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Thread: Is Your Stick Steering Boat Easy to Steer?

  1. #1
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    Default Is Your Stick Steering Boat Easy to Steer?


    It's getting harder to climb up on my casting deck to fish. I've been thinking of getting a stick steer boat with a 40 or 50hp motor. What's holding me back are comments from stick steer owners about their rigs being harder to turn one way or another. I also see comments about sore shoulders after long runs. That concerns me because I'm known to make long runs when I have a whole day to fish, and my left shoulder has about as much wear on it as my hips and knees. I know the ride may be rougher than my console steer boat but my main concern is ease of steering. I'd appreciate some comments from owners that know through experience. Yes I know about the hydraulic steering options but those are to many $$$ for my taste. I also know that adjusting the trim tab can make a big difference but I'm wondering if it really makes for easy steering. Thanks in advance for your comments and advice.

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    I had a PF16 with a 25 for several years. It had a semi-v hull and cut the chop pretty well so it did not beat me up. Being fairly narrow I never noticed it being too much of a strain on the shoulders or a reach to steer. It was pretty darn responsive adnwas a great fishing boat for smaller waters with one other person. It tracked straight too and I never noticed it hard to steer in one direction or the other.

    I did run it up KY lake one day in the summer when the pleasure boaters were out and the wind was kicking and it was not all that much fun. Provided you aren't fighting chop it is a good layout for a fishing boat. After I got the motor choked and started for the day I never had to leave the front seat as it would start with the key from then on. It was very handy.

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    In my experience, and talking with another CC member, the SS boats can get hard to turn one way or the other. It can happen for several reasons. Grease over time can get in the cable and make it stiff. You can hit something with the motor and the sleeve the cable goes in can get bent ever so slightly and that very slight bend will make it hard to turn one way or the other. I went 3 years with no issues at all. Then I hit a submerged log. I called Ezy-Glide and found out this happens quite often with the grease contamination and hitting an object. I will be sending mine in for maintenance. You send the complete unit in and they inspect it and repair as needed. I forget the cost but it was reasonable. Now as to long runs. My boat is a full V and even though it is only 14.5 feet it can handle some moderately rough water. But if you are not prepared to spend money on a suspension seat for up front I would not entertain the idea of getting a SS boat. I had no issues at all steering my boat at all until I hit the log. Here is video of my boat showing the seat.


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  4. #4
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    With power trim and proper trim tab adjustment, it should steer light as feather, and require little to no input from the driver once on plane.

  5. #5
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    Cane Pole is offline Crappie.com 2011 Man of the Year * Crappie.com Supporter
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    Trim it out, no doubt. Easy steer on plane. Also, U can get hydraulic steering for stick steers.
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    As long as you stay with the 40hp you should have no problems. My old SS had a 40 and no steering problems. 15 year old boat and cable. My new boat has a 60 and I had to go to hydraulic. It's awesome. Also I have a new air ride seat pedistal coming. The driver get pounded in semi rough water. But I will never go back to a bass boat. Fished with my cousin couple weeks ago in his bass boat. I looked like a beached seal trying to get up out of the floor . Lol.

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    I had a 16’ aluminum with a 25 SS and miss it all the time. They have their good and bad points and I won’t beat on a very dead horse. My steering wasn’t hydro and was very easy to steer. The independent seating so that both can turn 360* is the only change I would make, mine had a bench in back that was full of foam. Wish I had it now.
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    17 ft wareagle stick steer. I’m not in the best shape anymore. Steering at all speeds and trim angles is pretty easy to me. It does pull just a little trimmed all the way out but not to bad. But one thing I will agree on is on a long run my left shoulder and arm get pretty tired because your going to have to hold onto the stick. Two parts one is pull on steering but second is angle you have to have your arm at for long period puts a strain on shoulder muscles.
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  9. #9
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    Use a 4 blade prop and the sideways torque of the motor will be gone and steering will be neutral. I love my 16 ft SS.

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    A lot has to do with speed. I have a 50 on mine and planed out WOT (35mph) it's hard to overcome that much torque. Easing along at 15-20 it steers like a feather.
    I may go hydraulic on mine..
    Anyone have idea on cost to add that to motor?
    Mark 1:17 ...I will make you fishers of men

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