Side console or tiller?

[TapOut64]

I will be purchasing a new boat and am trying to decide whether or not I should go with side console or a tiller. I only fish for crappie, mostly spider rigging and long lining. It's been recommended to me to go with a tiller as it is best for tighter turns when trying to locate structure and run along a channel edge. I'd be curious to get feedback from those who have either option and why they think one is better than the other. Thanks.

[blairarnold]

I like tilllers because they are more responsive.

[Wannabe...]

Depends. Long runs wear me out on a tiller. If you're using the outboard to troll and you let go of a 2 stroke, a lot of times the rattle of the 2 stroke will push the O/B into a tight turn. Pluses are more floor space, cost savings. Couple more negative is it reduces the recomended HP and larger tillers say over 50HP are hard to come by. In choppy water, you've got no console to protect you from spray due to cross winds and with a tiller, you're usually sitting a bit further back putting you in more contact with the spray. Rigging a fish finder in a location that you don't have to contort to see can be an issue with a tiller as well.

Just some random thoughts.

Wannabe...

[LBM]

I traded from a 18ft fiberglass dual console with 175 hp to a 16 ft tiller aluminum boat with a 60 hp 4 stroke after discovering that I could experience many more endorphin rushes from crappie thumps than I ever would from casting for bass.

One reason for going that way was that while fishing in temps below 30 degrees with my consoled wheeled cable steered boat was the difficulty in trying to steer the boat. At times I almost thought I would break the console module off with the effort I had to apply to change direction. Off course now I guess that wouldn’t be a problem with the hydraulic steering they now have. Anyhow at that time I told myself that the cold weather would never be problematic by using a tiller motor.

Another reason stated elsewhere by others was having much more room without a console taking up boat space. From my experiences even though having more room without the console the boat is still crowded and in all probability for me would always be crowded no matter how big a boat I started with.

Now as for my major concern about my tiller boat is taking on the water splash if not going directly into or with the wind to get from point A to point B. I use one of three different tactics to counter eating the spray. One is to put my rain suit on and put my glasses inside the rain suit and cinch the hood up tight and go. Two is to just go extremely slow. Three is to obliquely tack left and right while inching towards point B so as to reduce the amount of spray I’m taking on.

I wished I had more motor with this boat but it is maxed out at 60 hp for a tiller but with the same boat with a console the maximum hp is higher. I’m not sure why that is.

With this I’m interested if the other tiller folks have the same problems with the splash and if so what they do to counter this.

[ShilohRed]

Most of the ones that will say A Console boat has never been in a good tiller boat.
Tiller boat has more room. Allow's better boat control.
Tiller does not freeze up like console boats do in the winter. And I fish all winter.
Tiller boats cost a little less up front.
A tiller allows me to fish out of the back of the boat and run the motor and control the boat so much better then a console boat with a back deck on it.
To me a tiller boat just fishes better . Everyone that gets in mine starts talking about that is there next boat.

But
In cold weather you have to have a buddy that is big to sit in front of you to block the cold air. LOL
A tiller boat is not as dry as a console boat in big waves and side winds. As your in the back of the boat where most of the spray is hitting.
Where mine is rated for 150 with a wheel its only rated for a 90 with a tiller. Wish it had a 115 on it. But that is life.
Go to Walleyecentral and so some reading I bet I have over 500 hours on that site researching boats before I went with my Lund tiller.

Pete

[ReelfootSlabs]

Just remember: the more moving parts, the more things are likely to break. I have a console and love it. Never really said "dang i wish i had a tiller handle instead". Unless stuff starts to break.

[Gamblinman]

I ran a tiller for years until I could afford a bigger boat w/ a console. Console is w/o a doubt the way to go.

Gman

[Crappie Chatt]

Just a thought,,, look at center console. I have a Alumacraft Bay Invader. 3 things I just love is being able to walk around(like a tiller), still have a windshield(like a side console) and NO CARPET!!! <*)}}}><

[rnvinc]

I really thought about this query when I was building my boat.....

I didn't want a console taking up floor space and I ,also, didn't want to have to reach behind me to controll a tiller...

This is what I came up with.....

[slimeyslab]

I have had both and they both have their place. I started with a side console and went through several different ones but I alway's wanted a tiller for some reason. I ended up selling my SeaArk side console and buying a 17' F&F with a 50 h.p. Merc. tiller. I fished out of it for one year and it just wasn't for me. I did love the extra space but it had the mod-v front and turned into a flat bottom about 4 feet back and would beat the absolute pee out of me in any type wind. I also loved the manuverability for picking up jugs and decoys. I had a back surgery 2 years ago and that probably did not help. I sold it and bought a 20' War Eagle center console hoping for a better ride. We'll see... By the way that F&F boat was by far the best built boat I have ever owned..