I up graded to a glass DC skeeter mx .I have been taking my mother out "84 years old "more and more she likes the skeeter much better higher sides dryer ride. Find a boat that will work for how you fish Not any body else. If you buy a boat for your kind of fishing you will be happier in the long run. Just my 2 cents |
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Posts: 84
| 14ledo81 - 11/12/2014 2:53 PM
This thread has really got me thinking. I had always thought I was a counsel guy. That is always what my dad had when I was growing up.
It sounds like (general consensus) the tiller is much nicer for fishing out of though. At least for what I would do. I will mostly fish smaller lakes. The two closest lakes to my house are around 250 acres. A "big" lake that I would fish would be 3000-5000 acres. I do live up near Ashland though, and will probably be spending some time out on the Chequamegon Bay in May.
if I were you I'd really think seriously about a tiller. I fish big and small water out of a 16' Lund tiller. Mostly lakes well under 1000 acres, but a trip or 2 on Erie & St. Clair each year. You just need to be smart. If its windy and you can't outrun the spray you will get wet, but 95% of the time i would choose a tiller over a console boat |
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