New guy- Tiller or SS?

[Landlocked]

Hi everyone,

Been spending some time catching up on many all of the quality posts (probably too much time!) and wanted to say what a great site this is!

Just wondering what your opinions are between the tiller and SS. The mission is to get into the water a little more this summer and looking to upgrade from my 14footer. I won't be fishing any huge water, won't need a full windshield and won't be into any watersports. Sooo....for your basic walleye fishing, what would most recommend? I like the wide open feel of the tillers but am wondering if the SS would be better for re-sale in the future?

Thanks in advance!

[PatrickGG]

Welcome to the board, May the tiller vs console battle begin

[Tybo]

If I didn't fish open water most of the year I would own a tiller.

Since I fish when I can get out, I prefer the console.

A little comfort can go a long way, when fishing in December.

[trapshooter]

I like a tiller for the open space. Also, I backtroll a lot and the tiller can't be beat for that application. Ideally though, I'd have one of each!

[misfish]

Dont know if I would like to hang on to a tiller if Im doing 50+ mph.LOL

 

Both have the pos and neg.I have lots of room to fish out of my side consol.

[Spiel]

....For walleye fishing, back trolling and roominess I love my tiller!

 

[Bernie]

For those days of rain and cold and wind prefer a top and windshield. Also the top protects on those hot sunny days too. Creature comforts are nice.

[trapshooter]

WOW! Nice boat Spiel!

[lookinforwalleye]

I sold my tiller last year and moved into a full windshield rig and love it the tiller was great for Walleye fishing but it was a pain in the arm hollding on to that tiller on long runs and in the spring and fall having that cold wind and the occasional ice cold lake spray hit you in the face at 50 KMH was not a alot of fun as i recall.

 

Full windshield for me!

[trapshooter]

Oh yeah, you definitely take some spray in the tiller esp. on a windy day. If you adjust the trim properly though it shouldn't be difficult to hold on to the tiller arm. My boat will go straight as an arrow without even touching the tiller arm.

 

Basically it depends what type of fishing you want to do most. Console's definitely are better suited for some applications and the same can be said for the tiller.

[Terry]

I think it all depends on what you fish for and how you fish and where you fish

if you like smaller lakes, if you like slow or back trolling weedlines/ dropoffs / shorelines for walleye triller is the way to go

for open water and big water trolling, I like a steering wheel

[Headhunter]

Why not enjoy the best of both worlds? A console for runnin from spot to spot and a kicker to troll etc... problem solved! And the fuel savings will definately add up!

HH

[SHAD]

All tiller, no filler.

 

[Zib]

I have a tiller & for the small lakes it's great. More room to play the bigger fish. Great for back trolling for walleye. However, making those long runs is torture on St. CLair. I'd like to upgrade to a side console as soon as I can get the wife back to work.

[mdej]

I think it depends on the size of the boat you looking at.

 

I think that once you get to the 17 & 18 foot plus mark the side console is not as in the way. On smaller it gets in the way.

 

Now, just to so you know, I have a 14' side console, but thats because I spend time running for ice cream and site seeing, and I have a spouse that likes to drive the boat around and not be covered in spray.

 

I would be very happy if my little boat was a tiller, in fact it would be great.

[Roy]

TILLER!

 

[OhioFisherman]

The latest US study shows 96.3 percent of the old guys keep their hands on their tillers.

[Uncle Buck]

Console...

 

it all comes down to personal preference though...

 

the higher hp tillers come with the hydraulic asist/lock

[aplumma]

get a console life is to short to not have a cigar in one hand and a beer in the other and steering with your knee. Actually get the boat you will be happy with it sucks to be driving a beautiful boat and wishing for something else. Just ask Roy and Spiel they both have their brave faces on saying how they like their tillers.

 

 

Art

[misfish]

WOW! Nice boat Spiel!

 

Boat????????? Nice shagg,n wheels dude

[Tomcat]

For Spiel and Roy:

 

I've read/heard that most fishermen can't handle operating tillers over 60 HP. I'd appreciate comments from both of you on the validity of that statement since both of you are operating bigger tillers. I like to drive from the back too!

[trapshooter]

Tomcat.

 

At the lodge where I work at my guide boat is an 18' Lund Pro V's with 90hp yamaha tiller. The big motors are easy to steer and hold on to at high speeds. If I wanted to, with the trim properly adjusted, I could drive straight as an arrow with no hands on the tiller arm.

[misfish]

Tomcat.

 

At the lodge where I work at my guide boat is an 18' Lund Pro V's with 90hp yamaha tiller. The big motors are easy to steer and hold on to at high speeds. If I wanted to, with the trim properly adjusted, I could drive straight as an arrow with no hands on the tiller arm.

 

YEA,BUT YER CRAZY

[trapshooter]

lol brian....not that I would do it... but you can.

 

If the trim tab is misaligned and the motor is trimed way down or up the boat will pull badly to the side.

[irishfield]

I don't know...I think I'll use the wheel and the hydraulic steering that goes with it

 

 

They do put a 175 Merc, with hydraulic tiller, on the 2010 Lund Pro Guide though !!!!