|
|
| Thoughts? Only been in tillers but the console option is interesting. Pro and cons from those of you who have been in them, and preference either way. Thanks! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I like the console quite a bit. Side by side seating option with full rear deck, and you have a superb fishing platform for as many as three that can be powered to run near 60 MPH. The tiller is also very nice, HUGE casting area...but I do like to go fast! |
|
| |
|
| i have the console variety and the boat is powered by a 115hp 2-stroke. my passenger seat is hinged and folds forward for even more rear deck space. it's just a huge casting platform and the amount of motor for this boat has you peeling it back more than wanting more ... it's really fast and fun to run. |
|
| |
|
| Yep same comments as Sled. I have a console version with a 125 and the thing flat out moves (not to mention that it takes about .0000003 seconds to get up on plane). And in all reality, as I like to tell my friends, I am pretty much driving around a 17' casting deck, as you can literally fish from anywhere in the boat. Lots of storage still with the console and very easy to move around the boat. I often debated about whether or not I should have got a tiller but after a couple of rough days on the water (think late November-through December) its nice to sit down and not have to hang on to a tiller handle; and the windshield is comforting with sleet and driving rain.
Either way I don't think you can go wrong as it is the best boat I have fished out of for the majority of waters (pretty much everything but the largest of water bodies) |
|
| |
|
Posts: 58
| I have a 2006 Magnum in the console version with the side by side seating, and it has served me well. Talk about the best of both worlds. This boat has the storage and the setup of a musky rig, and is great to take the kids out as well. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20255
Location: oswego, il | I have fished out of two of them and can basically say what others have said. Great boats, they go faster. Your only downfall is the lost space which is not a ton but the biggest one is the resale. Apples to apples, they are more expensive than their tiller counterparts and both parties sat on their boats awhile before they could sell them. I know people who passed on both boats to buy a cheaper tiller. |
|
| |
|
| "what lack of storage"? ... the rod locker is ginormous, the front storage is full under my casting deck with bonus boxes in the back ... whole rear deck hinges up for plenty more. i could bring more crap than you would want and you'd never see it.
if you use the 60" livewell for storage there's even more ...
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 20255
Location: oswego, il | Read all the posts including mine, did not see anything about lack of storage. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | my downfall is a lack of space?? you could play tennis on an esox magnum. what lack of space am i missing out on? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 814
| I ran a e-mag tiller from 99-2006. My storage was kind of limited bieng everything got wet everytime it rained.... but it really is a great boat only reason I sold was to fish more of the bigger lakes more often (mille, Eagle, etc). IMO the console kinda limits you to fishing off of one side of the boat with 3 guys other than that its fine. I had 2 guys on the front deck a couple of times and its a little crowded because in reality its only a 17 footer. So having the guy stand and fish from the middle is more user friendly especially doing figure 8's with 9 foot rods.
Edited by mskyhntr 6/28/2009 9:53 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The Esox Mag now has sealed, fiberglass dry storage compartments |
|
| |
|
Posts: 227
Location: Maple Grove | Sled...Todd is comparing the tiller vs the console since that is what the original poster asked. Obviously the console takes up floor space versus the tiller. Hard to argue that.
I've ran a tiller in the past. As stated previously you could fish from virtually anywhere. Fished 3 just fine. Found myself wanting the console though.
Joe Olstadt |
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | tonight i ran the short stretch from kawaguesaga to the bridge and smoked a 620 with a 250 ... the guy was actually mad that i got to the no-wake buoy before he did ... it was kinda funny. the esox mag fishes huge and runs fast. the tillers are nice for sure, but the console boats are rockets and the "fishable" difference isn't enough to give up the hp limit. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20255
Location: oswego, il | Sled, I actually like the counsole model, I was only comparing it to the tiller version. If I have a musky to the boat, I would pick the magnum to be in every time. There is not a better musky fishing platform. Unless you fish the big ponds all the time, I feel it is a great way to go. Heck if you goto LOTW you have a fast boat to get around in over the tiller version. I actually urged the one buddy of mine not to get another boat and keep the console model he had. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Maybe I shouldn't comment since I don't own a Esox Mag and have never fished out of one. Saying that, I flat out love tiller boats, no matter what rig it is. WIDE open floor space for tackle boxes, coolers, can lay rods down on either side without the console getting in the way, etc. I always feel like I'm going to hit the windshield on the back cast when two of us are on the front deck of a Navigator console I have fished out of.
To me it comes down to this question: Do you want the speed and a little more comfort driving in cold, wet weather, or do you want ultimate space and room in the boat? The console in that rig would be very fast if that's what you want. Speed isn't usually much of a concern for me, so I opt for room. All personal preference!
Good luck, I almost bought a E-Mag when I was looking at boats last spring. They look like fishing machines.
curleytail
Edited by curleytail 6/30/2009 8:50 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | unless it's a wind condition i fish out of the same side of the boat all of the time as i think most do. if i do have to fish out of the right side of the console version ... at least my console is between the middle guy (if there is one) and the other two and plenty far away from both to fish effectively.
steve ... mine's a 94, did the newer boats all of a sudden get built with a much bigger console that gets in the way? my console is about 7 inches thick and only about the same distance up from the deck without a windshield. maybe my apple is someone elses orange or something.
many boats have a huge difference between a console and a tiller model. maybe i'll have to post a picture ... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The new EMag console isn't large at all. |
|
| |
